While Kathy (or Ridgey as she was called) had older sisters, she grew up playing with the boys, and doing so in what SHE wanted to wear. Just as Kathy started public elementary school, the rules changed to allow girls to wear pants (Kathy’s older sisters had been required to wear dresses or skirts). As Kathy shares, Mom “tried to get me in dresses on picture day, and I would sneak out my brother’s hand me downs.” Michelle can relate…
“I had speed on my side from a really young age”
Kathy Ridgewell-Williams
1986-1987 USWNT
By fourth grade, Kathy was faster than all of the kids in her school. She “always had speed on her side.” She cites the “old man on the bicycle” as one of the most influential people on her game sharing, “He was just this old soccer guy and because there was no soccer anywhere, and the kids were playing, he gave me a couple of pointers on how to do one on ones.” And that changed everything. To the “old man,” wherever you are, thank you for coaching and inspiring one of the legends of the first USWNT.
We hear from soccer teammate Diana Inch, who played with Kathy for years and against Michelle, so was along for the “rollercoaster of soccer.” Flash forward to today, and Kathy is the Assistant Director, Innovation and Performance in the Washington State Office of the Governor. She explains what that means but essentially, she holds state agencies accountable for “moving towards equitable solutions.” Takeaway: Kathy hasn’t only broken barriers in soccer, but also in the statehouse.
