Iron-Willed (Lucy Parker Interview)

A first senior England call-up in September, then an injury that forced her to withdraw and left her heartbroken: Lucy Parker calls her two seasons at West Ham a rollercoaster. Drafted by Kansas City in 2021, she reported for part of a pre-season before deciding the WSL gave her a better chance, and she credits four years of American college football at Louisiana State and UCLA with making her grow up fast. She remembers not wanting to answer an unknown number that turned out to be Sarina Wiegman. Paul Konchesky, she says, understands how players think because he has been one. There is frustration at points dropped after Christmas, warmth about Kate Longhurst and Dagny Brynjarsdottir, and a plan to be a general manager one day.