Who is USWNT player Naomi Girma?

Rennae Stubbs, a former coach of Serena Williams, asserts that immigrants are indisputably the foundation of the country. This belief has been strengthened by Naomi Girma, a USWNT player of Ethiopian descent, who earned a spot in the squad for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Girma, the daughter of immigrants from Ethiopia, is considered one of the best female soccer players today. She was selected as the first overall pick in the 2022 NWSL Draft and subsequently signed with the San Diego Wave. Girma’s remarkable performance during her first professional season earned her the prestigious NWSL Defender of the Year and Rookie of the Year honors.

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Who is USWNT player Naomi Girma?

Naomi Haile Girma is an American professional soccer player who competes for San Diego Wave FC in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) and the United States national team. She was born on June 14, 2000, and was selected as the first overall pick in the 2022 NWSL Draft.

Having displayed exceptional talent from a young age, Girma has represented the American under-17, under-19, and under-20 national teams. Her impressive skills and leadership qualities were evident during her time at Stanford Cardinal, where she captained the team to victory in the Women’s College Cup in 2019.

Naomi’s parents, Girma Aweke and Seble Demissie, both Ethiopian immigrants, met in the Bay Area and later gave birth to Naomi in San Jose, California. She has an elder brother named Nathaniel, who is three years her senior. Growing up, both English and Amharic were spoken in her family, reflecting her Ethiopian heritage.

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Girma’s soccer journey began with the Maleda Soccer Club, a neighborhood team her father founded in 2005 specifically for the Bay Area’s Ethiopian community. During her childhood, she also attended basketball games at the YMCA and Hacienda Elementary School, following the interests of her older brother.

Before fully committing to soccer in middle school, she spent five years practicing gymnastics.

In 2010, Girma joined the neighborhood youth group Central Valley Crossfire and remained with the team until its dissolution in 2017. She impressed coaches in 2009 after a practice session she attended with the introduction of a friend. Under the guidance of coach Bob Joyce, Girma played for Crossfire and made significant progress. Encouraged by Joyce, she also participated in Olympic Development Program competitions and was invited to a camp with the US U-14 national team. As she progressed in her soccer journey, she went on to play for other teams like Pioneer High School, California Thorns Academy, and De Anza Force as a guest player.

Her exceptional skills did not go unnoticed, and in the 2022 NWSL Draft, Girma was chosen as the first overall pick by San Diego Wave FC. Throughout May and June 2022, her outstanding performances earned her a spot in the NWSL Best XI of the Month, and in June, she was named NWSL Rookie of the Month. By the end of the campaign, Girma’s exceptional talents were recognized with both the NWSL Defender of the Year and NWSL Rookie of the Year awards.

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Girma’s talent and dedication were recognized by San Diego Wave FC, who awarded her a new contract that will keep her with the team until 2026. The contract extension was signed on June 14, 2023.

Throughout her soccer career, Girma has been a prominent figure in the American under-17, under-19, and under-20 national teams. Her leadership skills were evident when she captained the under-20 squad. In December, she was honored with the title of 2020 U.S. Soccer Young Female Player of the Year.

On April 12, 2022, Girma made her debut for the senior national team during a friendly match against Uzbekistan. She also played a crucial role in the 2022 CONCACAF W Championship, where she assisted Sophia Smith in a victory over Jamaica.

Her remarkable performances and contributions to the sport have led to her selection to represent the United States in the highly prestigious 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.