DC Power’s Maddie Wolfbauer

In today’s episode, I speak with professional women’s player Maddie Wolfbauer from the DC Power of the USL Super League. We talk about what it was like to be recruited to a Power 4 school. She shares what went into her decision to transfer and how that affected her pro prospects. Then we discuss the different pro leagues she was able to experience and how that shaped her into the player she is today.

Matt: [00:00:00] Hi everybody, welcome to discover college soccer today. I am lucky enough to be joined by maddie wolfbauer Wolfie from the dc power. Welcome to the program. Uh, it’s a little bit of a different episode here I know most of our listeners are used to uh me talking to college coaches, but I love the opportunity to to talk to former college players and a current pro at that playing for my I guess my old hometown team that did the DC power.

So welcome Maddie. 

Madison: Thank you so much for having me really excited to be here today 

Matt: Yeah, i’m excited to talk to you. We we were talking beforehand. We got a lot of things in common places We’ve lived backgrounds and and all this stuff. Uh, you know, I used to like I said dc’s You know, I, I spent more time in DC than I did in, in Ohio, I think, uh, where I grew up, but, but my wife’s from Detroit, your area, so are you.

And, uh, love to talk to you about that. You played for, for a tremendous club, [00:01:00] uh, when you were in high school, Michigan Hawks, right? 

Madison: Yeah, I did. Yeah. For my whole, whole club career, I was with the Michigan Hawks from seven to 18. 

Matt: Oh, wow. Wow. So that, that, yeah, you’ve spent some time there. So now were they.

Did you play ECNL most of the time? Were they DA girls? Like, what was the timeline there of when you were playing with the Hawks? 

Madison: When I was with the Hawks, we did not have any DA or any of the other things. So it was like really, you were on the ECNL team or you were on the B team. But they, you know, they didn’t necessarily call it the B team at that time.

But yeah, you play ECNL or you’re on the B team. So I played ECNL my entire career there. 

Matt: Okay. So I’ve always forget timelines because I’ve been through so many iterations of leagues and who was where and, and it’s always hard for me to, to remember when stuff started and ended. And, and so, so you know, well, talk to us about your, just your college recruiting process.

Now, [00:02:00] did you play high school soccer for your high school or did you just play ECNL? 

Madison: I, we actually, my club. Team at the time, like we started together really young. I would say as a group, um, pretty unique, which is why one of the reasons we were probably so successful as a group. Um, I started playing with those girls, probably middle school and we stuck with it and only a select few played high school.

So none of us actually played high school in the area. And then for me, my high school, we didn’t have like super high quality high school soccer. So at that time, there wasn’t any restrictions with the recruiting process of when you could talk to them. to college coaches. So I was calling college coaches at like 13 or 14 because there were no restrictions on, okay, certain timeline, you have to wait until your junior year or this.

And I know there’s so many different things now that I don’t even know about. I’m like, I feel old and I’m really not that old, but, um, yeah, so I played, yeah. Club for the Michigan Hawks whole career. We won [00:03:00] a, an ACL national championship, my junior year of high school and my senior year of high school. So back to back, which was.

Pretty awesome. Um, and all of my entire team besides one went division one. Um, but one girl went and played at Grand Valley State, which to me is like a super high level division two school, really better than some division one in that way. 

Matt: Absolutely. 

Madison: Yeah. So I started the recruiting process probably maybe a little too early, which I think now 14 years old calling big 10 college soccer coaches.

And I’m Like using my cell phone, I’m sitting at my desk in my room. I have my notebook of like questions. My dad and I like would write down of what I can ask them and things and everything, but we, I committed. Yeah. When I was 15 and then stayed committed to the university of Illinois. So I committed my sophomore year of college.

I’m a little bit on the, I was on the younger scale for being a night born in 1999. So I actually played [00:04:00] down with. Like the younger team and my 99 Hawks team at the time. Um, cause I was like on the cusp of the cutoff of age group. So, but yeah, I started calling coaches at like 13, 14. Um, my dad and I would go visit schools.

A lot of my. Team honestly committed by junior year of high school. Now in hindsight, I look back and I’m like, if I would have been 17, 18, even, even though that’s pretty young, I probably would have had a better idea of what I was looking for, what I wanted more, maybe realistic expectations. Um, so 

Matt: when you were making those calls.

What, what were the different variables that you were looking at? Was it, you just, you just knew you wanted, you know, the best soccer possible? Or are you looking at the size of the school and majors and all that other stuff, or what was kind of, what was your focus? 

Madison: Yeah, I actually [00:05:00] all, all of that. I would definitely say I wanted to play a high level, of course, like.

And being from Michigan, obviously, Michigan, Michigan State, great big 10 schools for soccer, especially now in the last, I would say five or six years. They really, Michigan State has had its moments, but now they’re extremely high level and always do really well in the tournament. But I did not want. To at the time, I did not want to be close to home.

So I looked kind of around home, but not so far. So I kind of kept it in like, I would say mostly Midwest when I was looking. So first Midwest schools and I looked a lot in the big 10. That was like really important to me because I love the aspect of the environment of big 10 schools. Um, definitely education was important to me.

I knew I wanted to do business. So, um, of course, University of Michigan has a great school. Ross School of Business is Astounding. Um, but Michigan actually didn’t recruit a single girl from my club team and a single girl from my club team went to the university, actually maybe one, [00:06:00] and she was a goalie, but committed later.

Um, but at nobody else, like no field players or anything. So business was important. And the university of Illinois has a great business school. And it was actually like completely redone in the first like two years, the. Gies School of Business, if I want to quote that correctly, but their facility is like, beautiful.

Um, soccer was important, coach was really important, and at the time Janet Rayfield was the head coach at the University of Illinois and super well known in the soccer community, um, had worked in national teams, that was like really important to me. Um, Illinois wasn’t too far, wasn’t too close, um, of course I asked questions like, Lifestyle and like are the girls close and everything and you know at that time you’re I’m 14 So I’m just really trying to ask questions to where I’m like not awkward on a call But really education was important distance was important in the way of I didn’t want it like so far across the country But I [00:07:00] didn’t want it to be like in my backyard like I grew up 30 minutes from University of Michigan.

Um, so those were kind of the big things for me. Of course, like at that time, I’m asking questions like, do you think that you could see me playing and like being a starter and, you know, being young and naive. I think every, every person wants to play. Um, And so of course, they’re maybe going to tell you a little bit of what you want to hear, like, oh yeah, we see you here and this and that.

And I was rated with like US soccer really high in my career. I was actually a center midfielder, um, my whole career in high school and club growing up. So I was, I went to, I got recruited as like a six or an eight at the University of Illinois and then things changed and I became a nine, which is interesting, but that was kind of a little bit about.

My recruiting originally to Illinois. I mean, I was on the phone with, I called Wisconsin, Ohio state. I went, visited Notre Dame, um, which was my dream [00:08:00] school growing up, university of Notre Dame. Like absolutely. I watched Rudy the movie and I’m like, Oh my God, I have to go to Notre Dame. The coolest thing ever.

Um, so mine was maybe a little bit unique just because I didn’t have the restrictions on the timeline or anything with that, but a little bit young to calling like 13, 14, 15, and I’m calling coaches. I don’t have that much of an idea. Of course, my, my dad helped guide me a little bit with like, and I’d write down questions, like I said, but, um, yeah, education, distance, and of course, level of play, like I wanted to play at a high level.

Matt: So let’s talk about that transition from position because it’s a question I see a lot of people ask. It’s like, well, I’m, I’m, you know, I’m, I’m this position. Uh, but coaches saying they see me. As a Y position, right? And, and I, I mean, I had a, a high school team and he was the leading scorer in Columbus and blah, blah, blah.

And he played right back for Indiana. You know, it was just like, you just never know [00:09:00] what, what that means. So when did that transition occur? How did that happen? How did, how did you feel about it? 

Madison: Yeah, I had always played, I’d always played midfield, like growing up in club, really like, like I said, six or an eight and I played for a semi pro summer team.

Um, called I was Motor City at the time and my trainer now who’s super high level and still like really well known Aaron Bird through next level training. He coached that summer team that year and we had players like Dana Castellanos, Jalen Howell, um, Christina Murillo, who else is Michelle Cooper who just got her first cap with the national team.

So like we had Alexa Spanstra with who’s with the. So our team was like, just this crazy good team. And he put me as a nine and then I ended up being like kind of more of a traditional back to goal nine. Um, and so I went into college and I’m like, Oh my gosh, this is great. Like I’m a nine. I love it. I was playing really well [00:10:00] at it at the time.

And I think that caused a bit of. I was probably stubborn and maybe young where I’m like, okay, now I’m a nine. Like I can only play the nine and I got recruited to play a six. So I think that was kind of now transitioning a little bit into my. Not issues at Illinois, but a little bit of stubbornness because I was recruited to play a six or an eight and I was like, so like gung ho and I want to play a nine.

Um, so I did not, and I got injured my freshman year, Illinois, actually the second day of preseason after fitness testing. So I was out with. like a high level ankle sprain boot and crutches for eight weeks. So that definitely did not start my freshman year off well for me, like, um, didn’t travel, didn’t play, didn’t practice, was just doing rehab and everything.

So that was definitely caused a bit of issues, I would say. But yeah, I think, I mean, my journey even, I can get into it later with position. I’m now playing center [00:11:00] back. So, and I had never played center back actually until I played a Keflavik. Um, I’d never played center back in my young career or professional career, but now I’m starting playing 90 minutes at DC power as a center back.

So that’s interesting. But I think a lot of girls get stuck in like, no, this is my best position. But if I’d have to say anything, it’s more like. It’s what the coach sees best fit for you and you have to trust in that. And I wish I could go back and tell myself, like, you know what, I should have just, whatever she wanted me to play, I was going to play because I wanted to be on the field.

But I think I was young. I’m, I was 17. Actually, when I got to Illinois, I turned, I turned 18, August 2nd, which is like actually the legally the signing day. So signed my form and then ran the beep test of my freshman year. Um, but yeah, definitely naive a little bit in that way for me. And I could have.

Probably been like, okay. Yeah, I’m gonna play midfield, but I was like no, I want to play a nine. Okay. 

Matt: Well, you know today [00:12:00] the transfer portal is A massive thing I know is it was around when when you transfer but very different Uh, I think that it is today and unfortunately, I think we’re gonna see A massive influx of, of girls hitting the portal here.

And then the coming weeks, uh, as, as roster limits are in effect and things like that, but you started Illinois, but decided to transfer, talk to me about that process, what, once you, once you decided to make that change, what did you do? How did it work? How did you end up at Bowling Green? 

Madison: Yeah, I, uh, I decided in the fall of my sophomore year that I was going to transfer, um, I had been on the, I was always on the travel roster that year, still like struggling with, for me, positionally, because again, still stuck on, like, I’m a nine, probably could have played more in the midfield, this and that, and I was, I struggled a lot with my identity as a player, [00:13:00] um, at Illinois, so I think some of it had to do with me, but it went into, you Went into coach’s office in the spring.

I was like, I’m going to transfer. And she’s like, okay, pack up your stuff. Like, you’re not allowed to use any facilities, um, get out. I’m like, okay. Um, so I actually, we had a great, um, strength and conditioning coach at the time at Illinois. He’d worked with baseball and us. So I worked with him all spring and just did like fitness and then went into the portal and I had no idea I was.

Honestly, freaking out going and I’m like, I had no idea. I didn’t even know where I wanted to go. There wasn’t a school where I was like, oh, I want to go. And at the time, I don’t know if this is still true and correct me if I’m wrong. You couldn’t go like conference to conference. So, um, I, without sitting out a year.

So I’m like, okay, all the big school, 10 schools are off the table. And my final two schools before I chose Illinois was Michigan state and Illinois. And I’m like, I would have loved to go and play at that time for Michigan state, but I didn’t want to sit out another year where I feel like my [00:14:00] freshman year was like, just unlucky injury happens.

And then sophomore year, I was kind of like, you know, I play like a couple minutes in different games. So I’m like, I want to play, like, I’m, I want to play college soccer. And at that time, I didn’t even think I wanted to play pro. It was a dream when I was a kid, but I kind of had lost my love for the game, but went into the portal and was looking at schools and I’d actually literally never heard of Bowling Green.

At the time I’m like, it’s tiny. And I looked at a lot of Mac schools because again, around the Midwest, I did visit East Carolina as well. Um, I had a connection to that head coach, but yeah, I looked a lot in the Mac cause I was like, okay, it’s, it’s mid major. It’s still division one. I didn’t want to go play division two.

There was some. Schools that were like doing pretty well in the Mac. And I looked at Ball State. I looked at Western Michigan and then found Bowling Green. And my dad and I think in the spring went and visited a [00:15:00] couple of them, but the transfer portal got a bunch of emails, like. from random schools, never heard of.

So that was that about the trans portal, I think is so cool for girls now, because, you know, people talk about this feeling of, Oh, you feel at home when you like choose your school, like you want it to feel like home, but there’s a good chance you get there. And it’s like, this does not feel like home. Like, am I the problem?

And I kind of felt like that at Illinois, like in my. Is it me? Am I the problem? Or I’m like, okay, you know, it’s just not working for me. Like some girls love it, but I’m not, it’s not the right fit. Like, okay, it’s my fault. I picked wrong. Like I should stick it out. But then obviously when the portal probably the best decision I ever made for my career in general and my love of the game and then landed on Bowling Green and.

Absolutely loved it. Like, I would not regret that at all. It was amazing. 

Matt: Well, I, I went to grad school at Ohio University, which is the [00:16:00] best school in the MAC, but you know, we’ll let it slide that you went to Bowling Green. 

Madison: I have a lot of stories about Ohio. Not like Ohio University, but a beautiful campus.

I looked at Ohio as well. Actually, I forgot about that. I went and visited this beautiful 

Matt: campus. All right. Well, we’ll let it slide that you picked Bowling Green. But, uh, so then. What position did you play at Bowling Green? Did the coach agree that you were a 9 or how did that work out? 

Madison: Yes, I was a 9 at Bowling Green, yeah.

Um, in this style, my coach still, I think, one of my favorite coaches I’ve ever played for. I’ve played for two different coaches there. One, Matt Fannin, who’s now, I still believe, at Iowa State. And unbelievable guy in person. I actually never played a year under him because when I transferred, I tore my ACL in the summer.

So my junior year, yeah, totally. My, my college career was Rocky. I will say, cause injured then Trent, like junior sophomore year, rough, then transferred, tore my ACL playing [00:17:00] in summer league, still for that same team with like awesome players just happened, fluke in a game, it was contact. So I never like had any.

Issues after that, but yeah, red shirt at my junior year and then COVID hit, of course, but, um, my senior year or like end of junior year, but I played under yet Matt Fannin technically, but he saw me as a nine and that was one of the things that like Bowling Green really stuck out to me. Like he saw me as what I thought was my best position, um, at the time.

And truly I do think it was, but maybe the style. that they played at the time at Illinois probably wasn’t my best position as a nine. Um, so that again, a little bit of friction there, but, um, yeah, I played a nine and then played under, uh, Jimmy Walker as well at Bowling Green and he still had me as a nine.

So that was kind of there with the position thing. 

Matt: Now, after college, you had an amazing opportunity to play [00:18:00] overseas. So I love, and you know, I think more every year, the, the opportunities for women’s professional soccer, both in the U S and abroad, just keep getting better. But I mean, I guess it’s only a couple of years ago, but how did that even.

How did that materialize? How did you end up? I mean, you started in France. How did, how did that even come about? 

Madison: Yeah, actually, um, another failure I had, I went into the draft, the NWSL draft, my, after my fifth year and I did not get drafted. And at the time that was like, okay, the biggest fail of my career, probably for me.

Um, because I had had a really good career at Bowling Green on paper, but I would say when it comes to, I think a lot of girls in different ways, I’ve struggled with the politics in the United States a bit, and I don’t think it was all that like, I can’t say like, Oh, you know, I should have been drafted super high or blah, blah, blah.

Um, but I was [00:19:00] offensive player of the year. I was academic all American. I was every award that you could have gotten at Bowling Green. I had, um, I think I had like 13 goals in the season that year, a couple of assists. I was, you know, all first team, all Mac for those two, like, you know, I had all that, what you needed to look great on paper, but I played for a Mac school.

So, and that’s just, unfortunately, sometimes the reality, like you have a player that maybe might not be as good as me. But they’re at Stanford and they’re playing 30 minutes at Stanford. Well, you’re going to take the girl that played 30 minutes at Stanford because Stanford is an elite program. Bowling green wasn’t, and unfortunately that’s reality, but didn’t get drafted.

And then I’m like, okay, I want to go play overseas. And I was like, Um, like I told you before, I’m big personality, not shy, love a new experience. I had never actually been to Europe in my life at that point. So I’m like, okay, I want to still play professionally. Like that’s the option. That’s pretty much the [00:20:00] only option.

Like I wasn’t, I was maybe going to get called in for a preseason with. Believe it or not, the Houston dash, I was like, there was talks with, you know, assistant coach there at the time, but it never, like, it never really fulfilled. So God, I had an agent and then I went and played, yeah, in France for three months on some little bit sketchy, like visa kind of situation, but it was.

The most amazing experience in my life. I think, um, I played for the team was like, I learned a little bit of French there so I could pronounce it was the only English speaker and the only American on the team and I was fresh 22. Went and played there, but I had an agent so they kind of worked through all those contracts for you and everything and He at the time I have a different agent now But at the time he had a lot of connections in France and had sent a couple players to that team So that helped a lot and he was like no I know you’ll be like in good hands here and I just was like, [00:21:00] okay and I got on a plane and went I pretty much had he told me had a week packed up my bags and then I went overseas 

Matt: And then you ended up, uh, and like I said, I’ve actually been there to Iceland and they played for a couple different teams there.

I know I’ve been to Keflavik where you, uh, played more, I guess. So what was the transition like from going to France to Iceland? 

Madison: Oh boy. Um, it’s people I Like, all the girls I play with either love Iceland or you hate Iceland. It’s like, not in between. Um, it’s a really good league, I think, especially early in your career, and it’s really easy for Americans to get, like, not easy, but I would say on the soft, like, if you are a good enough player, you can find a spot to play in Iceland.

Um, a lot of girls I’ve known, even now playing on my team, have played different. Times in Iceland. So I played for IBV because my first pro year was, I was three months in France, came home and then I caught the end of the Icelandic season. So I played on the island for IBV for three months. That’s where I first started playing center back [00:22:00] and then came home and did a full pro off season with next level training in Michigan and then signed actually at that time, a two year contract.

In Keflavik, my agent at the time got me out of the second year because it was, we almost got relegated. We were last in the league. I think we won two or three games that year. Um, it was tough. And I actually, at that time I worked as a gardener. That was my side job. So I mowed lawns. I sanded stone for driveways.

I like. Yeah. I would like mo like six months and then go to training in the evening. So not the, and I’m, I’m kind of a girly girl on the outside of soccer. So that was. My dad said it taught me, um, hard work, even though I would say I work hard, but he’s like, it teaches you grit and you got to push through it.

I’m like mowing lawns in the pouring rain in Iceland. But, uh, yeah, that was interesting experience, but I played, I had an iron woman season, actually that season at Keflavik, I played 90 minutes of every game. So really lucky and was playing the sport I love, um, at [00:23:00] IBV. I also played every minute of every game.

I think besides one, I got pulled the last couple of minutes, but same in France played every minute of every game I played there. And I was playing again and like really loving the game, even with, you know, the unique factors that Iceland, I would say, brought France was like, awesome. It was so pretty. And I was in like a little village, but Iceland interesting.

And I decided like, Hey, I want to play somewhere else after that. Um, I was like, okay, I’d spent. You know, two different, a year and a half in Iceland wanted to look either back in the United States when I heard about the super league or I wanted to actually play in Sweden at that time. So that was kind of where my like thoughts to come back when I first heard like rumors of the super league, I didn’t even think it’d be a thing, but when I was in Iceland, I heard rumors of it and I’m like, Oh my gosh, I’d love to come back and play in the United States.

Matt: Well, so now you’re part of the DC Power. How, what’s it like in this, the, the Super League? I mean, I know folks are obviously familiar with NWSL. The Super League is still [00:24:00] new and people are getting used to it. We got a team here in Tampa Bay, uh, which is great. So what’s it like? How does it compare with France and Iceland and, and other experiences you’ve had with, you know, the Dash and other stuff like that?

Madison: Yeah, uh, It’s a new league. So you’re going to talk about first year of any business. So there are, I think every team in their own way has had their ups and downs this season. Um, of course, but in general, I think it is. One of the coolest things that could have been added to already the soccer environment in the United States, because of course the NWSL is established.

It is a league that they’re getting, you know, 10, 000 fans at some games, which, and you know, these girls have worked so hard to build that. Even those that have started that were at NWSL and their teams folded because it was like, and they were almost, it was like worse than college at the time when the NWSL first started.

But for us, I think having the NWSL kind of paved the way a little bit helps all of us as players. [00:25:00] And I just know from all the girls in the league, I mean, I have different friends or girls I’ve played with or know of from each team and we’re all like. Okay. It’s so nice to be back in the United States.

Like it really is like to play maybe in front of family. Even if you’re playing two games in front of your family, like I told you, my parents are in, um, St. Petersburg. So like the Tampa and Fort Lauderdale game, of course they’re there and they still. My dad will come fly in for a couple of days and then watch a game here in DC, which was so important, like so cool.

And so important to me, like my grandma, she’s 85 watches every single game on Peacock, like looks forward to it. She watched it with her friends on the couch. They like sit around and they’ll drink their coffee after they do their morning walk at the mall. And I never had that where like, it was harder to like my 85 year old grandma is not going to be able to set up a VPN and watch games that are in Iceland with a five hour time change and like on some Randall channel in Icelandic.

So to be back in the United States, like I feel so blessed, like [00:26:00] really amazing. I mean, sister has been able to come to games. My friends can watch at home. Um. You know, playing against girls that I either grew up playing with. Like there’s, uh, one of my good friends, Sarah Clark plays for Spokane Zephyr.

And we’ve known each other since we were eight years old, played for the same club, Michigan Hawks for our entire career. Same with Natalie Vigiano and Izzy Nino all at Spokane. But we all played for the same club team for like. 12 years. And now we’re like playing against each other back in the United States and they’ve had their own journeys, you know, where they’ve had to go overseas too.

So really awesome. Like the league is awesome. I know it’s growing. We have, you know, we have work to do, of course, in different ways, have a lot of work to do, but. Um, I know Tampa does a great job of like marketing and now they’re getting different things and they have a lot of fans and the weather helps.

I’m not going to lie. The weather will help a little bit with their area and everything, but it’s cool. And I think there’s so much growth that can come from the league. And, you know, they already announced Jacksonville. For next year is going to be a team in Florida [00:27:00] again, and there’ll be some more scattered, but I right now, like I want to stay in this league and maybe finish it, maybe even finish my career here.

So I just feel really lucky. I’m super lucky and absolutely love it. Well, 

Matt: I appreciate all the insights and I’m going to leave you with one last question. This is what I usually ask our college coaches when I wrap up our interview, but I’m going to change the question slightly. But if you had one piece of advice for, you know, a teenage girl going through this college recruiting process, maybe with aspirations of playing professionally.

What advice would you give them? 

Madison: That is an excellent question. And I’m going to word the question where I, the advice I would probably give myself at that time when I’m like 15, 16, I would say one, I think there’s so many pressure, like there’s so much pressure of where you’re going to school and what it looks like on paper.

Like for me. I was [00:28:00] like, I almost felt ashamed going from the University of Illinois and the Big Ten to the Mac And it doesn’t matter because it’s all about your experience and what you take from it and just the joy of the game So finding a place where you find that fit for you is so important I also think take your time.

Like I said at like earlier And some of the questions I maybe rushed it a little bit at the time. I was young. I didn’t know. I was also scared. I’m like, Oh, am I not going to commit anywhere? Like, am I doing this too late? Your timeline is your timeline. So the recruiting process for every single person is unique.

And also it’s okay for the first fit to not be the right fit. I mean, for me, I transferred some girls find it and they stay there and at their university. And they’re like, this was the best four years ever for me. If I didn’t. Honestly, I can say if I didn’t transfer, I wouldn’t be playing professional soccer now even.

So take your time. There’s also going to be, it’s not going to be perfect. And you might hear of like your friend or your teammate or girl from another club. That’s like, Oh my gosh, [00:29:00] like, yeah, they love me. Like I’m getting a full scholarship and your journey might be completely different. But of course, education really important.

Like at Bowling Green, I was able to get my master’s as well in business, my undergrads in marketing. Still to this day, I’m so glad I did that. Um, cause I’m like not going to go back to school right now. I mean, uh, maybe I’ll bite my tongue in a couple of years and say, well, but. Really take your time. The journey is so unique for each person.

Don’t worry about what anyone else is doing because it’s about you and what’s best for you. And don’t feel like you have to change who you are or what you want to fit a program because the program should fit you at whatever university. So that’s kind of my advice. And of course, dream big. I mean, like I’m so lucky to be like, I’m literally living my dream.

Um, so I’m really lucky to do that. My parents remind me of that all the time. My sister is younger. We’re like best friends. And she’s like, Maddie, you’re literally living your dream. Like not a lot of people get to say that. So of course, super lucky. Um, but just be [00:30:00] yourself, be yourself, take your time and it will work out even if it’s not exactly what you thought it will be.

Matt: Nah, I love it. Well, congratulations on all your success and, and with the new, with the new team and the new league and we hope that, you know, DC power keeps creeping up the, uh, the table as the season goes on and, uh, hopefully I get to DC for, for work sometimes or when the power come to play Tampa Bay, I’ll have to put that one on the calendar for us for sure.

Madison: Well, you will. Thank you so much for having me and thanks for what you’re doing for the soccer community, really. It’s awesome. And you know, if I would have had something like this when I was younger, I would have listened and been like, wow, like, you know, it’s going to be okay. I don’t need to freak out right now.

So thank you so much for having me in your time today. 

Matt: I appreciate it. Take care. Yeah, 

Madison: you too.