In 2011, I sat breathlessly on the floor in front of the television as the United States faced off against Japan in the final of the Women’s World Cup. The match went to a penalty shootout, and through the small gaps in my fingers as my hands covered my face, I saw Japan’s shot land in the back of the net. The game was over, we had lost, and I was devastated.

On Christmas Day of 2014, my best friend called me with news. Her parents had gifted her tickets to the USA match in Vancouver for the 2015 Women’s World Cup. If I could get myself there, I could go to the game with her. I seized the opportunity and that June, I was sitting in the stands of BC Place watching the USA dismantle a weaker Nigerian team. By the time the final arrived on July 5th, I was home again. I had undergone ACL surgery just a week before but nevertheless I sat glued to the television, leg propped up precariously, decked in stars and stripes and cheering loudly as it became apparent that the United States would avenge their loss to Japan.

The Olympics in Rio came one year later and I was prepared for another title. Only, Sweden had other plans. They defeated the United States on penalty kicks, sending them home from the tournament at the earliest point in U.S. history. Not only that, but Hope Solo was suspended for her comments after the match describing the Swedes as cowards. I filled with rage at the thought that we had been sent home early and lost the best goalkeeper in the world (and maybe in history) all in one day.

All of this is to say that I care very deeply about the U.S. women’s national team. And this has led many, many people to ask me -why? Why are you so crushed by their losses, so heartened by their victories? Why do you care so much about this team?

I started playing soccer when I was eight years old. I was a scrawny, pale, freckle-faced girl but I was motivated by something, or someone, bigger: Mia Hamm. Her book, Go for the Goal, told the story of the young girl who had fearlessly taken on the world. I was inspired to be just like her: unafraid. I was ruthless and tough on the field, leaving my first coach to nickname me “killer.” But it carried over in life as well: I wanted to be better and I wanted to be the best, and I chased that wholeheartedly, led by the women of the national team.

As I grew up, my obsession only deepened. While I went about my daily life, the team was constantly in my peripheral vision, with them sliding in and out of the public eye as they fought for equality.

Megan Rapinoe described herself as a “walking protest” after being forbidden to kneel during the national anthem by the U.S. Soccer Federation. But the team is no stranger to this idea. Since its inception, the team has been a walking protest. 

The first tournament in 1991 was named the M&M Cup because FIFA didn’t trust the women to carry the name “World Cup.” But sizeable audiences proved the tournaments success, and after the event ended it was bestowed the proper name. The 1991 tournament also featured 80-minute games (rather than the traditional 90) because, as then-captain of the USWNT April Heinrich’s put it, “They were afraid our ovaries were going to fall out if we played 90.” 

Many players on the team are prominent figures who support the LGBTQ community. Megan Rapinoe publicly announced she was gay in 2012 and has been vocal in representing her community. Following her 2015 World Cup victory, Abby Wambach’s seemingly simple act of kissing her wife sent shockwaves around the world as an unprecedented display of affection between a same-sex couple. 

The team fought for equal treatment when FIFA attempted to relegate the 2015 Women’s World Cup to dangerous artificial turf fields. They lost their lawsuit, but the public attention that they drew forced FIFA to organize the tournament on grass fields. And perhaps most famously, they have been in an ongoing fight for equal pay as compared to the vastly less successful men’s team.

Despite all of this, the team has continued to be focused and dominant on the field, earning title after title and silencing those who claim that they are anything less than the best team in the world. They play beautifully on the field. They aren’t afraid to be physical, to show strength, to attack. They are united in their pursuit of goals and of victory. And, over time, their success has earned them millions of fans.

And if you, like millions of others, have been sucked into the excitement of the Women’s World Cup for the first time this year, you can thank the many women who over the years have been playing soccer, unnoticed and unappreciated, for their hard work. And the players on the USWNT have been at the forefront of that effort. They have been trailblazers in earning recognition for the sport for the last 20 years, and there’s a reason they were able to do it.

There is something special about this team. It started with the first USWNT in 1991, it gained momentum with Mia Hamm, Julie Foudy, Brandi Chastain, and the rest of the iconic 1999 team, and it continues to this day.

You see Rose Lavelle play a wicked through ball between two defenders, I see intellect. You see Tobin Heath trick not one, not two, but three defensive players, I see creativity. You see Crystal Dunn scrapping for a ball in her defensive end, I see determination. You see a celebration, roaring loudly or standing with arms spread wide or simply sipping tea, I see passion. You see a goal scored by Alex Morgan, Carli Lloyd, or Megan Rapinoe, I see dreams coming true. 

You see a team playing exceptional soccer, I see women changing the world.

This year in particular has been a remarkable indicator of their hard work coming to fruition. Viewership records around the world have been broken. 11.7 million fans tuned in to BBC for the USA vs England game alone. Most predictions estimate that the 2019 Women’s World Cup will have a total of 1 billion viewers. Stands around France have consistently been filled with 45,000+ attendees. The USA women’s home jersey became the number one jersey, men’s or women’s, ever sold on Nike.com in one season. Men are now proudly wearing the names of female athletes.

And still, these players, who have worked tirelessly to achieve their dreams, have received endless criticism this year. They have faced claims that they celebrated too wildly during the Thailand game, that they were disrespectful following their defeat of the English, that they spoke too arrogantly throughout the tournament.

These claims come down to the simple idea that these women should be good role models for the younger generations who are watching them.

They are.

I grew up in a family that encouraged creativity, loudness, boldness. I grew up to be stubborn and outspoken and hungry for my dreams. But I struggled to see these traits valued in a world that so often tells young girls the complete opposite: be timid, be quiet, be passive.

We see too many women downplaying their accomplishments for fear of making waves. So, to see prominent women finally standing up and saying “yes, I’ve had this dream since I was a little girl. I worked my butt off to get here, and now I’m standing on the biggest stage in the world. My dream came true because I made it happen and I’m proud of that.”

That’s inspiring. No, they’re not humble. I don’t need my athletes to be humble. I need them to be confident and proud and talented. I need them to be the best, and to be okay with acknowledging that.

As I’ve watched the USWNT over the years, I’ve learned many lessons from them. On the pitch, they taught me that you can, and must, be strong. Off the pitch, their fight for equality taught me the importance of standing up for what you believe in.

The women on this team are bold and fearless. They practice every day to earn victories on the field, and they fight every day to earn a better world for future generations of soccer players, marginalized groups, and women alike.

As someone who grew up watching these women earn each and every victory through talent and skill, who watched them stand up to power in their fight for equal pay, and who watched them display the utmost respect for a beautiful game, let me say this: you will not find better role models than the players on the U.S. women’s national team.