Naomi Girma is a professional soccer player for the USWNT and San Diego Wave. Born in San Jose, California, Naomi is the first player of Ethiopian descent to play for the U.S. Women's National Team. In Athlete Voices: First Gen Team USA, Naomi speaks with women's sports reporter Ari Chambers about what it means to represent the United States as a first-generation American, her hopes for other children of immigrants, and the future of the USWNT.
"I am first generation, so I didn't really know that much about the soccer landscape or where it could take me. So I feel like me and my family were kind of figuring it out together."
"It's very much a part of Ethiopian culture. Everyone loves soccer, so it kind of just came naturally to us."
"I saw the whole Ethiopian community in the Bay. Just people I knew, people I didn't know showing out and just cheering for us, cheering for Stanford just because I was on the team. I think that was one of the times where I was like, oh, okay, I've got a squad behind me and they're rooting for me."
"I went along and played in college and then ended up playing with the US. I think it's just about making our family and our communities proud and putting on for them and just showing out and honoring them."
" I'm proud of myself for staying true to myself and no matter what happens, whether it's good or bad, just doing what I do because I love it."
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