Queer athletic power on display at the USWNT’s Players Ball
The 2025 USWNT Players Ball Had It All: Honoring women's soccer legends, Leslie Jones and the USWNT's rendition of 'Strut.' The post Queer athletic power on display at the USWNT’s Players Ball appeared first on Outsports.
Mark
The U.S. Women’s national soccer team celebrated its recently retired legends at their yearly party, The Players Ball.
Put on by the U.S. Women’s National Team Player’s Assn., this annual celebration is known as the soccer player’s event of the year and a must on the queer sports calendar. This year, the USWNT celebrated recent retirees Tobin Heath, Kelley O’Hara, Sam Mewis, Meghan Klingenberg and Alex Morgan as well as the 10th anniversary of the USWNT’s 2015 World Cup win.
The crew at Jockular Pod was fortunate enough to attend this year’s big event, as hosts of the incomparable Sarah Spain.
With Leslie Jones on the mic, the event featured a performance from Glitteress and — like any good event — multiple breaks for dancing.
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Fans of the USWNT will remember the team’s 2015 World Cup win, beating Japan 5-2 behind Carli LLoyd’s hat trick and goals from Lauren Holiday and Tobin Heath. Lloyd won the Golden Ball that same tournament, with Hope Solo earning the Golden Glove. This was the first of their two back-to-back World Cup wins, winning the title in 2019 as well.
The 1999 players formed the first women’s team to win a World Cup, setting the stage for an unprecedented women’s soccer boom in the United States. It is these pioneers who helped pave the way for teams like the 2015 USWNT to exist.
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Tobin Heath announces end to incredible career, marries teammate Christen Press
Tobin Heath has plenty to celebrate, including an incredible soccer career with the USWNT, and her recent marriage to Christen Press.
Fans of the team — and players — have been fortunate enough to watch the sport and its players to grow over the decades. More specifically, the USWNT has had multiple players come out since their time on the team. From married couple Heath and Press to Kelley O’Hara and her fiancee, Kameryn Stanhouse, it was incredible to see legendary players walk the purple carpet, now out and proud with their partners.
Perhaps the event of the night — honors and accolades aside — was the moment the Cheetah Girls came on stage. No, not the actual Cheetah Girls, but the USWNT’s rendition of “Strut.”
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The post Queer athletic power on display at the USWNT’s Players Ball appeared first on Outsports.
