Kelley O'Hara, U.S. teammates go extra mile to thank their fans
CARSON, Calif. – Kelley O'Hara wants to gives the United States every possible chance of winning the Women's World Cup this summer, even if it means giving up the shirt off her back.
O'Hara, a midfielder and Olympic gold medalist for the national soccer team, did exactly that on Sunday night, following her team's 5-1 victory in a warm-up against Mexico. As she left the field at the StubHub Center on the outskirts of Los Angeles she was begged for a jersey by Damian Rivera, a member of the American Outlaws fan group, leaning down from the stands and pleading his case.
"He was asking for my jersey and I wasn't too sure," O'Hara told USA TODAY Sports. "But I'd noticed him screaming his support for us and I wanted to thank him for it."
So, before she headed down the tunnel to the locker room she tore off her jersey – much like Brandi Chastain in 1999 – and swapped it for Rivera's own replica national team shirt, several sizes bigger and with his childhood nickname, 'Panda', printed on the back.
The resulting photographs on Twitter were priceless. O'Hara, listed at 5'5" and with a small frame that allows her to get down the wing with pace, was dwarfed by Rivera's jersey as she posed for a photo.
Meanwhile, O'Hara's game-worn shirt looked tiny in the hands of the beaming Rivera, a well-built 28-year-old propulsion technician from Anaheim.
"I'm not going to fit into it," he joked, in a telephone conversation. "But I'm going to get it framed. It is very special. Athletes have a lot on their minds and when someone takes the time to do something like that, it is pretty cool. It's one of the things that makes people love this team."
O'Hara's act wasn't a pre-meditated, media savvy ploy. The cameras televising the game had long since been switched off and the moment would have passed unnoticed if not spotted by a reporter.
But the personality and likability of the U.S. team has not escaped the attention of the Outlaws, whose raucous, vocal and passionate support could provide a serious advantage when the World Cup begins in Canada in less than three weeks.
"Obviously our support has gotten a lot of attention for its presence at men's U.S. games," said Dan Wiersema, communications director for the Outlaws. "But we want to be known for supporting all U.S. teams, every time the country is being represented. We will be there in Canada, we will be loud, we will have fun and we will hopefully see the team win the trophy."
More than 550 Outlaws members have already signed up for each of the team's three group games, with 750 having made firm plans to travel to the final in Vancouver on July 5, where the U.S. could clinch the title for the first time since 1999.
"Oh, it has the potential to be huge," said goalkeeper Hope Solo when asked if the Outlaws-style noise would be a genuine advantage.
Women's international matches have sometimes lacked the intensity and noise factor of the men's equivalent and no other visiting team will have anything like the support the Americans will enjoy this summer.
The relationship with the fans is one the squad seems determined to tap into, both on a collective and a personal basis.
A US Soccer campaign leading up to and during the tournament is to include messages of support from fans in the locker room before games. Atlanta high school soccer player Miranda McNalley, 16, was delighted when her message was selected for a recent warm-up match against Ireland, and was even more shocked when she received a note of thanks from midfielder Morgan Brian.
"Just to think that all of the (team) saw it makes me feel so happy," McNalley said. "It is really nice they take time out of their schedule to recognize and reply to (fans)."
The U.S. has a few days' break before resuming camp in New Jersey ahead of a friendly game against South Korea on May 30. Then it will be onward to Canada, with a small army of noisy supporters following in their wake and a larger one offering support from back home.