The Women’s Game is a new editorial series written by writer, broadcaster, and former college and pro soccer player Renee Washington for BrooklynFootballClub.com. Each week, Renee goes behind the scenes with Brooklyn FC Women, giving unique insights into the squad and sharing stories of the people behind the crest.
There is no single path to becoming a professional soccer player. Sofia Lewis is proof.
The Brooklyn FC Women’s forward, known as Fia to her friends, didn’t begin playing soccer until she was 13 — a late start compared with most professional athletes. Her family struggled to afford organized sports when she was younger, but there was one thing Lewis never lacked: belief.
“God blessed me with incredible parents,” she says. “Growing up, they instilled in me the value of hard work, so I knew that no matter what obstacles I faced, if I worked hard enough, I would be able to figure it out. Above all, my parents fiercely believed in me. Because of them, self doubt was never a barrier in establishing big dreams as a kid.”
Those dreams took her on an unconventional journey to the pros, one that continues to this day in Brooklyn.
A few years after picking up the game, she was playing at a high level, enjoying the fruits of that work ethic her parents passed onto her. Having moved from Florida to North Dakota, she starred for her local high school and was named the player of the year in the state. Meanwhile, she was pushing herself by also playing for a boys travel team.
Again: belief.
Work Hard and Opportunities Will Come
Despite her success, she chose to play for a small Division II college nearby, Minot State University. In college, she excelled again, scoring 51 career goals and graduating as the school’s all time leading scorer.
Again, opportunities didn’t immediately arrive.
So Lewis did what she always does: She got to work.
She balanced graduate school, coaching, and a full-time job in the oil industry — 90 minutes from home — while continuing to train. On her longest days, her schedule stretched from 6 in the morning until 9 or 10 at night.
Still, she kept going.
“I always had the inner belief that I would make it, but the more time passed working in the oil field, the more my support system helped me stay rooted in my dream as well,” she says. “At one point, even my boss told me that if I had to choose between staying at the company and going to play professionally, he would fire me so I would have no choice but to follow my dream.”
Eventually, the dream became reality in the form of an offer to join Icelandic club FHL.
“That moment was so surreal to me,” she recalls. “It was a whirlwind of emotions. I was sad to leave my people behind, but I was so exhilarated for the adventure ahead.”
A Teammate from Birth
Growing up, first in Florida and then in North Dakota, Lewis had to learn how to exist as part of a group from the very beginning. She is one of nine children and the oldest of seven girls, an upbringing she credits with shaping her approach to being a teammate today.
“I feel like growing up in a big family helped develop me into a team player on the pitch,” she explains. “I was always watching out for my siblings, and they also had my back. I learned from a young age that everyone has a role to play, and that supporting the people around you makes the whole group stronger.”
Brooklyn FC General Manager Samantha Johnson is already seeing those qualities.
“Sofia js definitely a spark for us, and she works extremely hard every day,” Johnson says. “I have a feeling she will come up big for us in key moments during the season.”
Dream Big Anyway
Lewis knows that when that moment comes, she’ll be ready. She’s taken an unconventional path to get here and hopes it can encourage the next player whose journey looks different.
“Just because you may not follow the traditional pathway as someone else doesn’t mean you should make your dreams smaller,” she says.. “Sure, maybe you started your sport later, maybe you don’t have access to the top resources in your area, maybe you attend a small D2 college. You may have to work harder, be more creative, or carve your own path to get there. But there’s power and beauty in embracing the challenge of clawing your way up.”
For Lewis, that power has brought her here to the next stop on her dream: Brooklyn.
DID YOU KNOW?
Away from soccer, Fia Lewis has a creative side: she plays violin, draws and paints, and enjoys cooking and baking.
Up Next for Brooklyn FC
Lewis and the Brooklyn FC Women travel to face Fort Lauderdale United FC on Friday. Kickoff is at 7:30 PM, streaming live on Peacock.
The team is coming off a home defeat to DC Power FC last weekend and looking to get its first result of the season in South Florida.
“Change takes time, and we are changing the entire identity of the program,” says Head Coach Alex Smith. “We had a very good spell after halftime, full of pressing, positive intent, and togetherness. We need to use that as the blueprint for the entire game.”
