Three-time Olympic Gold Medalist Shares Her Journey, Advice, and Passion for Growing the Girls’ Game
New Jersey Youth Soccer (NJYS) wrapped up its final session of the Growing the Girls Game (G3) Winter Webinar Series with an exclusive conversation featuring Heather Mitts, a three-time Olympic Gold Medalist and former U.S. Women’s National Team defender.
With an illustrious career that includes 137 caps for the USWNT, a NCAA Championship with the University of Florida, and professional stints with the Philadelphia Charge, Boston Breakers, Philadelphia Independence, and Atlanta Beat, Mitts has inspired countless young athletes with her work ethic, versatility, and determination.
In this powerful session, Mitts shared valuable insights on what it takes to stand out, stay motivated, and continue growing as an athlete—both on and off the field. 
Key Takeaways from Heather Mitts: How to Stand Out & Succeed in Soccer
During the G3 Webinar, Mitts emphasized the importance of finding what makes you unique as a player and using that to your advantage.
“Focus on what makes you different and get so good at it that they can’t take you off the field,” Mitts advised.
She also highlighted the value of versatility, explaining that being open to playing multiple positions helped her extend her career at the highest levels.
“The more positions you play, the better chance you have at playing longer and at a higher level.”
Heather Mitts
Her mindset for success was clear: constant self-improvement and a relentless work ethic.
“If you have the right attitude and the right work rate, good things will come. I always had the mentality to get just a little better every day. Taking baby steps makes improvement more attainable and helps prevent burnout.”
Beyond the Game: Mitts’ Passion for Empowering Female Athletes
Since retiring from professional soccer, Mitts has remained deeply involved in empowering young athletes. She launched Passion for Success, a Q&A series designed to motivate and educate female athletes, and co-founded Train Like Legends, an online strength and conditioning platform that helps players develop their skills with world-class training programs—no matter their schedule or location.
Through these initiatives, Mitts is dedicated to inspiring the next generation of female soccer players, helping them reach their full potential on and off the field.
A Conversation Led by Women in Soccer
The discussion was moderated by Renee Washington, an ESPN and Fox Sports journalist who also brings her own soccer expertise as a former three-time All-American player and assistant coach at Lehigh University. Washington, a proud NJ Youth Soccer alumna, is passionate about uplifting young female athletes and founded Planted, Not Buried, an organization focused on motivational speaking and community empowerment.
Empowering the Future: The NJYS G3 Initiative
The G3 Winter Webinar Series is part of NJ Youth Soccer’s commitment to growing the girls’ game at all ages and stages of a soccer career. Previous featured guests in the series included:
- Yael Averbuch West – General Manager of Gotham FC
- Skye Eddy – Founder of Soccer Parenting
- Amanda Vandervort – President of USL Super League
By providing mentorship, leadership opportunities, and access to role models like Heather Mitts, NJYS and its G3 Initiative are helping young female athletes build confidence, resilience, and a lasting love for the game.
