FROM THE PITCH TO THE WORLD: LAUREN SESSELMANN ON PASSION, PERSEVERANCE AND PURPOSE

Feature, Sport
C.S

February 26, 2023

“For anyone still doubting—wake up. Women’s soccer isn’t the future; it’s the present.”

IN CONVERSATION WITH LAUREN SESSELMANN

From the moment she first laced up her boots on the fields of Green Bay, Wisconsin, Lauren Sesselmann was driven by a love for soccer that transcended borders and broke barriers.

Her story is one of ambition and audacity, marked by triumphs on the world’s grandest stages and trials that would test the resolve of even the most steadfast spirits.

Lauren’s journey has been anything but conventional. Growing up in Green Bay, she never expected to one day be wearing the Canadian national team jersey, standing on the Olympic podium, or playing on the world’s biggest footballing stages.

Yet, through relentless determination, a refusal to listen to doubters, and a passion for sport that started in her childhood, she carved out a remarkable career.

“I tried every sport imaginable,” Lauren recalls. “Basketball was my first love, but my brothers, who were both goalkeepers, got me into soccer.

“I remember my mum signing me up for a co-ed league when I was about 11 or 12. At first, I wanted to quit—I was in tears. Then I went onto the pitch, tackled a boy to the ground, and scored a beautiful goal. The coach was in shock. From that moment, I was obsessed.”

That obsession took her on a path to professional soccer that was filled with challenges, not least because she hailed from a place that wasn’t considered a soccer hotbed.

“No one really expected much from me,” she admits. “When I started reaching out to colleges, I kept hearing, ‘We don’t recruit from Wisconsin.’

However, that didn’t stop her. With unwavering support from her parents, she pushed forward, eventually earning a scholarship at Purdue University, where she made a name for herself and became part of the Hall of Fame before eventually turning pro.

Despite her success, Sesselmann’s career was filled with moments of adversity. From injuries to sceptics who told her she’d never make it, she constantly found herself in a position where she had to prove people wrong.

“Throughout my entire career, people doubted me. They said, ‘You’re not good enough, you’ll never make it.’ But I had this mentality of, ‘Watch me. I’ll prove you all wrong.“

“As an athlete, you need to ask yourself, ‘What is my why? What is my purpose?’” she says. “For me, it was always about proving to myself and others that I could do it.”

After an outstanding college career at Purdue University, where she played under Rob Klatte and helped the team reach top-ten national rankings, the collapse of the Women’s United Soccer Association (WUSA) left her with limited professional opportunities.

She found herself working at IBM, earning a comfortable salary—until the call to become a professional soccer player arrived. “My dad was like, ‘Wait a minute—you want to give up a great job to make zero dollars playing soccer?'” she laughs. But for Sesselmann, the choice was clear. “I just knew I had to do it.”

The gamble to leave behind a secure, well-paid, full-time career and embark on the journey of a lifetime paid off.

As well as playing for the likes of Jersey Sky Blue, Atlanta Beat, Houston Dash, and Kansas City Current, Lauren became a key figure for the Canadian national team, competing in the Olympics, the World Cup, and on some of football’s most iconic pitches—from Wembley to Old Trafford.

Throughout our conversation, Lauren is unflinchingly honest, weaving between memories of glory and moments of doubt with the candour of someone who’s truly lived.

“I’ve always believed that dreams don’t work unless you do,” she reflects, a mantra that propelled her from a small-town athlete to an Olympic bronze medallist with Team Canada at the 2012 London Games.

It’s a legacy few achieve, yet Lauren’s story goes far beyond medals and matches.

“Waking up every morning, putting on the maple leaf, and going out to train—it was an absolute blessing,” she says. “Winning that medal and seeing my dad in the stands, bawling his eyes out—that’s a moment I’ll never forget.”

Whilst being a decorated Olympian remains a career highlight, so does her remarkable comeback from an ACL injury, defying those who told her to quit.

“I made it back, started every game, and proved them wrong,” she says, reflecting on what she describes as the best years of her life.

Representing Canada on the world stage provided Lauren with some of the greatest moments of her career, but it also led to some of her biggest challenges.

In the quarter-finals of the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup, against England, Lauren slipped and fell agonisingly to the ground in a moment which led to a goal for England. It was a dark moment which led to horrific abuse and even online death threats.

“People see the highs, but it’s the lows that define you,” she admits, her voice unwavering.

Beyond Lauren’s long, flowing blonde hair and disarmingly piercing eyes is a warrior. Underestimate this woman at your peril. Lauren’s fierce determination to embrace life is as striking as her skill on the pitch.

From battling career-threatening injuries to reinventing herself off the field, she is the embodiment of the power of perseverance.

But she’s not just an athlete; she’s an entrepreneur, a mentor, and an advocate for the next generation of female athletes. “I want young girls to know they are limitless,” she says, her passion palpable.

Beyond her playing days, Lauren has dedicated herself to the next generation of athletes. She’s now heavily involved in soccer development, particularly in emerging soccer communities.

“We’ve just spent time in Belize where there’s so much untapped talent out there,” she explains.

“We spent time immersing ourselves in the community, understanding what is needed. They’re just beginning to build an academy, and I’m hoping to help a few players and support the development of the facility. It’s going to be amazing.”

Looking ahead, 2025 promises to be a pivotal year. With new projects on the horizon and an unrelenting drive to inspire, Lauren is poised to make an impact far beyond the soccer field.

We delve into Lauren’s evolution from a collegiate standout to a professional soccer player, navigating the ever-changing landscape of women’s sports. As well as discussing her excitement and the continual growth of the women’s game.

“The NWSL keeps expanding, Canada’s Northern Super League is launching, and dedicated women’s stadiums—like Kansas City’s—are finally being built. Women’s football isn’t the future; it’s the present.”

It was a pleasure for The Atlantic Dispatch to sit down with Lauren to learn more about her remarkable career, the challenges she’s overcome, and how she’s shaping the next chapter—not just for herself but for the future of women’s sports.

Lauren also talks candidly about the pressures and expectations that come with elite competition, revealing the behind-the-scenes reality often masked by victory celebrations.

I LOVED EVERY SECOND OF IT

One of the most valuable aspects of my childhood, and the reason I am so passionate about encouraging kids to be active, is that we were always outside playing.

I am older now, and back in my day, we weren’t glued to our phones. We would be outside from sunrise to sunset, running around the neighbourhood and just having a great time.

I played every sport imaginable with the neighbourhood boys. I’d come home covered in sweat, mud, and dirt, with rocks in my pockets, and my mom would look at me and say,

“Lauren, what have you been up to?” But I loved every second of it.

I tried every sport. I always tell young athletes not to focus on just one sport—play multiple sports! If I hadn’t played basketball, I don’t think I would have become the elite athlete I was.

If you’ve ever watched me play, you’d see that my movements and style resemble a basketball player. This is a big debate among young athletes—whether they should specialise in one sport or play multiple. For me, basketball was my first love.

THE ROLE OF MY FAMILY

I grew up in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Many people don’t realise that I am actually dual-nationality—Canadian and American. My father was born in Newfoundland.

I’m the oldest of three siblings, and my brothers, EJ and Aaron, were both goalkeepers. They got me into football because I would always kick the ball around with them.

The funny thing is that I initially only wanted to play basketball. But then my mum encouraged me to try soccer, so she signed me up for a co-ed league when I was about 11 or 12. I started later than most players.

I remember turning up to practice thinking, What have I gotten myself into? I was in tears and wanted to quit. I sat on the bench, not wanting to participate, but the coach eventually convinced me to give it a try.

I finally went onto the pitch, and within minutes, I tackled a boy to the ground and scored a beautiful goal. The coach looked at me in shock, and when my mum picked me up, she asked how it went. I told her,

“That was the best day of my life! From that moment on, I was completely obsessed with soccer.”

INFLUENCE OF THE 1999 U.S. WOMEN’S NATIONAL TEAM

The 1999 U.S. Women’s National Team had a huge influence on me. They were incredible, and I looked up to them throughout my entire career.

I also followed Canadian football closely, especially Christine Sinclair. I had admired her for years, and when I first got called into the national team camp, I remember sitting next to her, just staring.

She eventually said, “Are you okay?” and I awkwardly responded, “Yes, I know who you are.” It was such a surreal, pinch-me moment because all the hard work had led me to that point.

OVERCOMING DOUBTS AND PURSUING MY DREAM

“Growing up in a small town, I wasn’t expected to achieve much. It reminded me of what NFL quarterback Josh Allen said about his journey—people doubted there was talent in places like Wisconsin. So, like Josh, I took the initiative and started reaching out to colleges myself.”

My parents and coaches realised early on that I had natural ability, but they didn’t know how to navigate the process of developing a young athlete because, at that time, there were no clear pathways or guidance like there is today.

I eventually found a team three hours away that was the best in the state, and I told my parents, “I want to do this.”

They were incredible, driving me three hours each way after school every single day. I missed out on a lot of typical teenage experiences, but in the end, it was worth it.

Soccer became my life. My parents were so supportive, and I wouldn’t have achieved what I did without them.

MENTORS AND ROLE MODELS

I grew up playing with Leslie Osborne and Jay DeMerit, who both went on to represent the U.S. National Team and have fantastic careers. They were my idols in Wisconsin.

When I started thinking about college, I knew I had to be proactive. I always tell young athletes, “You have to be confident and go after what you want because opportunities won’t just come to you.”

I wrote to so many colleges introducing myself, but I kept hearing the same response: “We don’t recruit from Wisconsin.”

I initially wanted to go to Madison and play in the Big Ten, but they weren’t interested. Later, after they saw me play, they changed their minds, but by then, it was too late—I had already committed elsewhere.

I ended up meeting my Purdue coach, Rob Klatte, at an Olympic Development Program (ODP) camp. He changed my life.

He invited me to visit Purdue, and even though I wasn’t sure at first, I knew I wanted to be far enough from home to be independent but close enough for my family to attend my games.

Purdue was an incredible experience—we were ranked in the top ten, and I had the best time

After college, there were very few professional opportunities because the WUSA had just folded. That was a whole different challenge in itself, but that’s how my journey in soccer began.

THE STRUGGLE AND THE DECISION TO PURSUE SOCCER

I was working for IBM and making good money. Then, I got the call to play soccer. My dad was like, “Wait a minute—you want to give up a great job to make $0?” But I just knew I had to do it.

So when that moment finally came, it was surreal—for me and for my family. My dad was bawling his eyes out, and even thinking about it now makes me emotional.

You know, only 18 to 24 people get called into that environment, and I was one of them. After being told so many times that I wasn’t good enough, that moment felt like validation.

EARLY INFLUENCES: FAMILY AND DETERMINATION

First and foremost, my father was an athlete and coached me in several sports, so having that influence from a young age was a huge factor. My brothers also pushed me to be better every day.

But beyond that, no one from my area had really gone on to achieve anything in sports, and I wanted to change that narrative.

Throughout my entire career, people doubted me. They would say, “You’re not good enough,” or “You’ll never make it.” But I had this mentality of, “Watch me. I’ll prove you all wrong.”

UNDERSTANDING MY PURPOSE

As an athlete, you need to sit with yourself and ask, “What is my why? What is my purpose?”

Seeing the 1999 U.S. Women’s National Team—Brandi Chastain and Mia Hamm—was such a pivotal moment.

It wasn’t just about football; it was about female athletes across all sports seeing what was possible. It was incredibly inspiring.

INTERNATIONAL REPRESENTATION AND ACHIEVEMENTS

Waking up every morning, putting on the maple leaf, and going out to train—it was an absolute blessing. The soccer community in Canada is incredible. As I said earlier, my dad cried when I was drafted, but he cried even more when I got my first call to be on the national team.

I know this past year was rough, but my teammates, the coaching staff, and everyone involved in that program gave 150% to help us succeed.

John Herdman has a winning mentality. When he came in it was after the 2011 World Cup, and within a few months of playing under him, I got my first start, and we won a Gold Medal in the Pan American Games.

We then took home bronze in 2012. He completely revamped the programme. He gave chances to players who might never have had the opportunity, and he changed the trajectory of Canadian soccer. He deserves his flowers for that.

Winning the Bronze Medal was an incredible achievement. We should have been in that gold medal match, but that’s another story. But then beating France for bronze… standing there in Wembley, playing at Old Trafford, playing in Newcastle—it was surreal. Standing on that podium is every athlete’s dream.

MOMENTS I WILL NEVER FORGET

I always believed it was possible, but when you’re actually there becoming an Olympian, it’s like, whoa, this is real. Seeing my family in the stands, hugging my dad after winning—that’s a moment I’ll never forget.

The ACL injury happened just before the World Cup. Overcoming that setback, enduring multiple hospital visits due to a difficult recovery, and then working hard to make the World Cup roster was a huge achievement for me—especially since I went on to start every game.”

DEALING WITH ADVERSITY AND FINDING STRENGTH

The World Cup became a pivotal point in my career. I should say that no World Cup should ever be played on turf!

Everyone was slipping, and I got a lot of hate for it, even death threats. It was a dark time—I went through depression, and even talking about it now makes me emotional. But it also turned into something meaningful.

I remember doing a talk afterwards, and this little girl raised her hand and said:

“Lauren, I know that fall was really hard for you, but seeing you get back up showed me it’s okay to fall.” That moment really stuck with me.

TRANSITIONING FROM SOCCER TO LIFE AFTER RETIREMENT

That transition was really tough for me. I went through a really dark time. I struggled with concussions, depression, and the aftermath of everything that happened.

I know this is a positive publication, but I want to be honest: It was rough.

But taking that pain and channelling it into what I’ve built now—that’s what makes it all worth it. And looking back, I wouldn’t change a thing.

THE GROWTH OF WOMEN’S SOCCER

The growth of Women on and off the soccer field is absolutely crucial. I mean, just look at the progress we’ve seen—Women’s Soccer is growing at an incredible rate.

The last World Cup alone brought in billions of views, and the momentum is only building. Media outlets and brands are investing more than ever, with some even focusing exclusively on women’s sports. It’s a beautiful thing to witness.

Of course, there’s still work to be done. Visibility remains a key issue, and the narrative on social media needs to evolve.

Some of the things I read online are just ridiculous—it’s 2025, grow up. But honestly, the way women in this sport handle criticism is inspiring. They’re fierce and resilient and continue to push boundaries.

THE FUTURE OF WOMEN’S SOCCER

The growth of women’s football is undeniable. The NWSL keeps expanding, the Northern Super League in Canada is launching, and new leagues are emerging around the world.

With a Women’s World Cup coming up and dedicated women’s stadiums being built—like Kansas City’s, which went from a high school field to a world-class venue—people are finally recognising the incredible talent in the women’s game.

And another thing that’s been great to see? The support from men in the sport. There’s a growing collaboration between male and female players, and it’s making a huge difference.

So, for anyone still doubting, wake up. Women’s soccer isn’t the future; it’s the present. And if anybody ever wants to test themselves in a one-on-one, you know where to find me.