Enduring Spirit: Restoring Professional Women's Soccer to Washington
By Beau Dure
()
About this ebook
All sports require resilience and perseverance. Women's soccer requires more than most. Two U.S. leagues have disappeared in the past decade. Players have put in countless hours of work for limited opportunities.
For this book, veteran women's soccer writer Beau Dure tracked the Washington Spirit through its debut season, from the first league draft to chilly early-season practices and the frustrations of a long winless streak. He watched a young team react to a coaching change, injuries, bus rides that were longer than they should have been, hundreds of autograph-seekers at every game, the occasional stray dog on the practice field, and the challenges of playing at a professional level. He watched as fans grew attached to the players, mourned the losses and eventually cheered the Spirit's success at the end of the season.
Featuring interviews with everyone who played for the Spirit, plus coaches and several people outside the club, the book goes behind the scenes to show the team on the practice field, on the bus and in a team-building exercise. Players talk about their love of the game and what they've done to pursue their dreams -- the travels to isolated spots overseas, the second jobs, and the endless quest for self-improvement.
The Spirit didn't win the league title or make the playoffs. But the team inspired thousands of fans through its first year, and players and fans finished the season already looking forward to the next one. The team restored professional women's soccer to Washington, laying a foundation to make sure the Spirit will endure.
Beau Dure
Beau Dure is an alumnus of Duke University and USA TODAY. He lives in Vienna, Va., with his wife, two sons and two dogs. He spend his weekdays at Starbucks and his weekends on soccer fields.
Related to Enduring Spirit
Related ebooks
Soccer: $tate in the States Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSoccer in a Football World: The Story of America's Forgotten Game Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Basketball Season Ticket: The Ultimate Fan Guide Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe NBA Playoffs: In Pursuit of Basketball Glory Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBlue With Envy: My American Journey With Manchester City Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Super Bowl: Chasing Football Immortality Rating: 1 out of 5 stars1/5College Football Season Ticket: The Ultimate Fan Guide Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsPro Athlete Pay Equity Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsStar-Spangled Hockey: Celebrating 75 Years of USA Hockey Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBaseball in Fort Wayne Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBaseball's Biggest Rivalries Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings100 Things Wisconsin Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBaseball in Springfield Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsDodgers vs. Yankees: The Long-Standing Rivalry Between Two of Baseball's Greatest Teams Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAll-Star Sports Trivia Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsG.O.A.T. Women's Basketball Teams Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAmerica's Passion: How a Coal Miner's Game Became the NFL in the 20th Century Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLevel the Playing Field: Balls, Brats and Other B.S. (or really fun sports facts) Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsMaking March Madness: The Early Years of the NCAA, NIT, and College Basketball Championships, 1922-1951 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsNational Football League - A Complete History Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Negro Leagues are Major Leagues: Essays and Research for Overdue Recognition Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsUS Women's National Soccer Team: Winning On and Off the Field Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe King of Sports: Football's Impact on America Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The History of Loyola Basketball: More Than a Shot and a Prayer Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsTwin Bill Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBaseball's Best Coaches: Influencers, Leaders, and Winners on the Diamond Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsRising Above the Madness: Profiles of the Greatest NCAA Basketball Coaches of All Time Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsFrom Minnow to Major: The Story of the Growth of U.S. Soccer Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The American League: The Early Years Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSeattle Sounders: Soccer Champions Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Sports & Recreation For You
Anatomy of Strength and Conditioning: A Trainer's Guide to Building Strength and Stamina Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5How to Build Muscle the No Nonsense Way Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Rugby For Dummies Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Your Spine, Your Yoga: Developing stability and mobility for your spine Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Body by Science: A Research Based Program to Get the Results You Want in 12 Minutes a Week Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Pocket Guide to Essential Knots: A Step-by-Step Guide to the Most Important Knots for Everyone Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe New Encyclopedia of Modern Bodybuilding: The Bible of Bodybuilding, Fully Updated and Revis Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Harvey Penick's Little Red Book: Lessons And Teachings From A Lifetime In Golf Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Confident Mind: A Battle-Tested Guide to Unshakable Performance Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBen Hogan’s Five Lessons: The Modern Fundamentals of Golf Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Ultimate Survival Medicine Guide: Emergency Preparedness for ANY Disaster Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Hardgainer Solution Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Wooden: A Lifetime of Observations and Reflections On and Off the Court Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Baseball 100 Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5How Am I Doing?: 40 Conversations to Have with Yourself Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The MAF Method: A Personalized Approach to Health and Fitness Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A Guide to Improvised Weaponry: How to Protect Yourself with WHATEVER You've Got Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Just Tyrus: A Memoir Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Wisdom of Mike Mentzer: The Art, Science and Philosophy of a Bodybuilding Legend Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Field Guide to Knots: How to Identify, Tie, and Untie Over 80 Essential Knots for Outdoor Pursuits Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsTiger Woods Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5It Takes What It Takes: How to Think Neutrally and Gain Control of Your Life Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Arthur: The Dog who Crossed the Jungle to Find a Home Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Mind Gym: An Athlete's Guide to Inner Excellence Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Take Your Eye Off the Ball 2.0: How to Watch Football by Knowing Where to Look Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Getting to Neutral: How to Conquer Negativity and Thrive in a Chaotic World Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Bushcraft Field Guide to Trapping, Gathering, and Cooking in the Wild Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Related categories
Reviews for Enduring Spirit
0 ratings0 reviews