Naomi Girma: Behind-the-scenes of the USWNT defender's 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup journey

Naomi Girma has always seemed destined for football greatness.

Her parents and friends have always seen it. After a debut season to remember in the NWSL last term, her teammates quickly began to realise it too.

In a Sports Illustrated feature on the 23-year-old, a ‘letter to my future self’ from her childhood friend Jenna serves as proof of just that.

“Do you still play soccer? Are you still friends with Naomi Girma? And is Naomi a soccer star?” the letter read.

Jenna saw back then what Girma is showing to everyone now.

Now, at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, she has introduced herself to the world stage as part of the United States Women's National Soccer Team (USWNT).

And Girma has also been sharing her first-person perspective around her first ever World Cup.

"My journey started at the grassroots level in San Jose and I worked my way through the American soccer system," Girma wrote for Goal Click. "I missed a lot of school and a lot of time with family and friends while traveling for soccer, but I do not look at it as a sacrifice. I have played in a few Youth World Cups, seen many places around the world, and I have felt like I have had everyone’s support. That has always made the journey more enjoyable and rewarding for me."

• FIFA Women's World Cup: All results, scores, standings

Naomi Girma’s inaugural NWSL season

In 2021, a few weeks before the turn of the New Year, Girma – surrounded by her friends – huddled around as they watched her become the no.1 draft pick for the upcoming season, with San Diego Wave FC picking up the defender for what would be both the club and player’s maiden season in the NWSL.

Her transition from collegiate to professional soccer appeared seamless, but she admits club coach Casey Stoney played a key part in that.

“Casey Stoney as a head coach played a huge role in my rookie year and will continue to play a role in my career,” she told All For XI.

“Having a coach that specialises in your position, especially as a centre-back, you don’t see that often.”

The highly-regarded defender went on to be to pick up two Team of the Month awards and one Rookie of the Month award during her breakout season.

She would also eventually be named Defender of the Year and Rookie of the Year to cap off an unbelievable debut campaign in the NWSL.

"There are so many opportunities nowadays for women’s footballers in the USA," said Girma.

"We have a talented National Team and a growing pro league. We have a big college system and thousands of club teams for girls. We are really in a great time for women’s football in the USA and around the world, but we have so much more room to grow."

"Things have not changed that much since I was in high school, but the real credit goes to the older players and the past generations who did so much work to make sure we have what we have today, which is the chance to be professionals and make a good living playing soccer."

Her performances on the pitch in California garnered the recognition of USWNT coach Vlatko Andonovski, and Girma soon made her debut in April 2022 before being picked for the 2023 Women's World Cup roster.

Megan Rapinoe: You can’t leave Naomi Girma off the field

From current teammates to legends of the USWNT, Girma is being recognised as a player who can lead the next generation of Stateside talent.

Megan Rapinoe, who Girma photographed as part of Goal Click's FIFA Women's World Cup series, has been singing the praises of the young defender.

“There’s very few players in my whole tenure that have stepped in and it’s just like ‘Oh yeah, that’s a first person on the team sheet’ type of player every single time,” she told Just Womens Sports.

“She’s just that good. I don’t think you can leave her off the field, calm, extremely smart. I don’t think her physicality gets talked about enough, deceptively quick. If you have any kind of quickness and brain, then that’s a wrap.

“She can play any kind of ball, she’s a great leader. She’s just fucking good. She’s going to be the future of the team for a long time.”

Former USA captain Carli Lloyd echoed Rapinoe, telling Reuters: “She’s threading balls down the middle of the field, bypassing midfielders, playing it into the forwards’ feet.

“She’s playing well ahead of time for the little experience she’s had. It’s really impressive.”

In the same piece, 99’ World Cup winner - and two-time Olympic goal medalist - Briana Scurry even tipped Girma to become captain someday.

“Her potential is one of the highest bars of potential I’ve seen in a person in a long time,” she said.

“She can read the play so well so she knows where to be in advance, and that’s not something that a young player normally possesses.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if she were captain at one point in time.”

In camp with the USWNT

Many fans may wonder how the current World Champions begin to prepare for a tournament the size of the FIFA Women's World Cup.

Documenting her journey, the 23-year-old emphasised how much the players 'enjoy each other’s company'

"In the photos, you see many of my National Team teammates who are some of my closest friends," she wrote for Goal Click.

"They were taken during training camp with the National Team, and I feel like they capture moments between the crazy times and hard work that we all put into this dream to play for our country. The photos are really a good representation of how much time we spend together, how much we enjoy each other’s company, and how much of an amazing journey it is to be on this team.

"I was trying to capture behind the scenes so people who see them can feel like they are on the team with us! They were taken during downtime, coffee runs, bus rides, regen sessions, or just hanging out."

Among her teammates are co-captain Alex Morgan, Crystal Dunn and Julie Ertz - all of whom have had children and returned to playing within the last few years.

"The four moms with their babies in the locker room is a definite moment in time that I know they will cherish forever. To be able to have so many moms on the team is super inspirational, shows how far the game has come, and just makes me appreciate those moms even more. Playing without a child is so tough, I cannot even imagine playing with one!"

And on top of her dreams to win a World Cup with her teammates, the African-American has big dreams away from the pitch as well.

"Outside of football and winning everything I can, my personal ambition is to use my platform to bring positive change," she writes for Goal Click.

"One of the ways I want to do that is increase access to mental health resources for footballers across the U.S. and especially in under-resourced communities through my work with Common Goal. In the future I hope to be an advocate for people in my community around whatever issues I am passionate about, as I am still young and still finding my voice."

Naomi Girma and USWNT at the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup: Group stage fixtures

The USA are in Group E with Vietnam, the Netherlands, and Portugal (all local times; AEST–UTC+12):

• 22 July 2023: United States 3-0 Vietnam, at Eden Park, Auckland
• 27 July 2023: United States 1-1 Netherlands, at Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington
• 1 August 2023: Portugal v United States, 19:00 KO at Eden Park, Auckland

Fox will spearhead Stateside coverage of the tournament, meanwhile you can discover how to watch live and find the full list of confirmed broadcasters so far here.