Girls Soccer Network Joins Miss Kick FC as Official Kit Sleeve Sponsor

May 24, 2022
By News Desk

Los Angeles, California, May 24, 2022: Girls Soccer Network is excited to announce their kit sponsorship with debutant WPSL team Miss Kick FC for the upcoming summer season! This brings together two brands on two different continents that have a strong connection with female soccer culture as well as missions to empower and uplift the next generation.

Miss Kick FC is the brainchild of 25-year-old Grace Vella and is a manifestation of her popular clothing brand, Miss Kick. Based in the UK, Miss Kick launched in 2018 when Miss Vella realized that kit, culture, confidence, and credibility were lacking in female sport. The brand is a hit with female footballers in the UK, but Vella did not want to stop there. “America is such a huge market and such an exciting country, and we want to have a piece of that!”

The Miss Kick brand was something that caught Girls Soccer Network CEO Jennifer Gruskoff’s eye a few years ago. “You can tell when the kids are repping something with gusto there’s something to it. I noticed this happening through social media and watched them cultivate a community.”

Vella contacted Gruskoff on a trip to Los Angeles when she was meeting with U.C. Irvine coach Scott Juniper, who had signed on as coach to Miss Kick FC and is a big reason Grace’s vision was able to come to reality. Juniper, whose U.C. Irvine Anteaters took down UCLA in the sweet sixteen of the College Cup last season, helped her shape the team by assembling a roster that is filled with quality talent and an incredible mix of current college players, former pros, and up-and-comers.

For Gruskoff, this signaled an opportunity. “Both of our companies see soccer as a launchpad that benefits girls way beyond their playing days. Plus, the notion of what it is to be “amateur” is evolving and, in my opinion, an extremely cool area to explore. What is amateur these days? I mean, there is so much female footballing talent at every level of the game now and not enough pro teams to utilize it. I just think if you give this team, and the WPSL some camera time, people will see how exciting this game is at the “amateur” level.”

Girls Soccer Network co-produced the Miss Kick FC kit reveal shoot and is also working on a documentary about Grace Vella’s journey into becoming president of a football team. “Grace is inspiring, and we’re excited to help tell the Miss Kick FC story as it unfolds. This is going to be great content for both of our communities and hopefully inspire many.”