After nearly seven years on the sidelines, the Little Rock Rangers Women’s soccer team is making a remarkable comeback.
Leslie LaRae, who coordinates the team's social media, says she believes Little Rock is ready to embrace a women’s team. And, as evidenced by the strong turnout at tryouts in March, female athletes from across the city are ready to be a part of it.
The team played its last game of its first season on July 7, 2017. The club then made the decision to dissolve it. But Leslie says that times have changed, and the general sentiment toward women's sports has evolved.
“The past five years, you've probably seen that, even if you aren't a sports fan, women's sports are being highlighted more and more,” she says.
The excitement was palpable at the team’s tryouts, held at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock.
“You could feel the passion and the excitement,” Leslie says. “Memorial is such an amazing place to play with incredible sound acoustics that fuels the energy of the fans and players.”
Players as young as 14 attended the tryouts to be a part of the experience. “It was a beautiful thing to see women of all different ages and levels in their athletic careers coming together in this city for soccer again,” Leslie says.
The club has goals to one day transition to a professional league and bringing back a women’s United Premier Soccer League (UPSL) was an imperative first step.
More than a game
Leslie believes soccer has a unique power to energize and unite people from all walks of life.
"It's more important than ever to celebrate all humanity and cultures and empower each other," she says.
“When you experience the community and empowerment that soccer brings to fans and a city, you want to be a part of it.”
She says women's soccer is specifically important because of the power, strength and leadership it instills in female athletes.
To continue to ignite the community's passion for the game, the club plans to launch new initiatives with local schools this season.
To follow the Little Rock Ranger Women’s team and stay up-to-date on its initiatives and season schedule, follow @lrrangers_upslwomen on Instagram and @lrrangers_women on all other platforms or visit littlerockrangers.com.
“When you experience the community and empowerment that soccer brings to fans and a city, you want to be a part of it.”