Not much gets by Naomi Girma. Her American fans call her “Secretary of Defense.” She played every minute of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, taking home the gold with the US. Now she’s a star defender for England’s Chelsea F.C. Women’s team. She joined the squad earlier this year in a record-breaking $1.1 million transfer fee, the first time a female soccer player’s fee passed seven figures. Off the pitch, Girma has scored partnerships with Nike, Kaiser Permanente, and Siete Foods, and is a mental health advocate working with Common Goal’s “Create The Space” mental health initiative for athletes. “From when I was a kid watching to now being four years in, I’ve seen so much growth happening,” Girma said of the surge of women’s sports. “It’s really exciting to see where it’s going. And now it’s on us and our generation to make sure we keep pushing it.”

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