Young Lionesses in the USA: Lotte Wubben-Moy

The first of two features on England Under-20 regulars who left the WSL for United States scholarships ahead of the summer’s World Cup, by Sophie Lawson and Jen O’Neill. Lotte Wubben-Moy calls her first months at the University of North Carolina surreal, describing an ACC title in her freshman year but insisting the accolades do not explain how rewarding the season was or what it is to become part of the Tar Heel family. She agrees the college schedule is brutal, criticising two-game weekends sustained across three or four months as no way to get the best football out of young women, while crediting coach Anson Dorrance’s experience. Wubben-Moy discusses adjusting to a faster, more physical game, Heather O’Reilly’s guidance in making the move, captaining England against Japan in Jordan, and her intention to return to Europe.