BTS: Black Star Soccer's Next-Wave Showcase
The players were preparing to take the field. It was the third day of, what was for many of them, an opportunity to show their skills and talents to women's soccer coaches around the US. More specifically, an opportunity to play and connect with some of the best high school Black soccer players in the country. Then, the thunderstorm arrived.
Texas, where the showcase was held, is prone to random thunderstorms. So, while the players waited for the all clear to enter the pitch, some of them headed straight for the mics. All of a sudden, the practice room at Prairie View A&M University - the HBCU hosting the event - was filled with twenty-five 14 to 18 year olds singing Keyshia Cole and Daniel Caesar at the top of their lungs.
Moments like this were made possible by the team at Black Star Soccer, a brand committed to cultivating Black soccer culture in the United States. Black Star has hosted showcases in the past,but last month's event made history as the first-ever national showcase for the nation’s top-ranked Black female players. Partnering with the Black Women’s Player Collective and Allstate, the four day showcase showed a glimpse of what the future can hold for Black female soccer players. .
For Black Star founder Patrick Rose, seeing it all come to fruition has made the entire process worthwhile: “We've been planning this for months, and seeing the girls come together, at these games with all the scouts and coaches has been super dope to see.”
Rose highlighted relationships with Prairie View A&M and the BWPC for making the showcase possible. “Prairie View allows us to amplify HBCU soccer programs,” Rose explained, “and the BPWC has been so helpful, just a great thought partner in what we wanted to achieve - creating pathways and exposure for young girls.
BPWC, created by NWSL players in 2020, sees the showcase as a significant step forward from the days when Black women saw limited opportunities to participatein the game. “In soccer, your identity is so much of who you are and how you’re able to express yourself through sport,” said Kayla Mills, a former NWSL player and Head of Events at BWPC. “So why would I hide what makes me, me?” Mills considers herself blessed to be able to give young Black girls an outlet to express themselves through soccer. Most importantly? “The girls are happy to be here, they’re bonding and making a community,” said Mills.
Even before the showcase ends, Patrick Rose and the Black Star Team are already planning for next year. “We really want to make this an annual moment where college coaches, scouts, agents can come to really watch and find the best black talent across the nation. That’s definitely the goal.”
As for the players themselves? Forty-One wishes to introduce you to the next generation of Black women soccer players - in their own words.
- How long have you been playing?
- Since I was nine
- How did you get connected to the game?
- I got connected to the game by my mom. My mom saw a group of boys playing at the park, and she was like, you should join!
- Is this your first camp? How is this camp different from other experiences you may have?
- It’s my first camp and it’s been amazing…like a once in a lifetime opportunity. I've never played or been on a team with all the players with the same background as me. So I'm really happy. And I feel, so connected
- What are your goals for right now?
- I look forward to scoring goals, and leading my team to hopefully win state next year.
- How long have you been playing?
- Since I was 6
- Who are some of your favorite players?
- When I was younger, I watched Alex and Me, the movie with Alex Morgan. I watched so many times and just really inspired by her. It made me think of how far I can go.
- How has your identity as a young Black woman impacted your soccer journey?
- Being Black has come with a lot of repercussions, having to deal with people that are racist or stuff like that. But at same time, we rise up with our community and our culture and how we carry ourselves.
- How long have you been playing?
- I’ve been playing since I was 8 ½
- Is this your first camp? How is this camp different from other experiences you may have?
- I’ve been to a few camps at ASU, Emory and some others. The culture here is totally different, those other camps there weren’t many people with our skin color there.
- How did you get connected to the game? Who are some of your favorite players?
- When I was in kindergarten, my parents put me into little league soccer and they said I fell down and someone stepped on my hand. And instead of crying, I just got back up, and ran to my parents shouting ‘Look, there's holes in my hand!’ I just kept on playing.
- How long have you been playing?
- So I started when I was four, then started playing club football at six
- How has your identity as a young Black woman impacted your soccer journey?
- I was like the only person in my area that was mixed. And I never really, really connected with people that were fully Black, because I didn't understand what I really was. So it was kind of hard, especially with dealing things like my skin color and my hair, l
- How did you get connected to the game?
- I'd say my mom, because she's my biggest mentor, and she really pushes me every single day to be like she's gotten me basically where I am right now. And I really thank her for that.
- How long have you been playing?
- I’ve been playing since I was five years old
- Who are some of your favorite players?
- I pretty much grew up watching the US national team, but my favorite player right now is definitely Naomi Girma.
- Is this your first camp? How is this camp different from other experiences you may have?
- I’ve done a couple ID camps in the past, but this is the first one where I had all expenses paid so it’s definitely a cool experience for sure.
- What’s been the highlight of your time here so far?
- The karaoke session, it was really fun!
- How long have you been playing?
- I’ve been playing since I was three years old
- Who are some of your favorite players?
- My family. I watched the women's West Virginia team a lot because my dad went there, but my favorite has to be Trinity Rodman.
- How has your identity as a young Black woman impacted your soccer journey?
- It’s made me push myself a lot harder, harder, just knowing like I won't be seen as much as like, of course, like white players would be. But also just knowing like my capabilities, knowing I'm stronger, just as strong than they are. It just definitely pushed me to go harder
- What are your goals for right now?
- I've been looking mainly at HBCUs, like, I really want to stay within the community, be more exposed to my culture
