By Alexa Taylor, Cronkite PR Lab
Many athletes come to Arizona State with a dream and make it a reality, but few come and leave a legacy. Nicole Douglas came to play soccer all the way from England, and she has made her mark both at ASU and now as a professional.
Douglas grew up in London, England and her love for the sport began at four years old when her twin brother needed an extra person on his soccer team. She was the only female athlete to play on that team for years, and credits her brother for introducing her to the sport, and allowing her to be in the position she is now.
“We were in the back garden, and just kicking the ball around and then he went to go to a soccer practice with our local team. I didn't want to join in, but then they needed one more player, so my brother brought me in. That's how I got into soccer. If I didn't have a brother that played soccer at such a young age, I don't think I would be playing soccer today.”
Douglas then got scouted to play for Chelsea, a UK soccer club, where she played from age six to 17. When it came time to make a decision on whether or not to play professionally or continue her education, she found her way here to Arizona State.
When choosing where to go to school specifically, Douglas says Arizona State instantly felt like home.
“I came to visit ASU and as soon as I stepped on campus, I saw the city itself, and the facilities and I met the girls on the team and the coaches. I just fell in love with it straight away. And I knew that this is where I wanted to be for the next four or five years.”
Douglas played for five years at ASU while completing her undergraduate degree in health and wellness and nutrition as well as her masters in higher and post-secondary education.
During her time, Douglas became the Sun Devils’ all-time leading scorer for women’s soccer, the first two-time All American, and led the team to play for the NCAA title twice. Despite the accolades, Douglas speaks humbly about her legacy and what that means for those playing at ASU after her.
“It's something I didn't think of before when I came in as a freshman. I didn't really think about breaking records. I just wanted to get as much playing time as I could and make an impact on the team, said Douglas. “So for me to break multiple records was honestly more than I could have ever dreamed of. Hopefully someone can come close, or challenge my records, because I want to make the program better. And, hopefully, the other people that come to play at ASU can hopefully strive to do even better than I did.”
Douglas is quick to credit her accomplishments to her teammates. She recognizes their support and how much they pushed her to be the best athlete she could be on the field. She
acknowledged that navigating through a new environment and being in a new country away from family, she relied heavily on her team and coaches.
“My teammates were a big part of my success, probably the biggest part even. They pushed me everyday to be better and supported me with everything that I did on and off the field. If it wasn't for my teammates on that team, and the quality that we had on that team, then I don't think breaking records would have been possible.”
Most recently, Douglas was selected to play for the National Women’s Soccer League as the 26th overall pick to the Washington Spirit. It’s a dream she had been striving for since she was young.
“Since I started playing soccer, it has been my dream to play professionally. For my name to be called at the draft to play in the NWSL was a dream come true. I'll never forget because it's the moment that made me realize this is the dream that I always wanted to reach. And now that I’ve been able to reach it and there's just no words to describe how much it meant.”
Douglas and her Spirit teammates won their first game and played their second game to a draw, showing a promising start to her career as a professional athlete. She has already seen her first game action in the Spirit's 2-2 draw against Louisville earlier this month.
“I'm excited to be part of the team and to play as many minutes as I can. I want opportunities to try and help the team as much as possible and be in a professional environment. The more that I thought about being a professional athlete, and learning from these experienced players that have been in the league, I know it will help me become a better player.”
Douglas added that she will play soccer for as long as her body allows her, and in the future she hopes to achieve her coaching certificate to share her passion with other athletes.
To watch Douglas' current exploits on the pitch playing for the Washington Spirit, NWSL games are aired exclusively on Paramount+.