Falling In Love With Women’s Soccer

Aries Pickett, USA

Goal Click and Women in Soccer have teamed up to tell stories of soccer in the United States from the perspective of women making their mark, from cheering in the stands to working in the soccer industry. Women in Soccer is a new network and growing community connecting women and allies in the world of soccer.

Aries Pickett is the Senior Manager of Talent & Administration at the NWSL, based in Chicago. Aries told us about her life working for the biggest women’s soccer league and opportunities for the next generation.

Can you introduce yourself and tell us about your football life?

My name is Aries Pickett and I am a Chicago native with over 10 years working in the sports industry as a Human Resource Professional. I am currently the Senior Manager of Talent & Administration for the best women’s soccer league in the world, the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). 

People often ask me how I ended up working in sports and I tell them I did not choose sports, sports chose me. What I love is that sports have a way of bringing people together. I love working with people and bringing them together. Soccer has become a big part of my life over the past two years. I did not play soccer growing up, but I became a fan when David Beckham came to America to play for the LA Galaxy. 

Once I started working for NWSL I fell in love with women’s soccer. It was a different experience watching women. I felt the passion, the grit, and enthusiasm these women brought onto the field every game they played. It has been an empowering experience and such an honour to work for NWSL while being a supportive fan.

What did you try to show with the photos? Was there any wider meaning with the photos? 

My goal was to capture moments off the field where I am working and collaborating as an HR Professional with team members. During my personal time I wanted to show the love and support I have for the game of soccer by capturing moments during a game and I brought my family along to join the fun. 

I wanted to show how NWSL Players still played with grit and passion while having limited fans there to support them. My favourite photo was with me and my daughters. I could not wait to take them to their first soccer game after being restricted from going due to Covid-19.  

How has Covid-19 affected soccer in your community? 

The Covid-19 pandemic greatly impacted the world and put a huge strain on the world of sports. Specifically in my soccer community, sporting events and game day matches were either cancelled or postponed. The NWSL had to quickly strategize on what we could do to keep our players motivated, our fans engaged, and most importantly maintain the momentum around the success of the 2019 Women’s World Cup. We had to reevaluate and readjust our cashflow ensuring that we were able to keep all of our players and staff on the payroll. 

Like many other professional leagues, it was a huge challenge for us but with hard work and determination NWSL was able to think outside the box by working with medical professionals to come up with the best safety protocols as possible and as a result NWSL was the first professional sports league to return to play. 

What were these NWSL matches like during 2021?

I went to Chicago Red Stars vs Portland Thorns in April 2021 in Chicago. Being in the stands watching this game in person was like a breath of fresh air but in an unfamiliar environment. The presence of fans was sorely missed. There were supportive fans present that cheered on each team, but it still sounded so quiet throughout the stadium. Covid-19 had plagued our supporter community but in the midst of empty seats and hundreds of missing fans, the game carried on.  

What I appreciated about watching this game was that the players never wavered in their ability to play at a high level even with an empty stadium and few fans cheering them on. This showed me how resilient NWSL players are. Because of these women, there is a bright future in soccer waiting for young girls watching them play. 

My eldest daughter Kaylee (8) had been asking me to take her to a soccer game. Being quarantined for a year she wanted to be outdoors amongst other kids and wanted to be around people outside of her family.  Both of my girls were so happy to see the players on the field and they cheered and chanted for both teams. At first, I was a bit hesitant because I wanted to keep my kids safe, but I realized that the stadiums had safety protocols in place, they were not allowed to be at full capacity at the time, and we all had to wear masks. My girls had a ball! 

What are the opportunities for women in soccer in the USA, on and off the field? 

As the world learns to become more inclusive and diverse, women are in high demand. In the USA we are more receptive to hiring women head coaches and general managers on the field. Off the field we have several talented women working at the league office who help make the NWSL one of the best professional leagues in the world. Women are leading the way for a new generation of other women to become leaders on and off the field.

What does football mean to you, your community, and the American people?

To me, football means opportunity, passion, resilience, and equality. Soccer is a universal sport that resonates with people all over the world and the USA has embraced its importance and the love Americans have for it. For a lot of US citizens whose families migrated to the States, it reminds them of home. 

What is the future of US women's soccer? 

The future is one of endless possibilities! Our fanbase is growing and people now see that US Women’s Soccer means business and is a force to be reckoned with.

Series edited by Emma Walley.