JUSTINE CHIU
Growing up, I didn't participate in team sports. Most of my physical activity was through Dance Dance Revolution at the mall arcade by myself, and the closest I got to an actual sport was figure skating up until the age 12, which also happened to be a highly solo sport.
It was not only when I met my partner that I entered the world of curling. It is a sport where you will meet and play with people of all ages, physical strengths, and personalities. It taught me a lot about communication on and off the ice, and introduced me to multi-generational friendships. Curling showed me that it's never too late to get your start in sports.
BECKI CIVELLO
I fell in love with playing sports at a young age and learned many invaluable life lessons along the way - teamwork and perseverance - among others. I had the privilege of having an incredible youth soccer coach - he had the team start and end every game with a three H’s chant - “Heart, Hustle, Have Fun” - regardless of the game outcome. It was incredibly impactful. The “three H’s” stayed with me and I try to live by them every day.
NICOLE DABE
“I am a member of the team, and I rely on the team, I defer to it and sacrifice for it, because the team, not the individual, is the ultimate champion” - Mia Hamm
VERONICA DAY
Track & Field was my first passion, shaping my journey from childhood through college and beyond. It became the foundation for my success in more aspects of life than I ever imagined—from navigating professional challenges to competing for Team USA in skeleton. It instilled discipline, confidence, teamwork, and the bravery to push past limits. Encouraging more girls to compete in sports means giving them the same opportunity to build lifelong skills that extend far beyond the field of play.
ALLIE FUMO
Playing volleyball taught me about teamwork, perseverance, and leadership—skills that have been crucial in every aspect of my life.
BRITTANY MARCHAND
Sports have been a part of my life from the very beginning. Golf in particular, brought me more than I could have ever imagined. The travel, the friends, the connections, the wins and the losses…I am grateful for it all.
But one of the things that I am most grateful for, was the discipline and determination it taught me.
My grandfather got me into golf and he instilled in me that with hard work and discipline anything was possible. And he was right, there was nothing like the feeling of holding up a trophy knowing that all your hardwork and determination had just paid off.
Though I’m not playing competitively anymore, I still use all that I learned from sport in this new chapter of my life.
OLIVIA PROCTOR
Growing up, sports gave me the chance to travel across the country and build friendships with people I never would have crossed paths with otherwise—an experience that has been one of the highlights of my life. Lacrosse, in particular, opened doors for me to receive an incredible education, setting me up for success both professionally and in life.
JOANNA SOLOWEY
Sports have been part of my life for as long as I can remember. My father instilled in me a love of baseball - and the Yankees, in particular (hence the #7 on my jersey) - from a very young age. In fact, my parents still joke that I learned to read by reading the box scores in The New York Times every morning.
I am incredibly hopeful my two young children will love sports as much as I do. Playing a team sport taught me so many critical life lessons - about myself, how to work with and depend on others, how to win and lose graciously - and I can’t wait for them to have those experiences too.
At a minimum, I am grateful my daughter has the opportunity to play softball from a young age (and not with the boys like I had to) and that, should she play, her batting helmet will come with a hole in the back for her ponytail!
CRISTINA VANDERBECK
I swam competitively till I came to the U.S. - I was part of the (Brazilian) state and even national team between 11-15 years old - funny enough one of my first trips to the states was for a swim camp in Fort Lauderdale when I was 12.
