Many soccer fans, especially women’s soccer fans, seem to have exposure to the great game early in life. Either playing soccer as a kid, watching with their family or friends, or a combo of both. You can see what the sport means to them as a fan, you can see the impact of players on and off the field.

My journey to soccer wasn’t traditional.

I am a deeply un-athletic person and I always have been. I jokingly refer to myself as someone with the heart of an athlete but the body of a supporter. This was my reality as a neurodivergent child who struggled in physical education, who cried when they got hurt, and had very little talent despite hitting five-foot eight by the time I was 14. 

Coaches tried what they thought was best to get my size and my skill to match up. I went through sports like a kid goes through tissues. I started exploring sports around age eight and began this journey with softball. Outfield was where they placed me once they learned my supporter body curse, and I didn’t help myself much. With difficulty paying attention and knowing I was the worst on the team, I would pick flowers while opponents lobbed balls over my head.

I’d rush through softball to tennis, where my lack of athleticism was highlighted by the individuality of the sport. Cheerleading required coordination I lacked. Dance, more softball, track, basketball, and volleyball. I’d exhaust each and every option in front of me but the fact remained that sports weren’t accessible for me.

Soccer was easy for me to avoid because it required running, my true nemesis. But San Diego, my hometown, didn’t have a team to watch. Growing up in my childhood home it was all American football, all the time. When football ended, it was baseball. All-American past times that bored me more than I would like to admit. 

Fast forward to the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) announcing San Diego would get their very own women’s soccer team. Better yet, they’d be building a new stadium near my home where I could go and watch the best soccer players in the world play.

I was ecstatic–the electricity from a soccer game was at my fingertips. 

The San Diego Wave FC would be the 12th franchise team, a part of the expansion of the NWSL. On November 9th, 2021 the club released a press release.

“The NWSL’s 12th and newest franchise will be called San Diego Wave Fútbol Club. Taking inspiration from the city’s pristine and powerful coastline and diverse cultural heritage, San Diego Wave FC has every intention to be a bold force in today’s professional sports landscape. The team will begin play at its temporary home, Torero Stadium in spring 2022. The club’s crest and permanent venue will be announced at a later date.”

“San Diego has long been one of America’s great soccer cities, with a rich history in the sport, from its youth through professional ranks. The organization, led by President Jill Ellis, Head Coach Casey Stoney and Vice-Chairman Matt Alvarez spent several months conducting research and connecting with the community to find a name that resonates with the city. It was clear the ocean is a way of life for San Diegans, and waves reflect the heartbeat of the city. Wave FC will be the first NWSL franchise to use the Spanish translation, Fútbol in its name.”

If you are familiar with Wave FC in January of 2025, you’d know that Casey Stoney was fired in 2024 and Jill Ellis stepped down from her position as president of the club. Ellis stepping down coincided with a lawsuit filed by several former employees with claims of systemic abuse, discrimination, and harassment. Ellis would step down months after Stoney was fired. 

So, what happened from 2021 to 2025? Well, I don’t have all the details but I do have my experiences.

I wasn’t immediately a season ticket holder. I am disabled, with a service animal, and neurodivergent. I knew soccer games were famously loud, full of pyrotechnics, and the fans meant business. Would it be a place where I could exist without harm?

My wife and I browsed seats, choosing a different perspective for every game we attended. Once I learned Guest Services would exchange my seats for accessible seating, I really started to feel like I would be able to fully immerse myself into the culture. 

We bought the swag. One birthday present was my very own Alex Morgan #13 jersey. We attended fan fest, even once meeting Jill Ellis briefly. She was kind enough to take a photo with me at the inaugural home opener at the brand new Snapdragon Stadium, but I had this perception that Ellis wanted to be seen as untouchable. 

I had heard of Ellis, obviously. No one wins two world cups and goes without some recognition. I had also read Megan Rapinoe’s accounts of her experience as a soccer player. Meeting someone who has had access to practically unlimited power was a jarring experience for me. 

I’m neurodivergent–which is an umbrella term. I am poly-neurodivergent as well, which means I have multiple identities under the umbrella. As an autistic neurodivergent person, I am not great with facades. I am famously a “what you see is what you get” person, which can ruffle the feathers of anyone posturing. 

It was why when I had complaints about accessibility with my game day experience that I reached out to the club. I genuinely believe that speaking up when something needs to be done is one of the most powerful things we can each do. It has fueled my advocacy, my journalism, my personal relationships, etc.

I faced inaccessibility in a few ways.

The first would be the difficulties entering the stadium as a service animal team. Legally, according the the Americans with Disabilities Act, there are two questions that you are allowed to ask a service animal team. It also describes how a service animal must act, where they are allowed, and outlines the legal rights of a service team. 

“A service animal must be under the control of its handler. Under the ADA, service animals must be harnessed, leashed, or tethered, unless the individual’s disability prevents using these devices or these devices interfere with the service animal’s safe, effective performance of tasks. In that case, the individual must maintain control of the animal through voice, signal, or other effective controls.”

“Under the ADA, State and local governments, businesses, and nonprofit organizations that serve the public generally must allow service animals to accompany people with disabilities in all areas of the facility where the public is allowed to go.”

“When it is not obvious what service an animal provides, only limited inquiries are allowed. Staff may ask two questions: (1) is the dog a service animal required because of a disability, and (2) what work or task has the dog been trained to perform. Staff cannot ask about the person’s disability, require medical documentation, require a special identification card or training documentation for the dog, or ask that the dog demonstrate its ability to perform the work or task.”

Once you made it inside, if I wasn’t already crying, you head to guest services and request ADA seating. Eventually, we switched our permanent season tickets to ADA in order to skip this step and save me the energy of explaining why I need accessible seating. And no…I will not be explaining in depth to you why I need it. You have to just trust me on this one.

Alright, I’ve made it to my sets…only to have to go hide in an accessible bathroom or sensory room.

I say or because often there was not easy access to either the accessible bathrooms, family restrooms, or the sensory spaces. I would go hide out there once the players began warming up because I would be negatively impacted by pyrotechnics. Fireworks, smoke bombs, flares, light shows…the use of which left me gasping for air due to disabilities I have as well as having a melt down due to the sensory input.

I’m not the only one, by the way. 

I’d complain to the team, but I had other fans who lamented with me. It wasn’t isolated to San Diego either, there have been grievances across the NWSL on the inaccessibility of game day practices. 

On August 23rd, 2024 the Cloud 9 supporter group for Gotham FC posted on X (formerly known as Twitter) about their use of smoke.

“PSA Re: Smoke usage in Section 101 during Gotham games. For the rest of the 2024 season we will be using the remaining smoke we have in stock. We are exploring vapor alternatives to help improve accessibility and inclusion in the Cloud 9 section, for next season and beyond.”

X would become where many advocated for ending the light shows and strobing lights. Bella Bixby, a player for the Portland Thorns and goalie, posted her own complaint against the shows on X. This was posted on July 24th, 2021.

“The light show/strobing at BBVA stadium and Louisville needs to go. Players reported feeling physically ill. I am someone who has sensory integration issues and had to put a towel over my eyes and prat to god I didn’t have a meltdown seconds before the 2nd half. Ridiculous.”

On the same platform, a letter written by a fan circulated asking the NWSL to eliminate light shows. 

“On Friday March 15, 2024, Gotham FC announced via various social media channels that they intended to use light show effects during their match against the San Diego Wave. Their announcement read (in both English and Spanish, a nice touch of inclusion while advertising the game would no longer be safe for all in attendance) “please be advised today’s match contains light sequences that may affect photosensitive viewers. Tenga en cuenta que el partido de hoy contiene secuencias de luces que pueden afectar a los espectadores fotosensibles.” 

This announcement is a slap in the face of everyone who is fighting tirelessly to make this league more accessible and more inclusive. Having the league acknowledge the harm that light shows have on various populations, going so far as to provide sensory rooms and bags, but refusing to end the source of the problem is simply insulting. Soccer is for all.”

The letter goes on to cite the ADA and the ways that the league was essentially discriminating against disabled patrons. 

“The Americans with Disabilities Act prohibits places of public accommodation (like NWSL stadiums) from discriminating against individuals on the basis of disabilities in the full and equal enjoyment of its goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, or accommodations. 42 U.S.C. § 12181(7)(C), § 12182(a). Discrimination includes failing to make reasonable modifications in policies, practices, or procedures that are necessary to afford such goods, services, etc. to individuals with disabilities. 42 U.S.C. § 12182(b)(2)(A)(ii). Yes, the league is providing modifications, but even in the modifications there is discrimination and exclusion. The league can make the choice to allow for light shows, however, fans with epilepsy, chronic migraines, PTSD, and who have Autism Spectrum Disorder cannot make the choice to just not be impacted.”

The request was simple from fans: ban light shows.

In a world of modern technology, would alternative forms of entertainment be so difficult to find? The use of light shows and pyrotechnics means pushing fans out of the experience. Would the league be comfortable with taking this potentially exclusionary stance?

That certainly seemed to be my experience. After much back and forth with the Wave FC, the team informed me on April 10th, 2024 that they would be taking my feedback to heart and taking steps to improve matches. They made certain promises in an email exchange with the club.

“- Elimination of surprise elements: We have limited fireworks and light displays for our in-game entertainment to specific matches during the season. Moving forward we will ensure that fans are made aware of these sensory triggers during the match with multiple PA Announcements and graphics. This adjustment aims to provide a more predictable and comfortable environment for all fans in attendance. “

“Enhanced communication: we have updated our pre-game safety reads and graphics to include the locations of sensory rooms within the stadium. This information will be readily available to fans, enabling them to access designated spaces for sensory relief as needed.”

“Limited use of firework displays: We are in the process of completing our fireworks and pyrotechnics plan for the remainder of the season and as of now, large firework displays will be utilized during our final two remaining full bowl matches (Aug. 24, Nov. 3) and any playoff events. By moving these to specific matches, we aim to minimize their impact on individuals.”

“Providing exact timing: we understand the importance of providing advance notice for sensory-triggering moments during the pre-match experience. As such, we will include exact timing for these occurrences in our announcements through our public announcements, allowing fans to prepare accordingly and make informed decisions.”

On July 1st, 2024 I would be reaching out to the team again. They had broken their promises and I had concerns.

“My wife noticed the warning signage and had seen some black boxes. This is when I checked with Anne about fireworks on the pitch, as I had been informed through Kaila from the director of operations that there would be two dates (Aug. 24th and Nov. 3) with fireworks. Here is an excerpt: 

“Limited use of firework displays: We are in the process of completing our fireworks and pyrotechnics plan for the remainder of the season and as of now, large firework displays will be utilized during our final two remaining full bowl matches (Aug. 24, Nov. 3) and any playoff events. By moving these to specific matches, we aim to minimize their impact on individuals.”

"Unfortunately, there would be fireworks on the pitch at Pride night. We had to be rushed off before the anthem. The team handled this portion with such kindness and understanding. When the family rooms were occupied and unavailable, they escorted us into the San Diego Zoo suite to find a corner away from doors to limit exposure to the display on the pitch. They made every effort to help and that made the difference."

"I want to explain a little more about myself and choose to share this because I think understanding why these sudden changes and stress end up being so difficult and harmful. I am a disabled neurodivergent person, and part of my neurology is difficulty with task switching or unexpected changes. Specifically, it is a difference in how my brain processes input, a preference for being prepared ahead of time, and my literal autonomic nervous system that is highly sensitive and dysregulated.”

I repeated myself on a call with the vice president of People and Culture, Nancy Stewart, on July 2nd.

Would there be fireworks and a light show again after this conversation? Yes. The back and forth is probably confusing to many because, overall, the requests seem straight forward. The NWSL even touts their use of fan insight and data. It is in their mission statement.

The NWSL has a mission statement that brags about its desire to unite fans.

“The NWSL’s mission is to unite and inspire fans around a successful professional league that drives equity in sports.” 

They also have guiding principles, which includes  a statement saying they will make “business decisions through the lens of what is best for the fan using data and insights.”

The league also lists their values. 

“Our Values: 

• Lead with integrity, professionalism and respect
• Inspire communities
• Embody excellence
• Embrace a growth mindset
• Create an inclusive and collaborative culture” 

It is hard for me, based on my opinions and experiences, to believe the league and their claims to care about fans and to create and inclusive culture. I’ve been on the personal end of inaccessibility, exclusionary practices, and ignored insights. 

The NWSL is an amazing league. The players are outstanding. Many sacrifice so much to make this league as amazing as it is, across front offices and staff. 

But to be the best in the world, we have major steps to make.