This offseason was a bit different for Lo’eau LaBonta.
Rather than sticking at home in the Midwest and readying for the Kansas City Current season, she took a slight detour and headed to California for the USWNT’s January camp and a pair of friendlies against Paraguay and Chile.
LaBonta, at 32, was the oldest player invited into camp by coach Emma Hayes while the European-based players remained with their club teams and Gotham competed in the first FIFA Women’s Champions Cup.
LaBonta started in the 6-0 victory over Paraguay then rested for the win over Chile as Hayes got what is considered one of her last looks at the national team’s newbies. LaBonta’s start came in her fifth appearance for the United States, and she became the oldest player to make a first start for the team.
“I’ve been loving it. I’ve learned so much here,” she said following the game against Chile. “I have to play a lot of different roles here, and it’s my first time in an offseason I’ve prepped for the national team instead of my club team. So it’s been great. I’ve enjoyed it. It’s funny that at such an older age, in this in this job, I’m still thriving and learning new things.”
LaBonta is nothing if not persistent.
She was cut by her first NWSL team, Sky Blue, then bounced around at the mercy of the Soccer Gods between FC Kansas City and the Utah Royals and finally to the Kansas City Current as teams folded and re-emerged.
Kansas City coach Vlatko Andonovski put LaBonta in position to play to her strengths, and that caught the eye of Hayes, who gave her a first national team call-up last May.
“She’s been consistent in everything that she has done. And I think with the volume of young players, or less experienced players, we’re bringing in, I think we have to get that balance right,” Hayes said that the time.
LaBonta went on become the oldest player in USWNT history to earn a first cap when she played in a 3-0 victory over China on May 31.
“I mean, it’s, it’s a dream come true, right?” she said while in Southern California last month. “And yes, it took a while for me to get there. I never gave up. It’s just we talk about the journey so much, and that’s what it has been for me.”
LaBonta is unfailingly positive and, at least off the field, always seems to wear a smile. And she’s good humored: Who can forget that viral twerking celly in 2022?
But she’s got a serious side, too. An engineering at Stanford, and she also considers herself a student of the game.
“I think it’s fascinating that I’ve been in this game for so long, and I’ve also grown up with the game. A lot of the times people thought American soccer was just kick the ball, chase after it, very transitional. And what we do here now, with Emma, is we want to keep the ball. We want to create these little opportunities. And possession creates opportunities on goal,” she said. “And so I’ve loved to being a part of that, because I love to have the ball.”
LaBonta said that while at times she had doubts that she might never get her shot at the national team, she never considered giving up.
“You continue to get those, we call them preliminary rosters, where they’re like, you might be called in, and then they’re like, actually you’re not going to get called in. And yes, that tears at you a little bit but it also just motivates you a little bit more,” she said. “So the fact that Emma finally gave me that chance, I will forever be grateful for her. She just knew how much it meant to me, and so to finally give me that opportunity to continue just makes me love it even more. I want to keep trying to get back on rosters.”
LINKS:
There were two big moves in the NWSL this week.
Croix Bethune went to the Kansas City Current
Rodman was bummed about Bethune’s move.
Boston unveils “First Light” kits
All for XI asked those attending NWSL’s media day about their dream vacation.
Good news for the Dash, Maggie Graham removed from SEI list
Good news for everyone: Savy King is also off the SEI list.
Cat Marcario is reportedly considering a move home to the Wave
The Minnesota Aurora is taking a stand, and good for them
This is awesome: Prada outfits the Chinese national team
Paul Green leaves Chelsea women