New story: The Future of U.S. Women's Soccer Is Here
I wrote about the next generation of USWNT stars, including Naomi Girma, Trinity Rodman and Sophia Smith
Hey everyone! My newest story for The Ringer is on the young core of the USWNT, set to take on their first World Cup this week. I focused on Naomi Girma, Trinity Rodman and Sophia Smith, but the piece is about the young core collectively. I even snuck in a detail about them having their own book club (the book nerd in me loved this detail!) But what really made this piece interesting to me to report on was that I got to interview Alex Morgan. Her perspective was so valuable. She has never seen anything like this before in young players coming up in the USWNT system. “The talent level is just unmatched,” Morgan told me. I hope when you read this story you get a sense of not just the individual stories presented, but the collective bond this exciting core has, what makes them so unique *together*. I love that their shining characteristic is their “creativity” and “fearlessness.” Please read and share the story!:
https://www.theringer.com/soccer/2023/7/17/23795273/us-womens-soccer-world-cup-preview
Aside from this, I am deep in writing my Hakeem Olajuwon book. I saw this on Twitter yesterday from the account sarahroseeter and figured I’d re-share for anyone else struggling with writing. When asked what was the best piece of writing advice she’s ever received, she wrote: “Finish the draft. That’s it. It’s so simple, but we make it so complicated. Even if it’s messy and ugly and wrong, just finish it. Without the first draft you have nothing: you juts have an idea for a book. And everyone—I mean EVERYONE—has an idea for a book. It’s just vaporware if you don’t finish the first draft. It’s so easy to get caught up in thinking: Who’s going to publish it? What’s the cover going to look like? I want a review in the New York Times! But all of that is fantasy without a first draft. Obviously editing is important, but you have nothing to edit without a first draft. Finish the draft. Nothing else matters.”
Whew. May we all Finish The Draft.