It was a cool spring day in Overland Park, Kan., on April 13, 2013. Almost 7,000 fans filled Shawnee Mission High School Stadium for the first-ever National Women’s Soccer League matchup between FC Kansas City and the visiting Portland Thorns, and Canadian midfielder Desiree Scott made sure to take it all in.
“I just remember looking around with excitement because that was also my first pro experience,” Scott says. “Everyone [from both teams] was just smiling at each other out on the pitch, ready to go. We’re friends, but we’re ready to battle it out.”
