NFL
By: Zachary Draves
Former USWNT alternate goalie Saskia Webber lives her life with pride every single day. She has pride in herself and for the sport of soccer.
She began her eight year stint with the USWNT in 1995 as the backup for Brianna Scurry in that year’s World Cup in Sweden. She was there when the team won the first ever Olympic gold medal in Women’s Soccer in 1996. Then in 1999, she was present when the team won that historic World Cup before a record 90,000 fans at the Rose Bowl and 40 million television viewers. She became known for wearing red, white, and blue colors in her hair. She had the charisma, charm, and enthusiasm that made her a lovable presence on that legendary team that became known as the 99ers.
Since that time, Saskia continues to be involved in soccer. She recently coached at UCLA and is now part owner of the NWSL’s Angel City FC. She is also host of the podcast “Inside the 18”.
To acknowledge pride month, Saskia talks to Nuts and Bolts Sports about what pride means to her, the USWNT historic equal pay deal, her time with the 99ers, and what advice she would give to other LGBTQ+ athletes.
What does Pride month mean to you?
It’s in the words. It’s pride. It is understanding that there is a diverse community that gets underrepresented and to be able to stand up for them. I am a part of that community. I’m a lesbian and I have been since the day I was born as far as I can remember. But it is giving a safe place to let others know that they are seen and that our country has their back. It is a hard transition. It is a hard thing to come out. There is no blueprint for how to do it, everybody’s life is different. Everybody’s family is different in how they react. But it is to let everybody know that we are here to support them.
Given where you were then to where you are now, what has it been like to see the increased visibility of LGBTQ+ athletes?
It is very funny because I was always out. It was something that all my teammates knew. I wasn’t hiding it. My girlfriend would sit at lunch like their husbands would sit at lunch. It was very casual but I remember when I signed my first modeling contract after the ‘99 World Cup, I was told “let’s not go down this road”. “You won’t get endorsements” and stuff like that. Totally different now. I think that sometimes I kick myself and say “maybe if I was that beacon and said no we are going to do this” things would change earlier. But with the Abby Wambachs, with the Brianna Scurrys, with the Megan Rapinoes, it just changed the landscape period. You know you have meetings with your agent saying “we won’t be able to get you endorsements with Nike or Coca-Cola or this or that because you’re gay.” Now you get the endorsements today. It has totally changed. It is apples and oranges now.
You said that you were out when you were part of the 99ers, were they supportive of you?
Absolutely. I was brought up with my family being incredibly supportive. I think for me I exuded an era of normalcy. It wasn’t like “oh god this is Saskia our gay goalkeeper” it was just Saskia. Like I said, my girlfriend would be there and nobody thought second of it because I didn’t handle it like it was special or different. It is the way society should be. Joy (Fawcett) is sitting with her husband and I was sitting with my girlfriend and I would tell them. There was no question and they never questioned it. I always found with our group that there was no exclusion. You were accepted number one for being a great player and bringing it everyday as well as a person.
What do you make of what is happening in society now where it seems as if we are rolling back LGBTQ+ rights in different states?
It makes me cry. We came so far and to have Florida, Don’t Say Gay, it is ridiculous. We are here to educate our kids, not to put them in a bubble, but put them into what society is and what the norms are in society. For anybody to say “you are not allowed to say that you are gay, you are not allowed to talk about this” well how are you educating your children then? You are putting them in a bubble. It is the same thing as dialing back Roe v. Wade. What is going on here? What in the world is going on?
What advice would you give to LGBTQ+ athletes who want to compete, and play the sport they love, but maybe feel afraid of coming out?
My advice would be that at the end of the day how you play the game is what matters. Nobody cared that I was black, nobody cared that I was gay, I brought it every day. I was accepted because I brought it every day. So don’t be scared of that. The one unifier has always been sports. It has always been sports from wars to everything, it is the one place where we can find a common ground. So don’t be afraid to be who you are.
What was your reaction when the USWNT reached that historic equal pay deal?
It was almost like relief and excitement at the same time. I found out because all the 99ers are on a text thread together and my texts started blowing it with everyone congratulating Cindy (Parlow-Cone) and we were all so excited. Long time coming but beyond excited. Excited about where it’s going to take the future, to be honest.
What do you think this will be for women’s sports and women in society?
I think it is a huge win across the board. For women in sports there is a template. There is a model now to follow to say “look at what women’s soccer was able to do and deserved”. It gives all those other sports and women across the board to make those changes.
