Representing Her
Yanique Newman, USA
Goal Click is collaborating with U.S. Soccer on a new storytelling series as part of the Keeping Score of What Matters campaign. The series will spotlight untold stories within clubs, organizations, and communities supported by Soccer Forward, focusing on the diverse ecosystem of soccer and its use as a force for good.
Unique Ballers FC was created with a mission to increase representation, level the playing field, and nurture girls' holistic development through soccer.
Yanique Newman is the Founder and Director of Unique Ballers FC, a coach and community leader dedicated to using soccer to empower girls through mentorship, leadership, and access to opportunity.
When I think about who I represent, the most important thing is being the representation I did not have. The score that truly matters is the number of girls who walk away feeling confident, empowered, and capable of leading in their own lives.
My name is Yanique Newman, and I am the Founder and Director of Unique Ballers FC (UBFC) based in Brooklyn, New York. At my core, I am a coach at heart. I started the club because I was once that young girl on the sideline who never saw anyone who looked like her playing, and certainly not coaching. I wanted to create a space where girls can see themselves reflected in leadership and where no girl is ever turned away.
My wider soccer journey has been defined by a deep love for the game and the resilience required to stay in it. Growing up in Kingston, Jamaica, I was the only girl playing on my primary school team.
When I came to the United States at 15 years old, I could not afford club soccer, so playing pickup games in the park was the closest thing I had to it.
One of the greatest highlights of my journey now is watching my players grow into confident young women and knowing we are building a legacy of women in leadership positions that did not exist when I was growing up.
Unique Ballers FC
UBFC is more than a soccer club. It is a family and a mentorship hub, created to provide a supportive environment where girls from all backgrounds feel valued and respected. For our players, soccer is a tool for self-discovery.
We provide everything from competitive league play and scholarship programs to community clinics, ensuring every girl has the opportunity to thrive.
What makes UBFC unique is that we are an all-girls program with a holistic approach. We care about the person as much as the player. Many of our families face financial barriers, which we address by providing scholarships.
Another challenge we face is securing field space for programming due to scarcity in our surrounding neighborhood, Williamsburg, Brooklyn, along with competing with adult leagues for field time.
Soccer gives our organization a tool to teach life. We use it to instill discipline, empathy, and resilience. It is about teaching girls how to be great human beings who will contribute to society, regardless of whether they ever play a professional match.
From The Stands To The Streets
I believe people across the country can unlock the power of soccer as a force for good by prioritizing accessibility and mentorship over elite exclusivity. When we stop viewing players as just prospects and start seeing them as future community leaders, the game becomes a transformative force for social change.
Having the World Cup in the United States is a powerful opportunity for our girls to see the game in their own backyard.
When the world is watching, I hope people notice the joy, diversity, and sense of community in the stands and in the streets.
More than anything, I hope they see that the true legacy of the tournament is not just the champion, but the millions of girls who are inspired to pick up a ball and realize that their dreams are valid.
