As Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 marks Hispanic Heritage Month, teams across the National Women’s Soccer League are hosting theme nights to recognize and celebrate the holiday.
While some teams are giving Hispanic Heritage Month the recognition it deserves, there is still more work to be done. Players from diverse backgrounds have shared how their upbringing shaped them as athletes, and many hope the league will do more to highlight the true significance of this month.
“I’ve been here in the USA for so many years and I feel like the month reminds me that it’s not easy to be here and this month reminds me that we celebrate it for a reason,” said Angel City FC midfielder Rocky Rodriguez. “I see people from home all of the time and I think it’s worth celebrating because it’s not easy to excel in this world and break barriers for people that look like us or that come from places that we come from.”