Olivia Moultrie - The Prodigy
SOCCER - NWSL - PORTLAND THORNS FC
ARCHETYPE: THE PRODIGY
Day 91/135
Athletic Accomplishments
Though her soccer résumé may not have any state titles or college championships on it, Olivia Moultrie is a phenom. A prodigy. She’s the Ghost of Christmas Future.
At age 11, Moultrie signed with the University of North Carolina, the youngest girl’s soccer player to ever do so. She’s also the first girl on a boys’ club team to play in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy system, an exciting breakthrough. At age 13, she signed a six figure deal with Nike and became the youngest American women’s soccer player to turn pro, signing with Portland Thorns FC academy team.
What scouts love about Moultrie is her skilled footwork and advanced knowledge of the game. She knows where to be on a field, can intuit how a play is going to break, knows how to make smart runs, and has the touch and finish of a player much older and more experienced.
But it’s hard to quantify experience for Moultrie, who has the same obsessive training tendencies of a Tiger Woods type. Since age 5, she’s dedicated her life to getting better at soccer, with her parents supporting and helping drive the train through homeschooling, installing a turf pitch in their yard, and moving to Portland for her opportunity with the Thorns.
Ultimately, how good is Moultrie? We’ll soon find out.
Character Archetype: The Prodigy
The Prodigy
Olivia Moultrie is just 15 years old and already good enough to play for one of the most dominant clubs in the NWSL, Portland Thorns FC. She’s fast, fit, and physical enough, and even trains with the senior team every day. The Thorns say they’d let Moultrie sign and play today if they could. So what’s the hold up? The NWSL prohibits anyone under 18 years old from playing.
If Moultrie lived in Europe, her age wouldn’t prohibit her from playing. If she was a boy, she’d be able to sign with the MLS. So, what’s the deal with the NWSL?
But the NWSL says they will address age restrictions in a forthcoming collective bargaining agreement, and that the current requirements are set up to protect minors. But Moultrie recently sued the NWSL for violating the Sherman Antitrust Act, and a judge issued a temporary restraining order on the NWSL’s age clause, forcing them to lift the age limit for a minimum of 14 days while sorting out this issue.
Should the NWSL allow Moultrie to play, she may feature prominently when the U.S. Women’s National Team players head off to Tokyo for the Olympic Games this summer. All this excitement before she even gets her drivers license.