From College Soccer to England Women's Euro 2022 squad

Demi Stokes playing soccer for USF

Demi Stokes

Demi Stokes Instagram

College: University of Florida (USF) 2011-2014  

Born in Birmingham, raised in South Shields, Stokes signed for Sunderland at 8yrs of age. At 16 Demi was  a vital member of the Black Cats squad that reached the Women’s FA Cup Final in 2009. In 2011 Stokes accepted a scholarship at the University of Florida where she would go onto play 72 times in her four years at USF.

Scoring 17 goals and providing 14 assists, Demi earned Second Team All-Conference Honors in her Senior year helping USF reach the NCAA National tournament.Now with over 60 senior England caps and over 150 appearances for Manchester City in the WSL, Demi has cemented herself as a legendary left back for Manchester City. Her performances on the pitch have seen her been awarded with individual accolades being in back to back PFA WSL Team of the Year: 2018, 2019.

Lucy Bronze signs for Barca

Lucy Bronze

Lucy Bronze Instagram

College: University of North Carolina (UNC) 2009

In 2009 Bronze moved to the United States to study at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and play for the North Carolina Tar Heels women's soccer team. Prior to moving to UNC Bronze played for Sunderland and was in the same team as Demi Stokes that made the 2009 FA cup final.Bronze would only stay at UNC for 1 year however it was a fantastic year for Bronze which resulted in her winning the NCAA Championship.

With 24 appearances and 3 goals, Bronze had a standout season at UNC receiving All-American Honors, and helping UNC to the title as a freshman. Due to her fantastic year at college Bronze was subject to interest from clubs back in England and in 2010 Bronze decided not to return to college and signed a professional contract at 19 with Everton.Since turning Pro, Bronze has gone onto have a stellar career playing at the highest level of women's soccer winning every major honour in the club game. Recently joining Barcelona, and having played for Manchester City, Liverpool & OL. Bronze has been an ever present at the top of the women's game closing in on 100 caps with England. Voted Best Player in the World in 2020, Lucy Bronze is one of the greatest players England has produced.

SSP Ambassador Rachel Daly, playing for St John's University

Rachel Daly

SSP Ambassador Rachel Daly Instagram

College: St John's University (NY) 2013-2015

From Harrogate, Rachel represented England at youth level through U15 - U23 before venturing across the Atlantic to play her collegiate soccer at St. John’s University (NY). In just three years for the Red Storm, she became the Red Storm's record goal scorer (50) and graduated with her Sports Management Degree. Rachel was the first player in Red Storm history to be named a semi-finalist for the Hermann Trophy. Daly would go onto finish her career at St Johns playing 60 games, scoring 50 goals and assisting 11 times.After graduating and finishing her senior year as Big East Offensive Player of the year, Rachel declared for 2016 WSL Draft.

Selected sixth overall by the Houston Dash in the NWSL College Draft, Rachel this year will reach over 100 games played for the Dash which include over 30 goals and is considered a leader on the team as one of their co-captains. Helping the team win the 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup, winning both MVP and golden boot winner in the process!  Now an established member of the England squad, Rachel has over 50 caps for her country. Rachel brings major tournament experience to the squad having played in the 2019 World Cup, Winning both 2019 Shebelieves and Arnold Clark Cup & being apart off team GB at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Lotte Wubben - Moy playing soccer for UNC

Lotte Wubben - Moy

Lotte Wubben - Moy instagram

College: University of North Carolina (UNC) 2017-2019

Born in Bow, London, Lotte began her career at Arsenal making her debut for the club at 16. In 2017 Wubben-Moy was offered the chance to play at college in the states for UNC. She would go onto make 62 appearances scoring 6 and assisting 12 in her 3 years as a Tar Heel. A Second-team All-ACC selection and named in the All-Tournament Team at 2019 ACC Tournament. In her sophomore and junior year, Lotte and the Tar Heels had great seasons reaching the NCAA College Cup Final on both occasions.

Covid brought her college career to a premature end, and in 2020 Lotte would return to Arsenal signing her first professional deal. After 2 years playing in the WSL Wubben-Moy received her senior international call up in 2021 and has made an impression and was part of the Euro 2022 squad.

Alessia Russo playing soccer at UNC

Alessia Russo

Alessia Russo Instagram

College: University of North Carolina (UNC) 2017-2019

Before heading to UNC in 2017 Russo began her career at Charlton Athletic's centre of excellence, before joining Chelsea's development squad.Russo had a fantastic college career at UNC, scoring 28 goals in 57 appearances. In her freshman year Russo was awarded, Co-ACC Freshman of the Year, ACC All-Freshman Team selection and United Soccer Coaches All-East Region first team selection. As a sophomore Russo was 2018 ACC Offensive Player of the Year, First-team All-ACC selection, United Soccer Coaches first-team All-Atlantic Region selection & Semi-finalist for 2018 Hermann Trophy.  

In her final year at UNC, Russo was part of the UNC team which reached back-to-back NCAA College Cup finals along with team mate Lotte Wubben-Moy. A Hermann Trophy semi-finalist & Most Valuable Player of the 2019 ACC Tournament.  Russo decided to forgo her final year at UNC due to the pandemic and in September 2020 signed her first professional contract with Manchester United. In her first 2 years in the WSL Russo has scored 12 goals and received her first England Senior call up.

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