Over the years, Kellyn Acosta desperately wanted to fit in. However, the midfielder for the Los Angeles F.C., a Major League Soccer club, realized that being different made him who he was. This past year in Qatar at the World Cup, Acosta became the first Asian American, and the first Japanese American, to play on […]
Margueritte Aozasa makes history in UCLA Women’s soccer’s championship victory
For Margueritte Aozasa, the victory was “quite a comeback story.” On Dec. 5, Aozasa made history, becoming the first rookie head coach in NCAA women’s soccer history and the second Asian American head coach to win the national championship, according to an article from the UCLA Athletics department, as her University of California, Los Angeles […]
U.S.-based soccer player Yokoyama comes out as transgender
TOKYO — Japanese forward Kumi Yokoyama, who plays for the Washington Spirit in the U.S.-based National Women’s Soccer League, has come out as transgender in a YouTube video. “In the future, I want to quit soccer and live as a man,†the 27-year-old said in a 19-minute video published on fellow Japanese player Yuki Nagasato’s […]
Cameron Iwasa perseveres and scores with hometown team
Cameron Iwasa never thought he would be playing professional soccer. The Sacramento Republic FC forward thought he would simply play the sport at the University of California, Irvine while pursuing his degree in business economics, which he plans to obtain this summer. But upon seeing some of his college teammates getting a chance to play […]
FAST PITCH: Five more to watch
Here are five more athletes of Asian descent to watch. Ashima Shiraishi, rock climber, USAAlready one of the premier rock climbers in the world at just 18, Shiraishi has been a competitive climber since she was just seven years old. Known for her bouldering and lead climbing abilities, she is perhaps most famous for her […]
Despite disappointment, Japan can take pride
ROSTOV-ON-DON, Russia — Following a tumultuous and at-times controversial journey to the knockout stage, Japan came close to reaching their first-ever World Cup quarterfinals on July 2 before having their hearts broken by a last-gasp Belgium goal. In a turn of events few would have predicted, the Samurai Blue fought their way to a 2-0 […]
Japan beats U.S. to seal Women’s World Cup fairytale
FRANKFURT (Kyodo) — Saki Kumagai completed a fairytale finish with the decisive spot kick as Japan stunned the United States 3-1 on penalties to win the Women’s World Cup for the first time after a 2-2 draw in extra time in the July 17 final in Frankfurt. Tournament MVP Homare Sawa forced penalties with an […]
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