• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Cooper Squared

Multimedia and multidimensional storytelling from NYU undergraduate students

Cooper Squared>
  • Home
  • About
  • COVID-19 Pandemic
  • Multimedia
    • Audio
    • Photo
    • Video
    • The Word
  • Politics
    • Election 2020
  • Social Justice
  • Sports
  • Ukraine

Not Just For Kicks – Professional Women’s Soccer Is Here To Stay

December 23, 2016 by Rajvi Desai

The third attempt at starting a National Women’s Soccer League in the United States began in 2013. Unlike the previous efforts, the NWSL successfully progressed into its fourth year, a feat that had never been accomplished before. This time around, there are sponsors, television coverage, and most importantly, fans.

Sky Blue Football Club, the only professional women’s soccer club in the tri-state area has witnessed the rise of an enthusiastic team with big names like Christy Rampone and Natasha Kai as players. They have also enjoyed unwavering support from their supporters’ club, Cloud 9.

nwsl4
Christy Rampone, 41 and former captain of the United States Women’s National Team is about to kick the ball in training with her Sky Blue FC teammates on their training ground at Georgian Court University in Lakewood, New Jersey.
nwsl3
Natasha Kai, 33 and another United States Women’s National Team player, in training at Georgian Court University. According to Sky Blue FC fans, Kai has brought character to the team. She is particularly loved for her hashtags on social media ‘#boombam’ and ‘#madafaka’.
nwsl7
A still from Sky Blue FC’s training. The women fight to train everyday in freezing temperatures, for a salary averaging $15,000 per annum.
nwsl5
Nikki Stanton, 26, midfielder for Sky Blue FC gave up years of competitive Irish dancing so she could “push people over on the soccer field.”
nwsl1
Heather Lamb, 29 sports a Cloud 9 jersey, the official supporters’ club for Sky Blue FC. Cloud 9 members come to the city to watch games and cheer their team on in the Football Factory of Legends Bar at 6 W 33rd St, New York, NY.
nwsl6
Antony Lin, 31, signs his Cloud 9 membership renewal form in the Football Factory of Legends Bar at 6 W 33rd St, New York, NY. Amidst fandom that predominantly compromises of soccer moms and teenage fangirls, Cloud 9 is trying to appeal to members who not only follow soccer, but yell, chant and go berserk over it. Lin is one of them.
nwsl17
Heather Lamb, 26, waits for the start of Sky Blue FC vs Washington Spirit at Sky Blue’s home turf, Rutgers University. She is the ‘Hype Girl’ – a snare-drum-carrying, loudly-chanting, ruthlessly-bantering part of Cloud 9 Supporters’ Group.
nwsl18
Only a small section of the bleachers, Section 9 filled with 15-20 supporters, is abundant with Sky Blue paraphernalia.
nwsl8
Middle – Jennifer Muller, 40, considers Cloud 9 her brainchild. She will resort to threats to get people to come to the game. “Whatever it takes,” she says.
nwsl14
Heather Lamb, 26, on her way, snare-drum in hand, to try and get the quiet crowd riled up for their “Jersey Girls.”
nwsl16
Squirtle, age unknown, is a key member of Cloud 9, according to owner Francesca Duarte, a proud Cloud 9 member.
nwsl19
Heather Lamb, 26, talks to a captivated audience and tries to convince them to come along for the ride as she moves between sections of the bleachers at Rutgers University.
nwsl11
Danny ‘Chico’ Prada, chant coordinator for Cloud 9, engages in playful banter with the supporters’ group of the rival team, Washington Spirit by holding up a scarf that says “Jersey Girls Ain’t Nuthin Ta Mess Wit”.
nwsl9
Christy Rampone, 41 engages in conversation with a fan after the game at Rutgers University.

Filed Under: Multimedia, Photo, Sports Tagged With: empowerment, equality, football, jersey, soccer, sports, women

Primary Sidebar

Categories

  • Audio
  • COVID-19 Pandemic
  • Election 2020
  • Features
  • Food
  • Multimedia
  • Photo
  • Politics
  • Social Justice
  • Sports
  • The Word
  • Ukraine
  • Uncategorized
  • Video

Recent Posts

Global dreams in Corona, Queens

December 14, 2022 By Liam Hibbert

The Power of College Journalism

December 13, 2022 By Nandini Gupta, Julia Fhym Luna

Afro-Costa Rican’s history of inequality & long road to Pura Vida

December 13, 2022 By Alaysia Lane

Kendama: Why is a traditional Japanese wooden toy getting so popular in the US?

December 10, 2022 By Chi Tian

Footer

Recent Posts

  • Global dreams in Corona, Queens
  • The Power of College Journalism
  • Afro-Costa Rican’s history of inequality & long road to Pura Vida
  • Kendama: Why is a traditional Japanese wooden toy getting so popular in the US?
  • Yukako Satone: Queen of the loom

Categories

  • Audio
  • COVID-19 Pandemic
  • Election 2020
  • Features
  • Food
  • Multimedia
  • Photo
  • Politics
  • Social Justice
  • Sports
  • The Word
  • Ukraine
  • Uncategorized
  • Video

A project of the NYU Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute