Although blessed with four seasons of unaffected collegiate play, the newly signed DU soccer alumni Brittany Wilson and Hannah Adler continue to struggle through their first year of professional soccer amidst the coronavirus pandemic.
The two newly-signed professionals were hugely successful in their time at DU. Wilson became an accomplished goalkeeper with 80 appearances and awards such as Summit League Goalkeeper of the Year in 2016. Adler played in 81 matches with 7101 minutes of action and earned awards such as Summit League Tournament MVP in 2018.
The Colorado locals were expecting uncertainty as they transitioned from their routine years in Denver to their lives as professionals, but the stress has been heightened with coronavirus complications.
Brittany Wilson started as a preseason trialist for the Orlando Pride, a renowned team in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) with big time players like Ashlyn Harris, Ali Krieger and Marta. Although “starstruck” at first, Wilson trained with determination and fought for a contract. However, what should have been a few weeks of unsigned training stretched into months of hopeful uneasiness. “Nothing was guaranteed,” recalled Wilson.
When the pandemic first became a national concern, Wilson was sent home for safety. Play resumed, and she signed a short-term contract for the Challenge Cup, only to discover the next day that Pride would not be competing due to positive tests within the team.
Finally, on Sept. 2 after weeks of travel between Denver and Orlando, Wilson was relieved to sign a contract lasting through the 2021 season. “It has been overwhelming, but I’m grateful and excited to learn,” said Wilson.
Orlando played their first game in almost a year against the North Carolina Courage in the Fall Series last Saturday, Sept. 19, resulting in a 0-0 draw.
The professional career of DU alumni Hannah Adler has also been affected by the virus. She recently signed her first professional contract with Bnot Netanya FC in Israel’s Premier League, but play has been postponed due to a second wave of coronavirus in Israel. The nation began a second lockdown on the eve of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, Sept. 18. Although it is unclear when she can play again, Adler is still positive about what the future holds. “I’m excited to live on the beach playing soccer in a really cool country,” said Adler.
Both Wilson and Adler identified their four years at DU as a critical time to hone their skills, leadership and confidence. The coaches and team created an atmosphere of “family and competitiveness that helped me continue to love soccer,” said Adler.
