9 NWSL LGBTQ+ Role Models You Should Follow This Pride Month
It’s June, which means it’s time to celebrate Pride Month! The NWSL puts a lot of effort towards being inclusive for all and celebrating the LGBTQ+ community. Here are nine NWSL LGBTQ+ role models you should follow!
Paige Nielsen
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Houston Dash Defender Paige Nielsen is a vocal advocate of LGBTQ+ rights and was one of Angel City FC’s queer icons. After sharing her story about her marriage to her wife, Jennifer, Nielsen quickly became an outspoken advocate for love and acceptance and often shares photos of her wife and dogs on Instagram. “I think making single, individual impacts can go very far,” Nielsen said in an interview for Just Women’s Sports. “Some people were very vulnerable with me and said they never told anyone before.”
Carly Nelson
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Utah Royals Goalkeeper Carly Nelson understands the pain of hiding her Queer identity because of religious expectations. Raised in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Nelson kept her identity hidden until, at 13 years old, she came out to her best friend. She experienced bullying through high school until finding a loving and accepting community of teammates at the University of Utah. Now, Nelson speaks out against homophobia and is a staunch advocate for LGBTQ+ rights.
Jess Fishlock
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Seattle Reign midfielder Jess Fishlock is not only a star on the pitch, but she’s a star in the LGBTQ+ community, as well. An outspoken Queer player and advocate, she was appointed as a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE), an honor given to those who show “outstanding achievement or service to the community.” Fishlock received the designation for her advocacy. In 2020, she was also named a Stonewall Sports Champion. “Sport is a powerful vehicle for change and my hope is that whether you’re a fan or a player,” she said in an interview with Wales Online, “from grassroots to the top leagues in the world – we can create an open, accessible and safe environment for us all to thrive.”
Kelley O’Hara
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USWNT star and Gotham FC player Kelley O’Hara, who announced her retirement this year, became a Queer icon after kissing her partner, Kameryn Stanhouse, after winning the World Cup. O’Hara is also an executive producer for the Queer short soccer film, Ripe!
Marta
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Orlando Pride player and football legend Marta is an out Queer player in a relationship with teammate Carrie Lawrence. Marta, who accepted the FIFA Special Award in 2023, said in her speech, “As I’m looking at this award, I want all women to also be able to see a promising future, where it isn’t targeted just at football or sport, but at any activity….Because what we’re striving for every day, through what God intended for us, is to try to make the world a better place for everyone. With no exceptions. It’s striving for equality. It’s striving for respect.”
Christen Press
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USWNT star and Angel City forward is a Queer icon, although lacked a formal “coming out.” She and her partner, fellow USWNT player Tobin Heath, are active and vocal advocates for equal pay and equal rights. They both were awarded Women’s Way’s prestigious Lucretia Mott award for their activism toward gender equity.
Quinn
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Seattle Reign FC midfielder, Quinn, came out as nonbinary and transgender in 2020. They became the first out trans and nonbinary Olympic gold medalist. Quinn is an outspoken advocate for trans rights and speaks out against the NWSL’s trans-inclusion policies.
Quinn has also discussed the importance of representation and what it means for trans people to see themselves represented in all spheres of life. “I think that was so crucial for me when I was figuring out my trans identity, was to be able to see trans people be successful in their careers – whether it was through politics, whether it was through writing, whether it was through sports. I think that gave me a lot of hope for my future,” Quinn said in an interview with The Victory Press.
DiDi Haračić
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Angel City Goalkeeper DiD Haračić has been out since college and has since spoken out about the importance of sports as a unifying force for change, especially for those in the LGBTQ+ community.
“I’m blessed to be surrounded by a great group of empowering women who support the LGBTQ community, and also those who share their experiences as out athletes,” she told Athlete Ally.
Carson Pickett
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Racing Louisville Defender Carson Pickett has been a voice for limb difference awareness. She was the first player with a limb difference to play for the US Women’s National Team and went viral for her fan interaction with a 5-year-old fan who also has a limb difference. She is also a member of the LGBTQ+ community and is in a relationship with teammate Abby Erceg.
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