for peopople who arere a lie intensnse about hyhydration. neutrogenana® hydroro boost lightweight. clclinically p proven. lightweight. 48-hour r hydration.n. for ththat healthyhy skin glo. neneutrogena®®. for peopople with skskin. introducucing togo's's new frech dip p sandwicheses. feataturing fresesh artisan n d piled hihigh with tendnder roast b beef, smothered d with meltyty provolonone cheese,, just enougugh chipotlele mayo and d served witith hot au j for dippining. try ththe roast bebeef or pasti french d dips today.y. onlyly at togogo's. [nbc theme tones] eric alvarez (voiceover): i'm eric alvarez, and i'm joined by my decorated football co-host. she's an olympian who won the world cup with the us women's national team, and now plays as a defender for the nwsl champion portland thorns, megan klinenberg. megan klinenberg (voiceover): thank you, eric.

this is "my new favorite futbolista," where you will get to know football's brightest stars and the causes they're fighting for off the pitch. [music playing] [audio logo] we have some terrific stories for you about some of team usa's stars, like sophia smith, who's opening up about her very personal mental health journey. megan klinenberg (voiceover): and the us defender who travels to tournaments with her young son. eric alvarez (voiceover): crystal dunn shares how she balances motherhood with elite soccer. but let's start with a pair of us players who will be representing more than just the red, white, and blue. did you know, only one mexican-american player has ever represented the us at the women's world cup? it was stephanie cox in 2007. but this year, two women of mexican descent, ashley sanchez and sofia huerta, hope to represent team usa at soccer's biggest tournament.

here's annabelle sedano, a news anchor for nbc los angeles, with their story. sofia huerta: spanish was my first language but then once i started going to school i was embarrassed because i couldn't speak that good of english. and so i think from the beginning, i didn't want to speak spanish anymore because i wanted to fit in. for a long time, like i didn't feel mexican enough, so i didn't like tap into that. and it wasn't until i feel like a couple of years ago that i was like, no, i can still be mexican and look "white" or whatever, you know. annabelle sedano (voiceover): "not mexican enough." those are words a lot of people can relate to. ask any mexican-american you know and they'll probably tell you they get flak from relatives in mexico for not being mexican enough, for not speaking spanish perfectly. that's why ashley's family did their best to connect her to her mexican roots. ashley only visited her grandparents' hometown in mexico once during her childhood,

when she was around seven or eight. i got sick, so i really do remember that part. i got sick because there was like some tequila tasting thing and i didn't understand that it was alcohol and i took it. and i was just yakking all over the street, and that was not fun. annabelle sedano (voiceover): 800 miles away, in boise, idaho, sofia huerta was having a similar experience. but being in idaho as we know, isn't the most diverse area ever. so i think i definitely struggled with my identity there, just-- i wanted to fit in, and i only really fit in, i felt like, if i was white. so i feel like it was definitely a hard place to grow up. but thankfully, because of my parents, i was always proud to be mexican. annabelle sedano (voiceover): sofia's parents made sure to keep her connected to mexico. sofia huerta: my dad's from puebla. he's the only one of his siblings who moved to the united states. so we still had a lot of roots there and a lot of family there.

so i grew up going there twice a year, obviously during christmas, of course, and then in the summer. so you know, i feel like i always definitely loved being mexican and definitely felt that and felt it in my blood. annabelle sedano (voiceover): when sofia got a full ride scholarship to santa clara university in california's bay area, she thought she'd find other latinos to connect with. but that wasn't the case. it was kind of the same story that i had growing up. annabelle sedano (voiceover): it would be playing for the mexican women's national team that would force her to face other people's thoughts on her identity. we'll have more on that in a bit. when ashley sanchez enrolled at ucla, she quickly became best friends with karina rodriguez, a defender for the bruins. they bonded over their mexican heritage. but unlike ashley, karina could speak spanish. being around her more, she helped me tap into those roots and also was kind of like a little cheerleader for me.

when i was surrounded like on a team with girls who were also either half mexican or fully mexican, just made me feel more comfortable. and they were totally supportive. they weren't like, oh my gosh, you're not mexican enough. like, they were totally like, oh my gosh, you know, like, we're sisters, like whatever. and i think that really helped me to embrace it more. annabelle sedano (voiceover): karina initially played for team usa, even representing the us at the u-17 women's world cup. but she eventually joined the mexican national team, giving her a perspective ashley didn't have. karina rodriguez: so the first language i actually learned was spanish. unfortunately, we actually-- i actually lost a lot of my spanish. when i was first starting to go to mexican national team camps, i was like super embarrassed to kind of even try to talk because i knew what i wanted to say. but like you said, the conjugations for words are just so difficult. so they've always been like super nice and will nicely correct me.

her going away with mexico and coming back and then like bringing different cultural stuff and just helping me be like, you know what? no, you are still mexican. sofia huerta: i'm like, i'm from idaho, you guys. come on. like, i didn't choose that. if i could have lived elsewhere and been in a spanish speaking area, like honestly, california, i would have. but that wasn't in my playing cards. baback in the e day, snsneaker dropops meant gettining online t to waitit in line.. now wiwith xfinityty mobile.. ...we get t the fastesest mobilele service and cacan get the e freshest kicks asasap. i got ththis. get ththe best pririce for 2 s of unlimitited when yoyou switch t to xfinity y mobiler $30 0 a line perer month. nicece job, littttle sis! ththey grow upup so fast.... i'm m a fan. frfrom xfinityty.

[audio logo] it was difficult for some fans to understand that i loved representing mexico. i'm like, i'm from idaho, you guys, come on. like, i didn't choose that. if i could have lived elsewhere and been in a spanish speaking area, like honestly, california, i would have. but that wasn't in my playing cards. annabelle sedano (voiceover): while her teammates were welcoming, fans weren't as accepting. i think when i was there it was--

i don't know what's appropriate to say or not, but i was called like a "gringa." annabelle sedano (voiceover): "gringa" is a term used to describe an english speaking white woman, usually of american or british origin. well, you know, like i have lighter hair. i'm lighter skinned, so i think people were just questioning how mexican i was, which is just so funny because i'm like, you guys, my blood is-- my family's from mexico. i'm literally like, i go there all the time. annabelle sedano (voiceover): at the u-20 world cup that year, she scored three of mexico's seven goals, and strong performances after that helped her gain the trust of fans. sofia huerta: i feel like once i represented mexico for quite some time, then again they received me better. and then right when they started receiving me better, then i left. annabelle sedano (voiceover): in 2014, sofia decided to leave the mexican national team for a chance to play for the us. so yes, of course i received some critique from the fans that i was a traitor, i wasn't really mexican,

or go back to where i belong. there were things that were not like the nicest to read. annabelle sedano (voiceover): but she had to accept something. there is a special pride that comes from playing for the country you were born in, your country. sofia huerta: i think when people really understand why i decided to play for the us, i think it's hard not to-- i don't want to say root for me, but i think it's hard not to understand why i would make that decision. it was a dream of mine since i was five years old. i was born in america. playing for the us team was always a dream of mine because i saw them on tv all the time. i think that if i was born in a different situation, playing for mexico would have been my dream. i'm so thankful that i got that opportunity, but it really was always to play for the us and to make a world cup, olympic team with the us team. annabelle sedano (voiceover): that dream is closer than ever for the 30-year-old. team on 3. 1, 2, 3. team. annabelle sedano (voiceover): ashley sanchez is determined to learn spanish. a big reason ashley is learning spanish

is so that she can better communicate with her paternal grandmother. i want to call her and just start speaking spanish and her be confused, because i think that would be really funny. annabelle sedano (voiceover): but it is also important for ashley to learn spanish because she knows what she represents, given how rare it has been for mexican-americans to play for the us women's national team. ashley sanchez: i think at the beginning i didn't realize like how big of a deal it was, and now coming to terms with the fact that there has been i think only one before me and sof, it's just incredible. i think there's so much more to do and there's so many young girls, mexican-americans that are so good and that are deserving of the spotlight. and i just hope that there's obviously more players, and that we'll just be off in the distance, no one talks about it anymore, because they're just like, it's going to become so common. eric alvarez (voiceover): you can hear more of ashley and sofia's story wherever you download podcasts. all episodes of "my new favorite futbolista"

are available in english and in spanish. it was traumatizing, honestly, because you hear about things like that, but you never think it's going to happen to someone close to you. you wouldn't know she was hurting. oh ms. flores, what would we do without yoyou? leader of mamany, and pet t wrangler t too. you repoport to yourur bos, every afafternoon.

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nat[audio logo]ersrsity, this episode contains references to suicide and suicidal ideation. if you are experiencing a mental health crisis, call the national suicide and crisis lifeline in the united states at 988. welcome back. there aren't many 19-year-olds playing professional sports, a job that can come with a lot of pressure and criticism. megan, what kind of pressure did you face as you started your pro career?

there's two types of pressure, the pressure we put on ourselves and the pressure that others put on us, and they're both difficult to deal with. but it's about living up to expectations and seeing who am i going to be is what makes it difficult. sophia smith is one of the best soccer players in the world. and while that might sound like the dream, balancing life and pro soccer can take its toll. here's nbc bay area's abby fernandez. sophia smith: obviously, i love soccer. like, it's my life. it's everything to me. but i understand now that it's not who i am. it's not the only thing i offer to this world. and i don't know, i just try to like-- when i'm on the field, when i'm at practice and the locker room, like, i'm focused on soccer. but the second i like step out of it, like my apartment, you will not find any soccer anything in my apartment. like, it's like my sanctuary. so i've learned to balance loving the game, loving the sport, but not letting it be my whole entire life and learning how to like make

my mind just like shift when i'm not playing, because i don't need to be in that state 24/7. abby fernandez (voiceover): before turning professional, sophia played at stanford university for two seasons. while at stanford, she saw firsthand the horrific effects of mental health challenges. michael wilson: she and katie were long friends before i actually met sophia, because they played on youth national teams together since they were i don't know how old, but they were like this. it was naomi, katie, and sophia. they were kind of like the triplets at stanford. abby fernandez (voiceover): that's michael wilson talking about how close sophia was with college soccer teammates katie meyer and naomi girma. michael wilson: they were best friends. they came in together, took the same classes together, were always eating at the dining hall together. so anytime i was with sophia, like, it was naomi and katie. if we were all sitting at a table, i had to get their approval from katie, had to get their approval from naomi as to like the boyfriend,

he's good enough to date her. a stanford soccer player who was found dead in her dorm room died by suicide. newscaster: katie meyer was found in her on campus residence. she was a captain and goalkeeper of stanford's soccer team. she died by suicide. the last couple of days are like a parent's worst nightmare, and you don't wake up from it. sophia smith: it was hard. like, even still to this day, it's hard to talk about. that was just like-- everything felt real. it was traumatizing, honestly, because you hear about things like that, but you never think it's going to happen to someone close to you. and it's-- i think the hardest part was there weren't any signs of anything. she was from the outside the happiest, most full of life person, had so much energy.

it was just like you wouldn't know she was hurting. so i think that's what makes like mental health scary, because you don't know what someone's going through. abby fernandez (voiceover): the close-knit family spoke often. their final conversation with their daughter was just hours before she took her own life. and she was excited. she had a lot on her plate she had a lot going on, but she was-- she was happy. she was in great spirits. since then, i've had a different perspective on life and on people. and i try to just approach everything with like you don't know what someone's going through, and you won't always see signs of struggle. abby fernandez (voiceover): lessons from her friend's death are difficult to glean for sophia, but she says it's made her aware of how important it is to let people know you were there for them. sophia smith: and the best thing you can do is just be kind to people, and i don't know, just take

the time to say hi to someone. send a text if you feel like you haven't checked in on someone in a while. i think those things have kind of come to light more since that happened. abby fernandez (voiceover): katie's death put the pressures that student-athletes experience front and center. sophia says she felt those pressures, too. i wanted to get good grades, but i love soccer and i wanted to be the best soccer player. but i wanted my family to come visit me and nted to stay connected with them. and at the same time, you know me, i'm not like a social butterfly. but i felt like i had to be, because i'm in college. there's a lot of stress that comes with being an athlete and a student-athlete. and i think just the mental side of that needs to be talked about more, like people knowing that it's ok and it's normal to feel not ok. it happens, but it's ok. and talk about it and ask for help.

i know that's easier said than done, but you'd be surprised that other people are going through the same things. eric alvarez (voiceover): you can hear more of sophia's story wherever you download podcasts. all episodes of "my new favorite futbolista" are available in english and in spanish. it absolutely breaks my heart that a lot of women go through postpartum and not having the support that they need. they are going back to work sometimes two weeks after they gave birth, which is madness.

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[audio logo] crystal dunn, who is 30, has many accolades under her belt. she's a two-time olympian, 2019 world cup champion, 2015 nwsl mvp, and two-time nwsl cup winner. but perhaps her biggest accomplishment is being able to juggle motherhood while being an elite athlete. how has motherhood changed crystal's view on life? ashley chaparro tells us. ashley chaparro (voiceover): on may 20, 2022, crystal posted a picture on her instagram. the caption read, "welcome to the world, marcel jean soubrier. i can't believe i'm somebody's mama!" and just a month later, she was back at practice with the portland thorns. crystal dunn: i was so happy when i did step back into the stadium and you guys got to meet the baby. woo! hi.

i'm back. ashley chaparro (voiceover): that's from a video recorded the day crystal returned to the team post-maternity leave. i think that's when i knew like, i'm in good hands. you know, i'm in a good place where i'm supported and i can be the best that i can be. ashley chaparro (voiceover): what helped crystal was the love and support system she had, but not everyone has that when they're trying to balance a career and motherhood. newscaster: the wall street journal has reported a recent survey of some 3,000 employers found some companies are cutting back now on paid parental leave for their employees. ashley chaparro (voiceover): let me give you some statistics that paint a picture of maternity leave in the us. nearly 1 in 4 women were back to work two weeks after giving birth. only 13% of women in the private sector have any paid maternity leave. 40% of women do not qualify for the family medical leave act, known as fmla, which grants 12 weeks of unpaid leave. it absolutely breaks my heart that a lot of women

go through postpartum and not having the support that they need. they are going back to work sometimes two weeks after they gave birth, which is madness. ashley chaparro (voiceover): here's what crystal said in september 2022, four months after giving birth in an installment of "working forwards," a series on the thorns' youtube channel. crystal dunn: organizations should be supporting female athletes. it's different. we're different than men, and i think it's about time that we recognize that. when we want to start a family, we are the ones sacrificing our bodies, you know? and i think it's incredible, but it makes it that much harder to want to take this path. having organizations that are geared towards this is a female athlete that's getting back into the swing of things, like, let's support her, let's actually have a daycare that's geared towards her schedule, her routine. and i think that's something that i would love to actually maybe even help be a part of in the future. ashley chaparro (voiceover): crystal gave birth just over a year ago, but it's already changed how she views her role in the sport.

she joins a list of elite mom athletes who returned to their sport after giving birth and still competed at a world class level, all the while advocating for change for other moms. we need to provide women of color with more support during their pregnancies. we want to limit barriers that have women not even be able to make that choice to choose between their career and motherhood. right now, it's basically telling you, hey, if you choose motherhood, you're likely to have your pay reduced or cut altogether. we need actual maternity protection. when i was pregnant with my son, my contract was just halted and i received no payment. and that just can't happen for the future generation. ashley chaparro (voiceover): in june 2022, crystal decided to partner with modern fertility, an organization that educates women on their bodies and reproductive health. announcer: header is nodded down. follow up, again! the portland thorns returns to the nwsl championship

off the foot of the resurgent crystal dunn. ashley chaparro (voiceover): and like those athlete mothers before her, crystal hopes to be an example not just to mothers, but black mothers, specifically. crystal dunn: one thing i'm super passionate about is always representing women of color in the sport, always preaching diversity in the sport, and really trying to, like i said, leave this game in a better way, where there's visibility, there's representation, there's a way for people to turn their tv on and see someone who looks like them. obviously, i do want to win. that's always going to be top, top priority. but i feel like i almost play this game to be like i want this game to look even better 10 years down the road. thanks for watching "my new favorite futbolista." make sure you listen to the rest of the episodes wherever you get your podcasts. and don't forget, telemundo and peacock are your spanish language homes for the fifa world cup. [audio logo]

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