Not the Exceptions. The Standard.

Founder's Story

Hi!! I'm Coco Qiu and I’m currently a rising senior in high school that plays ECNL soccer.

Growing up in an immigrant household, soccer wasn’t always encouraged. Priorities leaned toward school—not diving for tackles or spending weekends at tournaments. But for me, soccer was more than a sport. It gave me freedom, discipline, and the confidence to take up space.

Still, I often felt invisible. When I looked around, almost all the time, I was the only asian kid on the field. As I am navigating the recruitment process over the past year, I often found myself without the guidance I needed, especially when trying to understand the system or explain to my parents why pursuing soccer was worth it.

As I got older, I realized my experience wasn’t unique. Across youth leagues, college teams, and even the pros, Asian American girls remain massively underrepresented in soccer—not just as players, but as coaches, leaders, and role models. The absence is shown with stats of only 2.2% Asian-American athletes playing at the NCAA collegiate level and an even smaller percentage go on to the professional league.

That’s why I started this organization: to build the space I wish I had growing up. Our mission is to empower Asian American athletes by fostering connection, providing resources, and building a supportive community where representation is amplified. We spotlight stories, support rising soccer players, and create a network of mentors and leaders who help shift the narrative.

We belong on the field — and everywhere else.

We’re just getting started. And we’d love for you to be part of it!!

- Coco