Natasha Brand and Jenn Ramczyk never had the opportunity to play organized soccer as young girls. Now, they're transforming the landscape for women across America as co-founders of Her Game Too USA.

Growing up in England, Natasha recalls how soccer simply "wasn't for girls" - schools divided sports strictly by gender, leaving girls to play informal street games without proper pathways into the sport. Meanwhile, Jenn's playing career was cut tragically short by injury, redirecting her passion toward fandom and advocacy. Their parallel journeys converged when both independently reached out to Caz May, founder of the original Her Game Too initiative in the UK, hoping to bring the movement stateside.

What makes their work particularly fascinating is how sexism manifests differently across the Atlantic. While British female fans faced blatant hostility with comments like "get back to the kitchen," American women often encounter more subtle forms of discrimination - surprised reactions when they demonstrate knowledge about the game or inappropriate behavior in sports bars. The Her Game Too USA team has also identified unique challenges facing female referees, many of whom lack proper reporting avenues when experiencing abuse.

Operating entirely through volunteer efforts as a registered nonprofit, the team faces considerable challenges in a country five times the size of the UK. Despite their perceived "slow pace," they've already secured partnerships with ten professional clubs while building a network of female club ambassadors across the nation. Their determination speaks volumes about the necessity of their work.

Ready to support this vital mission? Follow Her Game Too USA on social media @hergametoo.us and visit hergametoo.com to learn how you can help create a more inclusive soccer culture for everyone.

More About this Episode

Breaking Barriers in Soccer: How Her Game Too USA is Championing Women in the Sport

Soccer is more than just a game—it’s a global culture, a community, and for many, a way of life. But for too long, women have faced barriers in fully participating, whether as players, coaches, referees, or even fans. While the sport has made significant strides in recent years, there is still work to be done to ensure equality and inclusion.

That’s where Her Game Too USA comes in. Founded as an extension of the UK-based initiative Her Game Too, this movement is dedicated to combating sexism in soccer, advocating for female participation at all levels, and creating a safe and welcoming environment for women in the sport. In a recent episode of Pitch to Pro, I had the privilege of sitting down with Natasha Brand and Jenn Ramczyk, co-founders of Her Game Too USA, to discuss their journey, the challenges they’ve faced, and the impact they hope to make.

The Journey to the Beautiful Game

Before diving into their work with Her Game Too, I asked Natasha and Jenn how they first fell in love with soccer. Their stories, while different, both speak to the power of the game to inspire and unite people from all walks of life.

For Natasha, growing up in England in the 1980s meant limited opportunities for girls to play organized soccer. With professional clubs just beginning to form women’s teams and schools still dividing sports along gender lines, her experience was shaped by street soccer—pick-up games in the neighborhood with friends, using hoodies as goalposts. Despite her family not being particularly involved in the sport, she found herself drawn to it, supporting Norwich City and later Manchester United (much to the dismay of her Liverpool-supporting counterparts in this conversation!).

Jenn’s journey, on the other hand, began in high school in the United States. Initially following the boys’ team as a fan and later as a manager, she eventually played for a season before an injury ended her playing career. However, rather than stepping away from the game, she immersed herself in studying tactics, analyzing matches, and becoming a devoted Liverpool supporter. This love for the sport would later fuel her passion for making soccer more inclusive for women in the U.S.

The Birth of Her Game Too USA

The Her Game Too movement began in the UK in 2021, when a group of female soccer fans came together to highlight the sexism they regularly faced at matches. From dismissive comments to outright harassment, their experiences resonated with many. To raise awareness, they released a powerful video on social media, timing it with the FA Cup final to maximize exposure. The response was overwhelming—it trended within an hour, and clubs across England began taking notice.

Jenn was one of the people who saw that video and immediately recognized the need for a similar initiative in the U.S. However, before reaching out to the UK team, she spent months discussing the issue with friends and fellow fans, making sure she wasn’t alone in her experiences. When she finally connected with Caz May, one of Her Game Too’s UK founders, the mission became clear: bring the movement to America.

Around the same time, Natasha independently reached out to Caz with the same idea. Caz put the two in touch, and from there, Her Game Too USA was born. They worked to recreate the UK’s impactful video with American voices, highlighting the unique challenges women face in the soccer community here.

Challenges Facing Women in U.S. Soccer

While the original Her Game Too campaign focused on sexism in the stands—female fans being told they "don’t belong" or that they "don’t understand the game"—the U.S. has its own set of challenges.

One major issue the organization is tackling is the abuse of female referees. Many young women officiating matches are unaware of the proper channels to report harassment, leading them to feel isolated and unsupported. Her Game Too USA is working to change that by raising awareness and advocating for better protection.

Another challenge is engagement with clubs and fans. While the UK has seen an incredible response—74 out of 92 professional clubs have partnered with Her Game Too—progress in the U.S. has been slower. With a much larger country and a fragmented soccer landscape, reaching fans across different leagues and regions has been a logistical challenge.

Still, the movement is growing. Currently, 10 U.S. clubs have partnered with Her Game Too USA, and the organization continues to expand its network of ambassadors to advocate for gender equality in soccer.

The Role of Pickup Soccer in Player Development

A fascinating part of our discussion was how pickup soccer plays a crucial role in player development—and how it’s often overlooked in the U.S. Unlike in Europe, where street soccer is a deeply ingrained part of the culture, American youth players primarily develop within structured, coach-led environments.

This structured approach has its benefits, but it also places immense pressure on young players, sometimes leading to burnout or a loss of passion for the game. Jenn and Natasha emphasized the importance of falling in love with soccer first, rather than being pushed to win at all costs from an early age.

One study from Liverpool’s academy even found that the biggest common factor among players who successfully made the jump to the first team wasn’t talent, determination, or physical attributes—it was the amount of time they had spent playing pickup games as kids. This underscores the need for the U.S. soccer culture to embrace unstructured, joyful play as a core part of player development.

Looking Ahead: The Future of Her Game 2 USA

Despite the challenges, the future of Her Game Too USA is bright. Now officially a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, they are working to secure funding, expand partnerships, and continue their mission of making soccer more inclusive.

For Natasha, Jenn, and their team, the goal is not just to fight sexism but to ensure that women have equal opportunities and a welcoming space in every aspect of the sport—whether as players, coaches, referees, or supporters.

As a father of daughters, this mission resonates deeply with me. Soccer should be a game for everyone, and the work being done by Her Game Too USA is essential in making that a reality.

The fight for gender equality in soccer is far from over, but with initiatives like Her Game Too USA, progress is being made. By tackling sexism, advocating for young female referees, and pushing for cultural change in how we develop players, we can build a more inclusive future for the sport.

Thank you to Natasha Brand and Jenn Ramczyk for sharing their stories and for the incredible work they are doing. We’ll continue to follow their journey and support their mission every step of the way.

Stay tuned for more discussions on the Pitch to Pro Podcast, where we explore everything happening in the world of soccer—from the grassroots level to the professional stage.

Until next time, keep the game growing.