SPOKANE, Wash. — Spokane Zephyr F.C. is continuing to ramp up training ahead of the inaugural USL Super League season beginning in August.
After three weeks of training, head coach Jo Johnson is pleased with where her team is at, as she awaits the arrival of the team's final international players.
"The best part about it is the players' growth mindset to be challenged. Everyone is coming in from different environments, experiences, game models and styles of play. It may be uncomfortable to ask players who were not asked to do different things within their positional profiles, but they have been so open and that has been really neat. (We are) definitely scratching the surface right now and then getting into more nuances as we get to know each other, get more players into the market and get more into it," Johnson said.
This will be a season filled with firsts for the Zephyr including the club's first ever signing, midfielder Marley Canales, who feels honored to be the club's first ever player.
"It was something I wanted to be a part of because it is a new league and a new opportunity in this country and it is going to compete with the NWSL. A lot of us who have experience in the NWSL know that women's soccer is here to stay in this country and is growing. It is such a great honor and I am very appreciative of the club for believing in me and choosing me to start off this club, I hold that close to my heart for sure," Canales said.
It will also be a homecoming of sorts for former Gonzaga stars Sophia Braun and Jodi Ulkekul who are thrilled to be back in Spokane as professionals.
"I was so excited, I love Spokane and have gotten to spend a lot of time here and was really grateful that this opportunity came up. I'm so happy to be back, I love it here and I am excited," Braun said.
"When we went out for the "Rumble" at the Velocity game, we got a standing ovation and people were going crazy for us and some of us got emotional. It kind of hit us, I think, when we really saw a crowd get behind us and really get excited and we got to see that excitement and feed off of it, so I think that was a really cool moment," Ulkekul said.
As for many other players on the team, they are just excited to have an opportunity to play at a high level at home here in the United States.
"For me, moving abroad to play in Australia was such a big jump that I knew I wanted to come back to the U.S. when I found there would be more opportunities," Zephyr goalkeeper Izzy Nino said.
The Zephyr begin the season at home on August 17th against Fort Lauderdale United. Kick off is set for 6 pm at ONE Spokane Stadium.