Episode 217: Sydney Schneider, Ali Riley

On this episode, we welcome Jamaica Women’s National Team goalkeeper and featured guest Sydney Schneider. We also hear from New Zealand Women's National Team captain Ali Riley.

On this episode, we welcome fan-favorite goalkeeper Sydney Schneider! Listen in as Sydney shares her football journey, her experience as the go-to goalkeeper for everyone’s favorite underdog team, Jamaica Women’s National Team, and her experience playing for her current club team Sparta Prague in Fortuna Liga.

If you followed Sydney’s career from UNC Wilmington to the NWSL, you’ll want to catch up with her and find out what to expect this summer in the Women's World Cup. If you don’t know much about the Reggae Girlz star goalkeeper, this is the interview for you! (14’)

Keeping in line with the underdog mentality, we hear from New Zealand captain Ali Riley as she discusses her Football Ferns and what they need to do to progress through a very tough group stage. Ali is always fun to hear from and never at a loss for words. (1:06’')

Episode Links:
Follow Sydney Schneider on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/sydneyy_schneider

Follow Reggae Girlz on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/reggaegirlzfoundation

Follow and support the Reggae Girlz – https://reggaegirlzfoundation.com

Visit Upper V Athlete Management – https://www.uppervathletes.com/about

Visiting California, before you do, watch Patty's YouTube Show Mission California – https://mission-california.com/

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Original Broadcast Date: May 14, 2023

Women’s World Football Show is hosted, written, edited, and produced by Patty La Bella.

Additional assistance for this episode by Sydney Schneider, Lenny Lun from Upper V Athlete Management, Ali Riley, and Lisa Goldberg from Angel City FC.

Women’s World Football Show website design and theme music by Patricia La Bella

Women’s World Football Show® is a registered trademark and its audio and logo cannot be used without expressed written authorization.

Episode Transcript

(00:05):
July twentieth, twenty twenty three.It's right around the corner. That's a
day we've all been waiting for thestart of the Women's World Cup in Australia
and New Zealand. A record thirtytwo teams from six confederations will compete over
a month in ten venues in ninehost cities, and then on August twentieth,

(00:25):
one team will lift the trophy asworld champions. You'll be there,
either in person or one of themillions watching on TV, rooting for your
country team. But who will youreally be rooting for? We all have
it right, our secret favorite team. Maybe it's because your parents are from
another country, or your roots orheritage lie in another country. Maybe you

(00:48):
have an all time favorite player whoplays for another country. It's okay,
You're allowed to have a guilty pleasureteam. For me, it's the Aszuri
of Italy. Of course, it'smy heritage love rooting for that team.
Which team do you secretly root for? New Zealand, Costa Rica, South
Africa, Republic of Ireland, Argentina, maybe a Caribbean team like Haiti or

(01:10):
Jamaica. Some of these teams areprobably not going to make it out of
the group stage. But it doesn'tmatter. We have a tendency to root
for the underdog and that's okay.It makes the game fun. On today's
show, we welcome from one ofthe ultimate fan favorite teams, Jamaica.
Star goalkeeper Sidney Schneider is here.She's going to talk about her soccer journey.

(01:32):
Like many of the reggae girls,she's playing overseas and she's currently at
Sparta Prague and for Chunaliga. Sydneyshares her football journey, including her twenty
nineteen Women's World Cup debut with Jamaicaand so much more. You will love
hearing from Sidney Schneider and catching upwith her. Also, an of their
fan favorite from the football ferns ofco host country New Zealand, Alie Riley,

(01:52):
answers some hard questions about her NewZealand team. Of course, we
all love hearing from Ali. Youdo not want to miss it. Who's
your favorite underdog team, Who's thatguilty pleasure team or player that you love
rooting for. You're going to bethere in the twenty twenty three Women's World
Cup. Let's make it happen.This is Women's World Football Show. Hey,

(02:21):
everybody, Welcome to episode two hundredand seventeen of Women's World Football Show.
I got my Guilty Pleasure Jersey onMy Gold, Green and Black.
I'm your host, Patti Labella.I love love this episode. I've been
waiting so long to talk about thisthing, right, this guilty pleasure,
this thing that we love, oursecret rooting team, the team we secretly

(02:44):
want to win all the time,but maybe they just don't. But doesn't
matter. We still root for them. You know, I still root for
Italy. I want them to winso badly. Don't you want Don't you
want Jamaica to win? South AfricaNigeria one of the African teams. I
want to see them win. Alwaysalways rooting for these teams. And it's
okay and doesn't matter. I mean, you're not being disloyal to your country

(03:07):
team, you hear me? USAfans, England, Germany, Australia,
Sweden, Japan, Netherlands, Rants, Canada, all these big teams that
you know it's very popular to rootfor, especially if you're from those countries.
It's okay to root for the littleteams. I'm telling you how my
Jamaica Jersey on today, I'm goingto post a picture of it, so

(03:28):
you know I'm not lying to you. And who better to hear from than
two fan favorite players from two reallyunderdog teams who I think we always root
for. Of course, Sidney Schneideris our big guest today, the Jamaica
goalkeeper who has been on I haveto say, been on my wish list
for so many years. I knowa few of you have sent me your

(03:51):
requests for Sydney over the years,and at the BEG, I know at
the beginning of the year I mentioned, of course that we're celebrating Women's World
Football Show is celebrating our ten yearanniversary, and I really want to get
players on this year that I've beenwanting to have on but just haven't been
able to like kind of pull thetrigger on them. But this year I'm
really wanting to bring on players thatI've wanted on, that I've had on

(04:13):
my wish list for many years,and of course Sidney Schneider on that list.
And I know she's been on yourlist too, because, like I
said, like you know many timesyou send me your requests and Sidney Schneider
is like always on that list.So just a reminder if you want a
player. If you want to hearfrom a player, one of your favorite
players, let me know, sendme an email Patty at wwfshow dot com.

(04:34):
I will do my best to getthat player on, especially this year.
This is our ten year anniversary.We're doing things a little different this
year. So great to hear fromSidney Schneider. I'm so excited to share
that interview with you. Also,later on we'll hear from another fan favorite,
right New Zealand defender playing at angelCITYFC right now, Ali Riley.

(04:54):
I recently had the opportunities to sitin on a press conference with Ali and
a few of us wanted to talkabout the football Ferns and and of course
Alie being Ali, she had alot to say about them. And so
I'm really excited to share that thoselittle sound bites with you. But you
know, like I said, there'sthirty two teams in the Women's World Cup
the summer. Can you believe it. I'm like getting goosebumps just talking about

(05:15):
it. I'm just so excited.And I was just looking at the groups
and you know, there's a lotof those underdog teams. You know,
we always talk about the big teamslike I said, like USA in Germany
and England. I think Australia isa big favorite right as the big host
and New Zealand as a host aswell. But you know, Australian boy,
Australia really been been pushing for thisWorld Cup. Of course, Sweden

(05:39):
in France, the big you know, the big, the big teams,
but there's those little teams that wealways tend to root for, and I
you know, and I'm sometimes Ifeel the embarrassed that I root for Italy
And like I said, I hadmy Jamaica jersey on today, I'm always
rooting for Jamaica. I just wouldlove to see them get out of the
group stage. They were the debutantein twenty nineteen in France. I was

(06:02):
there, I get to see themplay, and boy just was hoping for
the best for them. But youknow, you know, debutante teams,
you don't really put a lot ofstock in. But you know, this
year, with thirty two teams,there's a good chance that we're going to
see some of these lower type teamsmake it out of the group stage.
And that's gonna be so exciting.I'm so excited for that. And I

(06:23):
know you guys are too, soyou know, we're just gonna look at
these little teams. And of course, like I said, we have a
big featured guest on today, butwe've been waiting for so long to have
on Sydney Schneider here today. Butlet's just take a look first before we
hear from Sydney. Some of thelittle littler teams coming in group by group,
but let's just I'll just group Afor example, has New Zealand,

(06:46):
Norway, the Philippines. In Sweden. A lot of people were talking about
Sweden, right, so if youhave that Swedish heritage, you might want
to be rooting for Sweden right now. Philippines and so you want to root
for the Philippines in two twenty threefor sure. Groupie Australia, Republic of
Ireland, Nigeria. That's another underdogteam, right, we always root for
Nigeria, the Super Falcons. Andthen Canada. We never know which Canada

(07:11):
we're going to see. Of course, they've had some issues with their federation
and hopefully that's all cleared up andthey could just focus on football. So
I so Canada a big team,right, I always consider Canada a big
team but also a fan favorite.Group c is Spain, Costa Rica lasticas
we love rooting for them, right, Zambia and Japan. Of course,

(07:31):
Japan one of the big teams,but yeah, Costa Rica and Zambia.
Gotta be watching those little teams androoting for them. Group D England,
Denmark, China, Haiti. Haven'treally liked what I've seen from China lately.
I mean, they played some friendliesin April, but not some real
good results from there. But England. England's my favorite to win the World

(07:54):
Cup. To be honest with you, I know I don't have a really
great track recre to when it comesto pick in the way, but I
really like England and of course Denmarkhad some great April friendlies as well.
Haiti come on coming out of theCaribbean. Gotta root for Haiti, right.
Got to got to a group E, USA, Vietnam, Netherlands and
Portugal. Of course, Netherlands inUSA are the big teams in that group.

(08:18):
But Portugal, hey, they hadsome good games in April, two
some good friendlies and one against NewZealand. So be watching Portugal. If
you have a Portuguese ancestry, youmight want to put on that green and
red jersey. There a group FFrance, Jamaica, Brazil and Panama.
Of course we're talking about Jamaica today, we're talking about them, and then
Brazil. Jamaica had an epic gameagainst Brazil in twenty nineteen. Will talk

(08:43):
more about that. But of courseFrance is having their issues right now with
the federation and losing some of theirstar players, so they're still kind of
a favorite in that group. Butyou know Panama, come on, you
gotta root for Panama, right,you gotta root for those those players and
that goalkeeper. Just so awesome.Group GE Sweden, South Africa, Bugnana

(09:05):
Bunya, you gotta root for BugnanaBunyana. Right. Italy my team and
Argentina team that I got to seein person in twenty nineteen in the Women's
World Cup there in France, andah, just so great. They have
the same roster coming back, sowe could see an upset there coming out
of Group G with Argentina. Andthen of course Italy. You know,

(09:26):
like I said, I'm always rootingfor them, but do you never know
what you're gonna get with Italy?Group H And I'm going through these groups
really fast because I just want tohighlight some of these underdog teams Germany,
Korea, Colombia. How many ofyour Columbia fans left up your hands?
You know, you guys are andMorocco the debutants. Come on. You

(09:46):
gotta root for these underdog teams.So it's just so much fun. And
I know we always talk about thebig teams and we all know who they
are, but it's great to beable to spotlight some of these littler teams,
some of these underdog teams and ateam especially like Jamaica, a small
Caribbean team twenty nineteen. They werethe Cinderella story, right. We loved

(10:07):
watching Jamaica and the Women's World Cupand especially just having them there was such
a pleasure just to see them thereand we all, I mean, I
got my jersey on and we Imean just having them there, the first
Caribbean team to make it into theWomen's World Cup, the first Jamaican team
to make it into a World Cup. Men are a woman. I mean,

(10:30):
they made history. And of courseour guest today is part of that
history, part of that narrative,and we'll be talking to her shortly Sidney
Schneider, so excited to have heron the show, and so let's get
into it. Because Sidney gave usso much of her time. She spent
so much time talking to me,and so I'm so excited to share this
great interview with you with Sidney,and because I waited so long to have

(10:52):
her on the show. When Ispoke to sid she was in the middle
of her season at Sparta Prague inFortuna Liga Catonia in Prague, getting those
important minutes of playing time before Women'sWorld Cup. We're seeing a lot of
Jamaican players doing this, you know, playing all over the world. They're
playing in England, in France,and Iceland, Spain, Scotland, of

(11:16):
course the USA. Some of arein the college system, like Jody Brown,
she's at FSU Florida State University.So they're not sitting around, you
know, waiting for their country teamto come together. They're out in leagues
all over the world getting minutes in, getting prepped for their second appearance in
the biggest tournament in the world,the twenty twenty three Women's World Cup in

(11:39):
Australia and New Zealand and for Jamaica, the roster hasn't been announced yet,
let's get that clear as a thisrecording. But I'm expecting the roster we
saw this year in the Cup ofNations in Australia, I expect that to
be pretty close to the roster thatwe'll see in back in Australia in Women's
World Cup. Of course, SidneySchneider was part of that team in Cup

(12:01):
of Nations and a pretty good bitthat she'll be back down Under in July.
So let's hear from the star goalkeeper. I mean, talk about a
star. If you didn't know SidneySchneider, you definitely knew her after twenty
nineteen Women's World Cup. She wasonly nineteen when she made her Women's World
Cup debut, and wow, sheturned heads. I mean, if you

(12:24):
want to watch a great match fromtwenty nineteen Women's World Cup, just look
up Brazil versus Jamaica and some ofSidney Schneider's I mean just major saves in
that game, just unbelievable. Thescoreline ended up being in Brazil's favor a
three nil, but I mean itcould have been a lot worse if not

(12:45):
for Sydney's big time saves in thatmatch and a penalty kick save. How
exciting was that? You know,I'll actually try to find that match on
YouTube and then I'll put the linkon our show notes because you must watch
it if you if you missed itinto that in nineteen, I still love
going back and watching those old someof those old matches twenty nineteen. I'm

(13:05):
such a soccer geek. But Iknow you do too. I know you
go back and watch them, andso I'll definitely find that game that Brazil
versus Jamaica. Really great match.Really showcasing Sydney Schneider as an elite goalkeeper
in women's football and from the Jamaicateam just makes it that much more special.

(13:26):
Right. Like I said, I'vebeen waiting a long time to have
Sidney Schneider on the show, andwe have her on, so I'm not
gonna waste any more time before wehear from Sydney. Though. Let's give
you a little background in case youdon't know. The twenty three year old
goalkeeper hails from Dayton, New Jersey. She'll tell you about her growing up
days they're in New Jersey, aswell as her youth career at ecnl's team.

(13:50):
The very popular match fit Academy,very popular youth club there in New
Jersey. Sydney attended University of NorthCarolina at Wilmington, where she had a
great collegiate career. If you lookat her bio on the UNC Wilmington's site,
it's packed with awards and accolades.One being as a freshman she came

(14:11):
in she started all as a freshman, she started all nineteen games, becoming
the second goalkeeper in the program's historyto play every second in a season.
Great, great accomplishment. Sydney Schneiderwas selected by the Washington Spirit in the
twenty twenty one NWSL College Draft twentyninth overall. Also an interesting note,

(14:33):
Sidney Schneider the first ever UNC Wilmingtonplayer to be selected in the NWSL college
Draft. That's an interesting sure ofyour question there for you. And of
course that was a year of adversityif you remember for Washington Spirit, you
know, they had a lot ofups and downs, a lot of things
going on. Would talk to Sydneyabout that too. But also on top

(14:54):
of it all, they were theNWSL champion so that season in twenty twenty
one, So of course Sydney inher rookie season played back up to Aubrey
Bledsoe, but still nw SI championas a rookie, not too shabby.
She then spent a season at CaseyCurrent before moving on to Sparta Prague.
Like I said, needing to playsome minutes, and that's where she's currently

(15:18):
playing right now as of this recording. Very very smart, right, I
mean she's backup goalkeeper for Aubrey bledsoyou're not going to get in the game
very much. Then she went overto Casey Current. You know, you've
got eighty franch They're tough to getin there. I mean, the goalkeeper
position is like so difficult, rightto get minutes played if there's a number
one goalkeeper, you know, especiallya goalkeeper that's you know, playing on

(15:39):
a national team level, so you'renot going to get a lot of minutes.
So of course she's like, letme go over season place. He
was out there for me, andof course she's the number one goalkeeper there
over there in Sparta Prague and doinghaving a great season. By the way.
On the international stage, Sydney attractedthe attention of the Jamaica women's national
team, which you know she hasher roots from her mom. I believe

(16:03):
on her grandma on her mom's side. And by the way, you know,
Sydney also has eligibility to play forUSA being born in the United States
and also for Germany, which wasthe birthplace of her dad. But she
chose to play for Jamaica, andgood choice all around, I think for
her and for Jamaica just seems likea perfect fit at the perfect time as

(16:25):
we're seeing the rise of the ReggaeGirls. And we talked to Sydney about
that. She played for the JamaicaU seventeen and you twenty teams participating in
conquered CAAFEE twenty Championships, and thenshe made her senior team debut in twenty
eighteen, which she talks about inthis interview, and like I said,
she just really turned heads in thattwenty nineteen Women's World Cup in France in

(16:45):
her role as the number one goalkeeperfor the Reggae Girls. She currently has
eighteen caps for Jamaica as of thisrecording. I talked to Sydney right after
Jamaica came back from playing in theCup of Nations in February. I believe
what a valuable experience that was.I mean, if you think about it

(17:06):
just a few months before heading backto Australia to play for the twenty twenty
three Women's World Cup. And likeI said, the roster has not been
announced yet, but pretty good chancethat Sydney will be there in between the
posts there in Australia. But Imean, just a great experience for her
team and for her to go andplay in Australia. Like I said,

(17:30):
months before Women's World Cup, soreally great experience and we'll talk more about
that, so let's hear from her. Enough of me rambling, Please welcome
Jamaica women's national team goalkeeper Sidney Schneiderty side. Thank you so much for
taking the time to visit with us. You just finished up Cup of Nations
in Australia, you're back in Pragueplaying at AC Sparta, gearing up for

(17:52):
Women's World Cup this summer in July. So so you're very busy, but
just glad that you took the timeto come on and visit with us.
No, I'm so excited to behere. Thank you, Thank you.
I'm excited. Well, I havea lot to talk to you about and
I know that we're excited too.So if you see, if there's the
listeners have a level of excitement.It's on both both sides. I think
so. But I do have alot to talk to you about. But

(18:15):
first, you know, tell usa little bit about yourself. I would
say you're probably one of the mostpopular goalkeepers in women's soccer, but I
feel like we don't really know muchabout you. So tell us, like,
where did you grow up? Youknow, how did you discover soccer?
What were some of the things thatattracted you to the game. So
I grew up in South Brunswick,you Jersey. I don't know if this
thing everywhere, but in or whereI grew up. It was kind of

(18:40):
just you throw your kid into soccer. When you're young, everyone plays.
It's just that mosh pit of littlekids around the soccer bol But everyone kind
of gets thrown in as a kid, and as you get older, more
and more people just kind of stoppedplaying. And just ever since I was

(19:03):
thrown in, I just never stopped. You just stuck to it. Um.
Well, you know, I findI talked to a lot of players
from New Jersey. A lot ofpro players come out of there. It's
like the culture that I know,Especially over the recent years, I'm finding
a lot a lot of players comingout of New Jersey and like we see
him like in Texas and California becauseof the weather and stuff. But what

(19:29):
is it about New Jersey about thatculture of like little girls playing soccer?
Is it just welcoming? Is therea lot of Are there a lot of
opportunities? Yeah? I mean whenI was growing up, I started with
REK, so just kind of likethe basic everyone is around, and then
started with club, which was thebig step. I didn't really want to.

(19:51):
I was scared. I didn't wantto leave my friends, and my
mom was like, no, thiswould be good for you. You need
to advance U. So they wentto a club and then I feel like
when you're from Jersey, it's eitherPDA or match Fit And at the time
I was playing with match Fit andit was only EC. No. I

(20:11):
know they have I want to sayDA now. But the clubs, even
though it's just too they're huge.They have so many teams, so many
opportunities to get seen, like forscouting, for college just everything, so
many opportunities to play and also travelwill go to different tournaments, and I

(20:34):
mean, I'm assuming. I knowit's definitely grown since when I was playing.
But yeah, I would say theredefinitely is a good opportunity where I
was, So, yeah, that'sawesome because such a small stake. You
know, it's just amazing to methat I get so many people why goalkeeping?
What attracted you to that position?I was not attracted to what I

(20:56):
was kind of forced into it.I feel like it's very kind comment.
Yeah, I want to say.It was like fourteen and we had a
torment and we had no goalkeeper.They're like, all right, let's roll
the toll girl in. I endedup doing well. I did not like

(21:18):
it at all. I was like, get me out of this box.
I am trapped. I was like, I'm trapping this little box. Get
me out. But I ended upplaying. We didn't have a goalkeeper for
the entire season. Whether it wasplanned or not, still not sure,
but we didn't have them the entireseason. Played the whole season, and

(21:41):
after I was like, get getme back on the field. I don't
want to do this. And thatnext season I actually was playing on the
field and and goal so I wassplitting my time. So I was doing
goalkeeper training and like regular field turningwith the team and everything. But I

(22:04):
just wanted to be on the field, and people around were like, oh,
you were good, like you shouldbe a goalkeeper. You know.
We feel like it cos it's anatural position. It's like, it's good
that you don't have to be taughtthese little things. You're brave. You
don't have to be taught, liketo be brave. It just happens.

(22:26):
And they sold you on it.They And then in the time recruiting is
happening and it was like, Okay, which position do you want to get
recruited for. I was like,I don't know, and then boom chose
goalkeeping, got recruited, and herewe are. Obviously I would not go

(22:51):
back and change it, and Idefinitely have found a love for it.
Obviously, I still like playing onthe field every once in a while,
so it's fun. But yeah,I was just kind of thrown in.
That's a great story, I thinkfor young kids listening to because that's not
a usual story that I hear.It's usually that they get thrown in.
But then they love it because it'ssuch a solitary like you're there by yourself

(23:15):
a lot of times, you know, it just a I would think it's
a certain personality trait that you haveto be a little crazy if I might
say that, But why do theyalways say we're saying goalkeepers are always a
little bit nutty out there. Soit's good it worked out for you.
That's great. How did you getthe attention of the Jamaica women's national team

(23:36):
because we see a lot of Americanborn players playing for Caribbean teams Dominican and
Trinidad Jamaica. So does the teamlike reach out to you or do you
reach out to the team. Howdid that happen for you? Um?
For me, it was I wantto say it was I don't know which
ecn IL showcase, but it wasa college showcase where teams from all over

(23:59):
an area and my club coach atthe time knew the Jamaican coach and he
knew I was Jamaican. I guesshe thought I had the potential and he
told the coach. He came andwatched the game, and I guess he
liked what he saw. But itwas funny. They invited me to camp

(24:22):
and I said no. I waslike nope. I was so scared,
so nervous. I was like Ican't, like that's crazy, No way
me. I could do that,like nope, way, And then they
asked me for a second time andmy mom's like, you're doing it.

(24:47):
I'm pushing you to do it thistime, like you are not getting out
of it. I just didn't havethe confidence in myself to believe that I
could play at such a level,like not even in CA yet, I'm
still getting trying to get recruited.My justification for saying no was I don't
want to miss anything I'm getting recruited. That definitely would be a helpful thing

(25:11):
with while getting her recruited for college. But yeah, my mom was like,
no, you're doing it. Shegave me the nudge and packed back.
Went to I want to say itwas Florida and had my first camp.
I was so nervous, but onceI got there, everyone was so

(25:33):
nice and like I fit in.I was like, oh, okay,
I got this is fine. Thankgoodness for your mom. You're like the
reluctant I reflect, it's like thereluctant player from the beginning. I feel
like you've been around forever. Ilike, I'm surprised when I was reading
your bio that you're only twenty three, and I'm like, guys, I

(25:55):
always feel like she's been around.But I think it's just that being on
that international stage, you know,as a you like we've been we've just
we've seen you for so long.Um, So I would think that that
international level is so great for likevisibility, you know, not just for
you for your experience, but alsofor your career. I would imagine that
that was a big part of thatthat next step. Yeah, so thank
goodness for yeah yeah um and thenyeah, always shout out to mom soccer

(26:22):
moms. So the other thing thatI wanted to ask you about too,
is because you know, when you'restanding there, like this is something that's
just always blown me away, especiallywith American born players with dual citizenship going
over into other countries, Like you'rerepresenting your ancestors or your heritage in your
culture. Like it's one thing tolike represent the country that you were born
in, but not to play thatdown, but to where the jersey of

(26:48):
your ancestor or your culture. Imean that's got to be very powerful.
That's a lot of pressure, Iwould think, Yeah, I mean always
in honor and in chunk of itwas like no way am I doing this,
Like walking out for our first game. I want to say it was
against the US too, so orat least the first tournament I was in,

(27:14):
we played the US and it waslike it was youth levels but still
crazy to think, like like whatyou were saying, like answers this versus
where I was born. But rememberone our coach saying like, there's just
as many, if not more Jamaicansaround the world than in Jamaica, and

(27:37):
he goes, we are all one, we are all the same blood.
It doesn't it's not our control whereour parents or grandparents moved, like,
but we're all a part of thesame family. And I it just really
suck out, like it didn't matterwhere we were born. We had no
control over that. But we're stillpart of the same hold your same family.

(28:00):
And I really like that. Soyeah, that's great. I just
though always think it's very powerful.I'm going to talk to you more about
the reggae girls in a minute,but going back a few years, like
coming out of college at UNC WilmingtonBig Soccer Women's soccer school, you were
drafted into the NWSL at twenty ninthpick overall by the Washington Spirit I believe,
which is grot you know which isvery high for a goalkeeper. And

(28:22):
then you guys went on that seasonto an NWSL championship as a rookie.
How was that experience for you?Let's like a young player coming into your
first pro team and oh my gosh, it was insane. I mean,
do you was full of upseton downs, just like in league in general,
like the coaching shift and just alot. But it was crazy because there

(28:48):
was older players like, oh gosh, this my first time in playoffs and
here I at my first year.I'm like, oh, yeah, is
this cool? Is this normal?Like wow, this is my first time,
first time in the championship game.So it was kind of like surreal,
like oh wow, people have playedyears and have it been able to

(29:11):
accomplish that. So I mean,it's definitely awesome to be able to say,
um, one of my first year. Um. But yeah, honestly,
it was surreal. Just the yearthat we went through as a team.
Um, a lot of ups anddowns, like I said, but
I think it brought us together andwe kind of just god, I don't

(29:33):
want to say it, I don'tcare mentality, but we're just like carefree.
We're doing this for us, We'renot doing this for anyone else.
Yeah, right, Like there's alot of stiff that I was just coming
out, like just again and again, hitting us over and all you're just
like okay, next, next,Like what's next? I really imagine that,

(29:56):
like then with all that adversity,um, just to be able to
rise up it or just stay focused, like I would imagine that it was
really a big like learning lesson foryou too. Oh yeah, it definitely.
It's kind of because I feel likein college is just okay, class
soccer, class soccer, Like yeah, you have your like your social life
a little bit. But this wasjust so much bigger than class homework at

(30:21):
test next week, Like just somuch bigger, bigger issues to face,
bigger like things to deal with.So just to learn that balance of like
okay, compartmentalize that, Yeah it'sa big deal and we're playing for more,
we're doing this, but we're alsodoing it firstselves, like yes,
there's a bigger message behind it,but it's also like, Okay, we

(30:45):
have love for the game. Thisbrings us joy, it's our escape,
Like we're all the field, nothingelse matters, so just worry about here
and now. Yeah, well andand I mean yeah, I think that's
a team that I'll go down inhistory, and to have you belt part
of that narrative is pretty exciting.I like that. Yeah. And then
I'm sure you didn't get to playa ton of minutes there with Aubrey Bledsoe

(31:07):
and like that. I'm sure that'salways tough on a goalkeeper. Yeah,
I mean I feel like people havethat, I guess adaptation when they go
to college, but locally for me, when I went to college, I
was starting right away, so Inever had that like, oh whoa,
Like I'm not the one playing,and it was definitely an adjustment, but

(31:32):
also just to be a part ofa winning team, it kind of was
like, okay, I pushed thatto the side. It's all about the
team and just like being a teamplayer and the team made it easy.
When everyone's still open to you eventhough you're not in the starting lineup,
you're not just like pushed to theside. That makes sense. Yeah,
yeah, it does make sense.I think that that's like the uniqueness of

(31:57):
soccer, of women's soccer, especiallythat even if you're not playing, it's
because the competitive levels so high,especially for goalkeepers, you get in one
and one and done. M yeah, yeah, and then and now of
course you're playing Oh I know,you know, you spent a year at
Casey Current, another team with areally good goalkeeper, right, so you
had to take that mentality to thecurrent as well. But now you're playing

(32:20):
at AC Sparta and Prague, oneof the more popular teams in Eastern Europe.
I think what made you go overseasto play and how has that experience
been for you, like on apersonal and professional level. Um, yeah,
he said, I came here toplay, so I wanted to get
minutes under my bill. Um,I wanted to get back on the field,

(32:40):
and this is the place I feellike I could like come and compete
for that spot and hopefully at thoseminutes center my bill. And especially with
the big World Cup, you're like, I want to have that ready for
national team and everything be ready fornational team. So professionally it's been good

(33:00):
to get those minutes. And thenpersonal level, Oh my gosh, crazy.
I never thought I would play overseas. So the fact that I was
like, Okay, I'm I'm going, I'm gonna do it. I remember
it was before I was even packingmy digs. I'm like, yeah,

(33:22):
whatever, like this is normal,and then I started actually physically packing my
bags. I'm like, oh mygosh, I'm leaving, Like I leave
home all the time, but I'venever like home home, but just to
be not an eight hour car ride, an eight hour fullight, so like

(33:42):
that, it's different. I feellike crazy, it is the only word,
but crazy and a good like gouthere overything. Obviously everything's different and
it's an adjustment, but I feellike you just learned to let it,
like you learned to be a partof a new culture and adapt to a
new culture, adapt to a newplace, adapt to a new style of
living. So honestly, for me, it's been all positive. Luckily for

(34:09):
me. I know other people don'thave that experience, but for me,
like Prague is it's such a coolcity. It's a cool place to visit,
so if you're looking for a placeto visit, but it's also such
a good place to live. There'sso much to see, such a historic
city too, so I feel likeit has a little bit for everyone,

(34:30):
like touristy, a little historical side, and then I have an experience yet
but I've heard that when it getswarm, which hopefully soon, it is
still pretty so beautiful. So I'mexcited for that. I'm excited to do
more exploring when it's a little moreright. Yeah, I've seen pictures of

(34:53):
your like all bundled up and stuffin the in the goal. It's like,
oh that doesn't look fun. Yeah, double lag gangs, yeah,
double under armories, your yeah,your hair covers. Yeah, it's on
my bucket list for sure, toget to Prague. I just here it's
just beautiful. Um, so whatwe're like you said, yeah, there
was an adjustment, So what werethe some of the cultural things like you

(35:15):
had to get used to there?That was like, they're like the food
obviously, the weather, but you'reused to cold weather, right, But
I don't know if it's the sameas it's different. I've been I've been
softened going to North Carolina. Yeah, um, but yeah the cold is
similar to Jersey, a little bitcolder, more snow more often. It

(35:37):
was our first day We're having ascrimmage and it's not even like a little
flurry. It's full boned snow.I'm like, what is going on?
There's no way we're playing Like yeah, this is like what wow, oh
my gosh. Yeah. But toanswer your question, some of the differences.
Well, the language has been humnot as bad as as I thought.

(36:02):
So many people think English almost everywhereyou go, just like you can
find somebody the team. Also,the team's so kind and so welcoming and
opening, and same thing with thecoaches and like they're English is good.
So that's been good. On likethe soccer side, Going grocery shopping was

(36:22):
hard at first because I can't readanything. I'm just like, okay,
that kind of looks like kind oflooks like what I need. I don't
know. I have my phone,but like Google Translate, I'm trying to
take pictures of things that I'm tryingto read it, and then Google Translate
translates it wrong. I'm what,what is that? Public transportation is how

(36:45):
we get around, which I havenot done before. But honestly, it's
so easy. Everything is so wellconnected and it's honestly nice not having to
drive. You can read a bookwhen you're in the bus. Film.
Okay, guys, why because Iknow you have a few got a couple
of Americans on your team, right, so that kind of does that kind

(37:07):
of help a little? Yeah,yeah, there's four of us, um
and I mean any little lot easier, and three of us live together,
so the living situation is nothing wereally had to adapt to, So that
helps. I think then you canall kind of huddle together and say what
is this that I'm eating? Like, get out your app Yeah, got

(37:29):
to figure it out, yea together. There's been times where we bought the
wrong thing and we're like okay,and the language to you're right, Like
it's not like like if you goto Spain or like France, like the
words kind of look similar, likeyou can kind of figure it out.
But that let that whole language,that whole spelling alphabet they have there is
I would imagine it's tough. Yeah, totally different. It's like, oh

(37:53):
that word kind of sounds like this, so I'm gonna assume it's just like
totally off. And even like thelike trying to learn the language too,
they have I don't even know whatthe right words are, like the different
pronunciations, like it sounds that wedon't make in English. So it's just

(38:14):
like, Okay, my tongue doesn'tmove like that. I'm gonna try.
My tongue just doesn't do. It'sgood that you're trying, though, because
I mean that's like the whole thingof like immersing yourself in culture is like
I'm going to give it a try, and of course I'm going to butcher
something, but people there will respectthe fact that I'm at least trying,
and you know, yeah, soactually appreciate that so much. You say

(38:36):
something right and they get so excited. I'm like, yes, kind of
excited in a set of right.Um, so so I'm not I'm just
asking you all these questions about Prague. But what did your mom say when
you said you were going, No, you'rell It was kind of up in
the air, but I was like, okay, I'm going overseas somewhere i
want to play. I want togo somewhere. I'm gonna play. We
had no idea where it yet,and we got word. She was like,

(39:00):
okay, I feel like it's justkind of like wherever she ends up.
But she's always been so supportive bythe whole time family, which honestly
makes it so easy. I mean, like most people know it's hard to
be away from home and like sofar, but they make it easy.

(39:22):
That's great, it's good. Justbe more so supportive and so helpful with
everything, and they just get excitedand they get They probably get more excited
because it's a new place. Theyget to come in and see. Yeah,
like yes, gets a reason togo. Plus technology so great,
Like you and I were talking onzoom. It seems like you're in the
next room. It's like technology itmakes it better too, I think,

(39:45):
Yeah, FaceTime makes it easy andwe're just having a facetoface conversation. How
fun is this? In interview withSidney Schneider. Let's take a short break
and when we come back, we'llhear more from sid about the reggae girls,
they're worldwide fan base, the differencebetween Jamaica from twenty nineteen Women's World
Cup to today and leading into theWomen's World Cup in twenty twenty three,

(40:07):
and so much more fun stuff.We'll be back after this short break.

(40:31):
I have to switch gears here becauseI can talk to you about frog like
all day long. But you justcame back from Australia, you know,
for Cup of Nations tournament with theJamaica women's national team. As you guys
are carrying up for you know,your second World Cup. How exciting is
that? Um? How valuable wasit to go to Australia to play,
you know, leading up to theWorld Cup. What were some of the

(40:52):
things that you learned from the tournamentthat you think you'll take with you this
summer um. I think it washuge that we're not only able to get
together play three big games, butalso in Australia, where the World Company
is going to be, so wekind of got a little bit of a
taste of how things are going torun again, like the culture where we're

(41:13):
going to be, the atmosphere,the environment. I think that was huge
to get like a little a littletaste, a little taste we're getting into
in July and August, and honestly, I feel like what we need to
take away from that, it's justwe can do. I feel like our
last game against Australia, the scorekind of doesn't tell the full picture.

(41:37):
I feel like, especially when westarted off the game, we started off
strong. We the composure and confidencethat we had with the ball without the
ball, I thought it was huge. I thought we looked really good.
And just to pull that together inseven days, ten days however long we're

(41:57):
there without even having like a preMP, I think that's huge and just
kind of stepping stone. Really allright, we can play like that,
we can do that. Let's beconsistent with the let's grow from that.
So I think we just need totake away that is the stepping stone to
be like all right, let's buildfrom there. Well, the Reggae Girls
continue, I think to surprise anddelight us. I think they're one of

(42:22):
the more fun teams to watch andto really be like, like at this
space and time where we're watching thegrowth of the game in Jamaica, the
popularity of the team and you guysare really like, yeah, I know,
you guys rose above Mexico and likeit seems like a short amount of
time, but we all know thatit wasn't. It was like many years
in the making and the team createdLike so, I mean, yeah,

(42:44):
it really is. I mean it'sbaby steps all the way around with women's
soccer, but the team created Ithink so much buzz in twenty nineteen,
the first Caribbean team. You know, you're again you're part of that terrative
what's the difference now, like whenyou're prepping for a World Cup today.
Then it wasn't too nineteen when itwas like, oh my god, we're
the first Caribbean team to never makeit to, you know, the women's

(43:07):
World Cup, but the first Jamaicanteam to even make it to a World
Cup. Like, I'm sure thatthat was like a big deal. And
now that's kind of off your shouldersa little bit, I think. So,
so what's the difference now you're comparedto two nineteen, Like he said,
it's like, wow, surreal,we're going to a World Cup.
We made history. First World Cup. It's just kind of like, wow,

(43:28):
we're happy to be here, likewe when we're here, we're going
to take it in. We're happythat we're going. We're happy that we're
here. I think for this WorldCup, we belong. It's no longer,
Oh, we're happy to be here. Like all right, now let's
progress. Let's make it out agroup stage. So the preparation is no
longer. Okay, let's go forthree games and call it a day.

(43:52):
It's like, all right, let'sgo and kick some butt. So it's
like we prove that we deserve it, that we're meant to be there,
so now let's continue make it outof group stage. Well, it helps
too that, like yourself, youknow, we're seeing a lot of these
players go off and play in differentcountries, and I mean the opportunity for

(44:13):
women's soccer to play club level,it's like so great now, you know,
and then see the whole Jamaican teamjust playing overseas in different countries and
things. I'm sure that that helps. Like you said, like you guys
are proactively getting minutes in so thatyou can prepare for that. And I
think that's like really huge. Whenyou look at the group stage in World
Cup that you guys are in Brazil, France, Panama, I think,

(44:37):
to me, it looks pretty goodthat you guys can get out of that
group because number one, France isgoing through a lot of federation issues.
They're out of they're not focused.They just lost a couple of big players,
so they get that. Brazil,we saw it, she believes cup
recently up and down. You know, They've definitely had the talent and a
good coaching staff, but we sawthem like write a roller coaster a little

(44:59):
bit. And then of course youhave Panama the debutantson so I think that
the I mean, if you guysdo your job, score some goals,
right then then I think that youguys can get out of that group.
I think it's very very possible.I think that's exciting, going to be
exciting. Yeah, yeah, Ithink it definitely will be. I think
one thing like that will be differentfrom our preparation that goes along this is

(45:25):
finding our identity worrying about us.So I think if we build ourselves up
rather than always changing for other teams, which is what we've been doing.
The past two camps were just like, Okay, this is what we want
and we are going to master ourplay, our identity. I think that's

(45:45):
going to be huge and make iteven more exciting. Yeah, and you
guys got the fan base too,because like you said, it's just like
just like Ireland too. It's likethere's more like Irish people in the world
than there are in Ireland. There'smore Jamaicans in the world. And then
you guys saw that support and thekids are so cool. I got I
got a couple of kids myself thatI like to put on because they're they're
like the college kids. Um.And I think that the seeing the support

(46:07):
for you guys there at World Cup, I mean it's just like really adds
to that excitement because those supporters areamazing. Yeah, it's it's crazy It's
incredible that wherever we go it's wehave fans, which is really nice home
field advantage everywhere. Right. Um, So when when I look at this
current Jamaica roster, I was lookingat it from a Cup of Nations.

(46:30):
It looks slightly different than twenty nineteen. There's some new faces there. Um,
you've played on a few teams inyour short career at a club in
country. What makes this current Jamaicasquad special? Do you think? I
just feel like on and off thefield, we work for each other.
We haven't took those backs. Weall are going through things but on our

(46:52):
own club teams. But the factthat we're all here and like players supporting
player mental, I think it's huge. Just trusting each other, working forward
each other. I think that's somethingspecial that shows not only off the field,
along the field. So Jamaica reallypaved the path for other Caribbean teams

(47:14):
to, you know, just knowthat realization that they could qualify for these
big tournaments like Women's World Cup.How do you feel knowing that you've been
part of a team that's inspiring youknow, the next generation of young girls,
especially in the Caribbean. I meanhonestly, it's surreal, just because
we have an impact on people thatwe don't see every day. So to

(47:36):
have that kind of power, Idon't I don't know, I want to
use that word lightly, but justto be an inspiration for others is honestly
incredible and honestly surreal, just likeyou said, like kind of paving the
path and showing that hey, ifthey can do what we can do it.
I just think it's special and honestlyinto an owner to pay that path

(48:00):
and have people to look at usthat way. I've interviewed, like after
twenty nineteen, I interviewed like afew players from Dominican Republic. Obviously,
when Conca Calf you know, comesalong, we'd like to interview like a
player from Haiti and things like andthey all say the same thing, like
like Jamaica's our rival, but wesupported them, and we were so excited

(48:22):
for them. And they're fans,you know, these little you know,
like the you know, the littlelittle island nations. I guess like they're
really fans and they're really inspired bywhat you guys did and they look at
you to say like they did it, we can do it. And now
look at there's six Conqua calf teamsin the in the World Cup too,
of course from Central America, andthen the two Caribbean teams Haiti and Jamaica.

(48:44):
So I mean, just so soawesome to be part of that narrative.
There you are again at the baseof this something great. You know,
it's just amazing. It's just anhonor kid, and I feel like
it's easy to relate. I thinkmaybe that's why it's like, Okay,
they also come from a small ireland. They don't have the resources that all

(49:08):
these other big countries have, butthey were able to do it. So
I feel like just the relatability iswhat makes it possible. Yeah, what
is that saying like if you seeit, you can be it. I
think that matters so much, especiallyand we're seeing like a lot of a
lot of girls from these you know, these countries coming over to United States

(49:30):
to play college soccer and then goingback to their country and taking that because
as you know, the college environmenthere in the States is like a professional
level of a lot of the universities. So to be able to to see
that and then bring it back totheir country and say this is you know,
we're going to continue. This isjust I mean, it's just a
powerful thing. I think, yeah, it is, it really is.

(49:52):
So you've done a lot of travelingin your I keep saying your short life,
because I can't believe that you're onlytwenty three. I feel like you've
just been around forever. But you'vedone a lot of traveling. I mean,
you've just been feels like you've beenon that pro level for so long.
Do you like that aspect of beinga professional athlete or is it something
like you had to get used tojust traveling around. I feel like even
growing up with ECNL, we weretraveling for different showcases. Yes, it

(50:15):
wasn't like around the world, butstarted going, Okay, go to Connecticut,
go to North Carolina, all right, Florida, California. So I
feel like which is always traveling,even at such a young age. So
I feel like it was more ofan easier transition for me. But I

(50:37):
honestly like it. I feel likeI get to see so many cool places
and it's cool, like, allright, I've been here, I've been
here, I've been all these differentplaces. I got to see so many
different cultures and experience so many differentthings and make so many memories, meet
so many people. Honestly like like, like, so does it affect like

(51:00):
your family life or your personal life. Is it's something that you just have
to kind of, like you said, compartmentalize or how do you balance that?
I guess I feel like I've beendoing it for a while, so
just practice at first. It's definitelyhard. Again, I feel like I
used my way in a little bit. Going to college eight and a half
hour drive away from home, sothat was kind of a big step.

(51:23):
I was away from my family,like my friends from home, but they
can always come visit. I canalways go back, and like you said,
technology makes it a lot easier.What makes it the easiest is that
they're supportive about it, Like theywant me here, they want me doing

(51:45):
that, they want me like livingthis life. So the fact that they're
supportive and they believe in me makesit easy. Do you ever get homesick
a little bit? I feel likeI feel like every once in a while,
I don't want to say no,but it's more rare that I do.

(52:06):
Like when it's through its end ofseason and I'm like, oh home,
I get excited to go home,but I wouldn't say like it'll hit
me on a day and I'm like, oh, I wish i could go
home, because I honestly, I'vereally enjoyed the places I've been. I
think if I hadn't enjoyed like NorthCarolina or Spirit or Kansas City, I

(52:28):
think if I didn't enjoy it,I'd be getting homesick. But the fact
that I am enjoying it, andespecially here in Prague, but I just
had other Americans here, so thatmakes it easier and easier transition, and
the team be open and nice andmalcomy just makes it easy to not get

(52:49):
homesick and feel like, Okay,this is my home. Like I'm not
homesick because this is my home.Interesting. I know, I was talking
to a colleague recently about another personperson and I was like, um,
after traveling with like the teams andstuff and throughout like Paris, I was
like, after ten days, Iwas ready to come home. I was
like, this is really hard work. Like people don't realize how hard it

(53:10):
is for the players, like tobeach of traveling, to be on the
road, to be playing in differentcities like every day, Like this is
really It got me like really likemore appreciative I guess of that lifestyle,
and it's just fascinating when you talkabout it because you're like your face just
beamed up. That was like,dang, I was like ten days I
was ready to get home, sitin my little office. I just feel

(53:34):
like we're just so used to it, okay. And if the people around
you are good that it's like that'ssaying it's not where you are, it's
who you're with that makes some placeat home. Obviously, like I deal
this year be different, but ifyou have good people surrounding you, then
it's easier to make that place you'rehome or make those people you're home.

(54:00):
Yeah. And I guess that goesback to just the thing that we love
about soccer and that that communal typething, that team environment. That really
Yeah, I think a lot ofpeople are attracted. I mean a lot
of players are attracted to the gamebecause of that, because at that good
times and that camaraderie that you guyshave. So I feel like, what
are some of the things that youlike to achieve in the future, Like

(54:20):
when you look into the future onboth a professional and a personal level.
Um, professionally, I just wantto keep playing I feel like it's hard.
This life is so like up anddown all over. I try and
not. I'm usually such a planner. I'm like, okay, this,
this, this, this, butlike I would have never planned my life

(54:45):
that I would be in wrong,Like I would never plan that. So
I'm just kind of like, allright, I'm riding the waves, going
up down with them, and thenlike, career wise, just continue playing.
I know I don't want to stop, so as a right and how
I know that? So Michael wasto continue playing. Do you see yourself

(55:08):
coming back to the end of yousaw at some point? I think that
would be really nice to come backand find a team, be a number
one somewhere in the States. Ithink that would be really nice. Feel
like, I guess it'd be easierto settle down to like start life.

(55:29):
I don't want to say that I'mnot starting life right now, but then
again, I'm young. I don'tneed to stress about settling down anytime soon.
So if I keep traveling abroad andthat's what my career has in store
for me, then I'm down forthe ride. And then say personally,

(55:52):
just continuing to like inspire younger's youngerwomen to just be like or younger girls
should say woman, younger girls,it's been like, Okay, she can
do it, I can do it. I think that's huge in an honor.
And even though I can't see thechange that I have in people's lives,

(56:13):
I like to know that it's there, and even if it's one little
girl that I'll take it if they'refor the little girls that are listening out
there, whether they're in like Jamaicaor you don't know wherever they are,
and some you know, a littletown in US or little country all over
the world. You know, weget downloads from all over the world.

(56:35):
I mean like different parts of Africaand obviously Australia is big, New Zealand's
big Asia, all different parts ofAsia. So I mean basically, could
reach any little girl out there who'slike dreaming of living the life that you're
living, you know, traveling andplaying for a national team or playing for
club team overseas. Like what doyou tell them? What's like the biggest
advice that you can give a littlegirl listening or a little boy if they're

(56:57):
listening. Yeah, honestly, haveconfidence in yourself. I feel like I
lack that, and luckily my momdidn't allow me to. She didn't allow
that just stop me. But haveconfidence in yourself, believe that you can
if that's the first thing that hasto change is your run set, and
then you'll see things starting to buildup and change by the mindset of believing

(57:24):
in yourself and having the confidence thatyou can do it. It's the first
thing that what's happened. So I'dsay, have confidence, believe in yourself.
Obviously, I feel like everyone saysdo the work. Um, I
feel like if you believe in yourselfand you have confidence, you will do
the work if you really want it. So yeah, that's that's what I

(57:45):
would say. Yeah, that's greatadvice. You know. A little I've
had a little girls come up tome and ask me that question, like
how can I be a soccer player? Talk to all these professional soccer players?
And that's you know, I tryto like think about, like what
what do players tell me? Andthat's the that's like a big thing is
like sacrifice, play the work.But that doesn't seem like fun. But
have confidence in yourself. It's notsomething that I often hear, So maybe

(58:07):
that's something that that's that's really thatmissing element there that maybe a kid doesn't
have the support system and they don'thave that confidence but you. But you
know, to hear that from SidneySchneider and saying have confidence in yourself.
Right, if I could do it, you could do it. I mean
that I think that that means aworld. Yeah, these kids, um
said, we'll be watching and rootingfor you and the World Cup this summer.

(58:28):
So excited. I get goose bumpsevery time I say it. Um,
I don't care. I don't carewho you are in the world.
Everyone loves the reggae girls and soyou know you have a big supporter group.
Will I'll be rooting for you also. Good luck in Prague. I
hope you get a lot of minutes. And I mean, we just can't
wait to see you play again,and love hearing from you and appreciate all
that you do for women's soccer andand we appreciate you for taking so much
time today to talk with us.Oh my gosh, of course, thank

(58:52):
you for having me. Thank youfor the whole win Shas. It was
honestly so fun being on here.The reluctant play Sidney Schneider, she said
no so many times, but thestars just aligned, right, and thanks
to her mom for pushing her.You know, sometimes we need that little
push, that little jump started,to jump start our confidence, confidence in

(59:16):
ourselves, I mean, to getto where we want to be. Sid
is a good example of that,right. I don't know if you could
tell, but I had a constantsmile on my face to about that whole
interview. I mean, I'm stilleven right now. I mean, Sid
is so funny, so nice,so welcoming. I think the real reason

(59:37):
why it took me so long toget her on the show in the past
was that I was just a littleintimidated by her. Like it's Sydney Schneider,
right, She's done all these greatteam you know, and goalkeepers have
this way of being very intimidating rightthere, look really intimidating. I'm like,
dang, do I really want totalk to her? She looks super
serious and she's probably but I mean, what a pleasant surprise. I mean,

(01:00:00):
one of the more I would sayenjoyable interviews. I have to say.
You know, it's no wonder whyshe's so popular, not just with
the fans, but with her coachesand teammates. I mean, I mean,
she just she just seems like she'shaving a ball and living her best
life and she's like, come on, come along with me, and we're
like right there, right. Soit's just a great, great interview.

(01:00:22):
I just really enjoyed talking to her, and I just hope that her successes
keep coming. You know, maybewe see her back in the NWSL soon
someday. I mean more teams inthe league, right, or getting more
teams, so you know, moreteams mean more opportunities, so you never
know. So so just a justa great, great role model, like

(01:00:43):
I said, and a great person. I really really enjoyed talking to Sydney.
She gave us so much of hertime. That was like a forty
minute interview, right, So justso generous with her time, and I
couldn't be more grateful. So bigthanks to Sidney Schneider for coming on the
show, taking so much time totalk with us. Like I said,
I mean forty min interview, butit went by so fast because she's so

(01:01:06):
interesting and like I said, sucha joy to talk with so and learned
so much about her. We're readyto root for you said, we're rooting
for you. Got my Jamaica Jerseyon. We're rooting for Jamaica, I
really believe that they have a goodchance of coming out of the group.
I really really believe that, andnot just wishful thinking. I just feel

(01:01:27):
like, like I said, youknow, France, Okay, France probably
will come out on top. Itdoesn't matter what adversity they're going through with
the Federation and stuff, they probablywill go out on top. But I
mean Brazil, like I said,is a roller coaster right now. I
mean Psan hagaz Nere, so she'sgonna you know, she's a great coach.
But in those April friendlies, wesaw a lot of ups and downs

(01:01:49):
with Brazil, so you never know. You never know what Jamaica might have
in star for them. And thenPanama the debutants, right, Jamaica not
remembers what they were going through twonineteen. Panama is going to be just
excited to be there, So whoknows, You never know. I think
I have a good feeling about Jamaicacoming out of the group stage in twenty

(01:02:12):
twenty three. I've had worst predictionsin the past, so I'm good with
that. So Ghostid, like Isaid, We're rooting for you, hey,
And also big thanks to our friendat Upper v Athlete Management. The
legendary Lenny Lunn for helping us setup that interview. Thanks Lenny one of
the first sports agents I contacted whenfort starting the show in twenty thirteen,

(01:02:37):
and he was like so nice andso accommodating to us, I mean,
all those years ago. Still agreat friend of the show and a huge
resource for us. So thanks again, Lenny. We'll have his website on
our show notes as well, soyou can check out all the great players
that Lenny and his team represents.And also, hey, if you're a
young player, contact Lenny. Hemight be interested in representing you as well.

(01:03:00):
So thanks again, Lenny. ThanksAgainst Sydney, what a great humming.
I'm still buzzing over that. Thatinterview is so great. What other
team is your guilty pleasure? That'dbe the Football Ferns, right, the
co hosts of the twenty twenty threeWomen's World Cup. They kick off their
historic Women's World Cup of Parents againstdebutant's Republic of Ireland, another underdog that

(01:03:23):
we loved a root for. Howmany favorite players do you have on Republic
of Ireland? So many? Yeah? They kick off that game on July
twentieth one, of the first matchesof the Women's World Cup. And the
New Zealand team has had its strugglesover the past year or so, you
know, only scoring one goal inlike the past ten months or so.

(01:03:45):
What's got a change? Angel saidFC defender and New Zealand captain Ali Riley
held a news conference recently, wasactually Angel CITYFC news conference, but some
of us in the media, includingmyself, wanted to talk more about New
Zealand, and of course Ali wason board as always. I loves talking
about the New Zealand team. Sowe'll play this soundclip from the presser.

(01:04:08):
Remember this is a press conference setting, not an exclusive interview. Reporters are
asking questions and Ali is answering.I did ask the first question, but
I edited it out as well asall the other questions, just for ease
of listening. So let's hear fromAllie Riley and our thoughts on the football
Ferns heading into the twenty twenty threeWomen's World Cup. This last stour was

(01:04:30):
tough. I wasn't able to playtwo of the games, so trying to
kind of contribute and lead as muchas possible from this side is always a
challenge. You know, we missedCJ Bot Rebecca Stott in those games as
well. But we're getting closer andcloser to the tournament and we want,
of course all the players, thewhole roster and squad to be able to
make an impact, and you know, looking forward to Annelie Longo coming back,

(01:04:53):
Rea Persival coming back. But Ithink we just all have to step
it up in terms of our ownperformances. I think our staff gives U
a lot of support, a lotof resources, and it comes down to
I think our training in our domesticenvironment. So for me being able to
be an Angel City playing games,for me, I want to make sure
that I'm competing so I get asmuch time on the field as possible.

(01:05:15):
And of course we have other greatdefenders on the team just learning because I
have the privilege of playing against someof the top foards in the world in
this league and at training every day, and I need to make sure I
take advantage of that so I'm ready. And really I think that's that's all
we can control right now when we'renot together, is how how hard are
we working, how how much arewe making of course, or keeping the

(01:05:39):
national team in mind when we arein our domestic environment so that we're ready
to to you know, kill itat home in our in our leagues,
but also at the biggest, thebiggest women's sporting event in the world,
and for it to be in NewZealand, of course I feel a very
awesome responsibility to play my absolute bestUM come July. It was an unknown

(01:06:00):
how the like, how the gamesin January we're going to go, since
we weren't able to have a lotof our regulars in for that tournament.
So I think it was actually reallypositive to set some attendance records in New
Zealand in January and then for usto get our our senior players, our
veteran players back in UM with youknow, it is a good thing that

(01:06:24):
we have so many players playing inprofessional environments now, so then to get
everyone in a couple of weeks agowas really positive. I think the trainings
were good and competitive, but whenwe got on the field and try a
new for Payer formation in game one, I think we just showed that we
are still at a point where we'rebuilding and working on our cohesion and our

(01:06:49):
attacking transition, our organized attack inthe formation we usually play. So it
was hard to add another dimension ofadding of changing formation, and then of
course going into the other games.I think they the performances got better over
the tournament. Again, crowds weregreat, not the same numbers as we

(01:07:10):
had in January, but I thinkit shows that people are excited about the
tournament. Again, I think theother games that were going on for the
qualifiers were so exciting, almost tooexciting, you know. It's it's so
hard to see teams get so closeand then not qualify for the World Cup,
especially getting that experience and that tasteof playing in New Zealand. Obviously,

(01:07:32):
we're very impressed with Portugal, andI think again with a team like
Argentina when they really smashed us,you're seeing just the growth of the women's
game. So you know, I'ma I'm a glass apple kind of gallum,
always looking at the silver lining,and I think, as I as
I mentioned before, um, youknow, we have to step our performance
up. We have to we needto change, we need to be better

(01:07:53):
if we want to make history atthe World Cup. On the other hand,
I think you are seeing that thegame is progressing so much in countries
that you know, when I thinkabout when I first started playing for New
Zealand, we were definitely better thansome of these other teams and you didn't
have the type of the support orthe or the domestic leagues in these countries,
or just the teams doing so welland having the investment that they do

(01:08:16):
now. So it is a positivething. I think that that other teams
have caught up and potentially surpassed us. But then it's like, what what
do we need to do as playersas a federation to make sure that we're
still competing because I think we dohave talent. I think we have players
coming in you could see yet becausebringing in players who are getting this experience

(01:08:36):
who will be the future of theprogram. And it's important for me,
of course to make sure that wedo well in this World Cup so that
they have the resources to support theinvestment moving forward when um, you know,
I end some of my teammates who'vebeen on the team for over fifteen
years won't be part of the programanymore. So I think seeing the progress

(01:08:57):
was a positive thing. Seeing theexcitement of the fans leading up to July.
Yeah, it just is a isa wave up call. I think
for us to be completely honest,I understand the challenge of the players who
came before us, you know,the pioneers of this sport. I think
facing the kind of pressure to wantto inspire a nation, to change the

(01:09:19):
culture, to change the landscape,to you know, help the game progress
is something that the women in thissport, and probably any sport or just
in society in general, are veryused to and so for me to have
seen, you know, the MayaJackmans of New Zealand have dedicated their lives

(01:09:39):
to this from the beginning. SoI think, of course hosting a World
Cup is like an extra bonus,I'll say, because you know, you're
you are in the backyard of theselittle girls you want to inspire. But
I think being in the NWSL andthe change that the women in this league
are fighting for all the time,the kind of seeing the power of the

(01:10:01):
collective. From playing in this leaguefor really only the past two years,
it's it's really changed my life.And so I just have learned so much
from the women around me that Ifeel prepared for this type of pressure,
and I just again I see itas an opportunity, I see it as
as a privilege and just such aunique, amazing experience that players it's out

(01:10:27):
of your control if your country hasthe kind of the resource and the ability
to bid to host a World's Cup. So it's just something that I am
so grateful for that. You know, I can't say that I have,
you know, any any particular pardon, but now that we do have it,
I really want to make sure thatwe do it right, we do
it well. It is the bestWorld Cup that has ever happened, and

(01:10:48):
you know, there's of course hardconversations going around and things we're facing with
the likes of what certain national teamsare going through right now and a certain
major sponsors that are coming into theWorld's Cup. So I think again having
extra pressure, extra responsibility and challengesis something that we were very used to

(01:11:10):
unfortunately. But again I think ifwe do well and we really show out
at this tournament, which again it'snot our job to prove that we need
to be invested in, but Ido think if we do it, we
are just going to make it betterfor the next generation, so maybe they
don't have to think about all ofthe extra things. Great as always to
hear from Alie Riley, not oneto ever be at a loss for words.

(01:11:34):
We know Alie Riley, which iswhy we love her, right I
mean, also thanks to Lisa Goldbergat angel CITYFC for allowing us to sit
in on that press conference and aska few New Zealand related questions, which
was very nice. So thank youLisa, and also thank you Ali.
July twentieth is just around the corner. Which team will you secretly be rooting

(01:11:58):
for? Regager Football Ferns, Banyana, Banyana, Las Tikas. You know
you have a favorite underdog team andit's okay. It's okay to root for
them and still be loyal to yourcountry team. It's also great to have
favorite players from all over the worldthat we can root for, and so
awesome that we have this platform onWomen's World Football Show to showcase many of

(01:12:21):
them, like Sidney Schneider, akid from New Jersey who didn't even want
to be a goalie who grew upto be one of the best playing in
the biggest stage, the Women's WorldCup, A kid who grew into her
own self confidence and now is inspiringthe next generation of players, even at
only twenty three years old. Thefuture's so bright for Sidney Schneider, but

(01:12:45):
also for women's soccer because of playersand role models like Sydney were so grateful
for her and players like Ali Reiley. All role models we at Women's World
Football Show will be rooting for allthirty two teams in the World Cup because
the real winners will be women's footballand the millions upon millions of fans who
will be tuning in and will berooting for all the players, even the

(01:13:09):
ones we love to hate, becausewithout them, there wouldn't be a game
or an amazing tournament spotlighting these greattalents. I cannot wait for this tournament
to take off and show the worldwe've all known all along right that women's
football is the greatest sport in theworld, no matter who's playing. I

(01:13:30):
really hope you enjoyed episode two hundredand seventeen of Women's Role Football Show.
I would love to hear your thoughtson my exclusive interview with Sidney Schneider,
along with our SoundBite from Ali Riley. Feel free to email me at Patti
at wwfshow dot com. I readall the emails and do my best to
apply in a timely manner. Ifyou did enjoy this episode, subscribe now
on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadioapp google Play, tuned in, cast

(01:13:55):
box, spreaker, stitcherwfshow dot com, or wherever you're listening to this right
now. And if you really reallyenjoy listening to Women's Role Football Show,
one of the best ways you canshow your appreciation is to give us a
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know your thoughts and reviews are thebest ways for others to find the show.

(01:14:15):
Also, another way to help growthe show and grow this beautiful game
that we love is to tell yourfriends and family about Women's World Football Show.
If you're listening on a mobile device, swipe over the cover art and
you'll find the episode notes, includingsome details you may have missed. For
relative links from this episode, visitour show notes on wwfshow dot com.
Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at WWF show, and

(01:14:40):
follow me on Twitter at Patti Labella. Twelve. Women's Rold Football Show is
hosted, written, edited, andproduced by Patti Labella. That's Me.
Additional assistance for this episode by SidneySchneider, Lenny Lunn, Ali Riley,
and Lisa Goldberg. And thank you, especially you for joining me on this
exciting journey through women's football. Staystrong, stay mindful, keep loving your

(01:15:02):
heart. We'll see y'all next time.