It’s February, and love is in the air! And as Socceristas we all know that there is no love more special than the bond between teammates. To celebrate this special season, we’re going to share some of our favorite soccer friendships.ย
Trinity Rodman and Ashley Sanchez
Trinity Rodman and Ashley Sanchez have been at the front of our minds this week after Sanchez was unexpectedly traded to NC Courage, separating the besties. The two have been tight for years between playing together on the USWNT and in the NWSL. Rodman posted a compilation of some of the duo’s silliest moments to TikTok and Instagram, with the caption “Hurtingโฆ SANDMAN FOREVER, I love you.”
Rose Lavelle and Lindsey Horan
Lindsey Horan and Rose Lavelle are an incredible pair on the pitch and just as tight in their downtime. These two came up through the ranks together, and after seeing the USWNT’s sweet throwback of these two, we couldn’t help but think of how far they’ve come together.ย
Ali Krieger and Megan Rapinoe
This is a friendship we were all reminded of this past season, and boy, is it special. Ali Krieger and Megan Rapinoe have been teammates for well over a decade. We’ve seen them at their highest highs and at their lowest lows, and they have always been there to support each other. Facing off against one another in a retirement championship matchโduring some of the pair’s hardest times, personally and professionallyโwe could all feel the love from wherever we were watching.ย
Naomi Girma and Sophia Smith
Naomi Girma and Sophia Smith were at Stanford together and have stuck together ever since. This friendship goes even deeper than teammates because they shared the loss of their best friend, Katie Meyer, two years ago. We love to see these two playing together on the USWNT and using their platforms to speak up about mental health.ย
Lynn Williams and Sam Mewis
Longtime teammates and former roommates Lynn Williams and Sam Mewis have reached the ultimate friendship goalโthey started a podcast. The New York Flash turned NC Courage players started Snacks back in 2021 and had conversations about soccer and friendship until the spring of last year.ย
The Thompson sisters
Anyone with siblings knows that those are your first friends, and that is happily the case for Alyssa and Gisele Thompson. These two are just over a year apart and have been tight from the very start. Now teammates at Angel City FC, the Thompson sisters, are about to take on the world together.ย
Alana Cook, Tierna Davidson, and Andi Sullivan
These three met as teenagers and have been thick as thieves ever since. Bonding at Stanford these three have known each other since 2015, they have gone from teammates to opponents and back again between their different USWNT and NWSL careers. But one thing stays the same no matter the team they represent, their love for each other.ย
Ally Sentnor and Savy King
One of the newest friendships to make it to the pros, we have UNC’s Ally Sentnor and Savy King. The first and second-round draft picks, respectively, for this year’s NWSL draft took to TikTok to celebrate their accomplishment and friendship. These two young players are eager to go toe-to-toe in the coming season, and we can’t wait to see how they do.ย
Featured image via Getty Images
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