About this episode

Andrea Kitahata discusses her journey to professional soccer and her experiences in the NWSL.

I am so excited to be joined by Andrea Kitahata, defender for Gotham FC and the USWNT U-23's, who is currently in her NWSL rookie season. We dive into her journey from youth soccer and Stanford University to signing her first professional contract in the NWSL. Andrea reflects on the challenges of navigating COVID-19 during a pivotal stage in her development, her experience training with Seattle Reign, and her time within the USWNT youth system. We also discuss her transition into the professional game with Gotham FC, what it has been like adjusting to the speed and physicality of the NWSL, and her early experiences in the league competing at the highest level. It was great hearing her perspective on growth, resilience, taking that next step as a young player in the league, I hope you all enjoy! Thank you for listening! Remember to follow us wherever you get your podcasts, on Instagram (@the_womens_soccer_podcast) and Bluesky (@ thewomenssoccerpod.bsky.social) . In addition, leave a 5-star review and tell all your friends about our show!

People in this episode

Host: Liam Greco

Guest: Andrea Kitahata

Topics covered

• NWSL
• soccer journey
• professional transition
• youth soccer
• USWNT
• resilience
• rookie experience

Keywords

• Andrea Kitahata
• Gotham FC
• NWSL
• USWNT
• soccer
• rookie season
• youth soccer
• Stanford

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Gotham FC, USWNT, Seattle Reign, Stanford University

More episodes of The Women's Soccer Podcast

• 5 Ways Brazil Exposed USWNT: Are They Causes for Concern? · June 8, 2026 · 22 min
• Cate Hardin Interview: NWSL Trialist to Houston Dash Breakthrough · June 5, 2026 · 25 min
• Biggest Storylines and Lessons of the 2026 NWSL Season So Far · June 3, 2026 · 45 min
• Cameron Brooks Interview: ACL Rehab to NC Courage and Earning Her Place in NWSL · May 28, 2026 · 37 min
• Liga MX Femenil’s CONCACAF Breakthrough: How Mexico Is Shifting the Balance of Women’s Club Soccer · May 24, 2026 · 37 min
• Junior Matildas Captain Willa Pearson: Breaking Records with Sydney FC and Leading at 14 · May 21, 2026 · 23 min

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the The Women's Soccer Podcast podcast page.