From the very beginning, one of AYSO's founding principles has been simple, yet powerful: Everyone Plays. That belief helped create opportunities for girls to play, grow, lead, and belong. In 1968, dedicated AYSO volunteers—including Joe Karbus, Mario Machado, Ron Ricklefs, and others—launched the organization’s first girls’ soccer programs, which quickly spread across AYSO Regions. With overwhelming support, girls’ soccer was officially adopted by AYSO in May 1971. Years before Title IX—the landmark civil rights law prohibiting gender-based discrimination in athletics—AYSO was already putting that principle into action on fields across the country. That early commitment helped shape the future of the game. In 1995, when the first official Women’s World Cup kicked off, several former AYSO players—including Maree Harvey, Julie Foudy, and Joy Fawcett—represented the United States. In the years since, AYSO alumni have gone on to play for the U.S. Women’s National Team and in professional leagues. Beyond the field, countless girls who began their soccer journey in AYSO have grown into leaders in their communities. Their stories show that the impact of youth sports extends far beyond the game itself. This National Girls and Women in Sports Day, we celebrate the players who proved the soccer field was always theirs, and the generations who continue to carry that legacy forward.