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As a child, Californian Lisa Wrightsman was anxious and felt she didn’t fit in. But after being introduced to soccer, her confidence was transformed because she could do things on the pitch that others couldn’t. Her ability took her to college and gave her the opportunity to play with the country’s best players and the national team.
On track to play at the highest level herself, Lisa’s dreams were cut short in 2003 when the women’s professional league announced it would be dissolving. Struggling to cope with this dramatic shift, Lisa became addicted to drugs and gave up her soccer ambitions. That was until she met a rag-tag team of soccer players, all former addicts or struggling with poverty. This team would re-ignite her love of the game.

Presenter: Asya Fouks
Producer: Tommy Dixon

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(Photo: Lisa Wrightsman playing soccer in College Credit: Sacramento State Athletics)