In 2016, a year after Riley was hired, Western New York made the play-offs and won their first championship title. But for Williams, the underdog mentality remains as strong as ever. It is one she and her North Carolina teammates Hamilton and Republic of Ireland international Denise O’Sullivan brought to Western Sydney for this W-League season. But rather than frightening off potential international recruits, Western Sydney’s status as W-League underdogs was the perfect fit for Williams and her teammates. “When I told some friends that I was going to Western Sydney, they were like ‘oh god, don’t do it!

Source: The Guardian December 30, 2019 19:41 UTC