Sydney Leroux Dwyer - The Joker

SOCCER - FORWARD - ORLANDO PRIDE

ARCHETYPE: THE JOKER

Day 34/135

Athletic Accomplishments

🚨🚨ANNOUNCEMENT: You can watch NWSL Challenge Cup action starting *today* when the Houston Dash take on the Chicago Red Stars. Here’s the schedule and details of where to watch.🚨🚨

Sydney Leroux’s story is inspiring from the second she set foot on the soccer pitch.

As a young girl growing up in Canada—but with dual U.S. citizenship—Leroux knew she wanted to play for the U.S. Women’s National Team. At age 15, she chose soccer over everything.

Leroux packed up her life and moved to Arizona alone, living with host families while training hard to make her USWNT dreams come true. In just a few years, she arrived at UCLA, where she started as a freshman. The next 3 years, she led the team in scoring, and by her senior season in 2011, she was First-team NSCAA All-American, Soccer America's MVP First Team, and a semi-finalist for the Hermann Trophy.

In 2012, Leroux’s dream came true, as she began earning caps for the USWNT. In the same year, she also earned a few USWNT records, including the single-game record for 5 goals scored in a single game and goals scored by bench player (12).

Oh, and there was also that 2012 Olympic gold medal and the 2015 World Cup. But who’s counting?

Leroux has been in the NWSL since its inception in 2013. Today—after having two kids—she plays for the Orlando Pride, where she is still faster, fitter, and more physical than virtually everyone on the pitch.

Character Archetype: The Joker

Shout out to Syd the Kid, the first athlete I ever saw wear false eye lashes. And now, ALL the kids are doing it. It's all part of the game for Leroux, who has never taken herself too seriously.

After overcoming so much in her life—racist taunts, moving to the U.S. alone at age 15, and two post-pregnancy comebacks—Sydney Leroux’s sense of humor is her coping mechanism. She's always making her teammates and the internet giggle with self-deprecating jokes.

But she's no joke, either. On and off the pitch, Leroux is unafraid to tackle big, hard people and issues. But she’s just so damn likable that it’s impossible not to root for her.

A winner on the pitch. A winner in life. The teammate you always wanted.

Leroux and the Orlando Pride take on Racing Louisville FC tomorrow at 7pm.

(If you’re not already, follow her on Instagram, where her two adorable little rascally kids, Cassius and Roux, feature prominently.)