The Blue Heat, which plays in the second-tier United Women's Soccer league, fill a vital niche in the sport's landscape, Aozasa said. At the time Marroquin had little interest in women's soccer, but he could recognize a disaster when he saw one. Now she plays for the Portland Thorns alongside Natalia Kuikka, who helped the Blue Heat reached the UWS championship game in 2017. Ana Borges went from the Blue Heat to Spanish giant Atletico Madrid, and later to Chelsea. It all started with the Blue Heat, which plays a 10-game regular-season schedule in late spring/early summer.

Source: Los Angeles Times January 15, 2023 11:02 UTC