OL Reign forward Jasmyne Spencer discusses the music that inspired her love of sports and motivated her to keep chasing her dreams.
Full Episode
Fresh off a 2020 campaign that saw Jasmyne make a successful return from ACL surgery, the OL Reign speedster joins The Athlete’s Playlist podcast to share her thoughts on the music that influenced her life and career.
After starring at the University of Maryland, Jasmyne entered the Women’s Professional Soccer League draft in 2012 only to see the league go bust before the season started. Refusing to give up on her professional aspirations, she made a brief stop in Denmark before eventually battling her way onto the Washington Spirit’s roster when the National Women’s Soccer League launched in 2013. She’s since become a mainstay of the NWSL while also playing in the Australian W-league in the offseason.
Off the pitch, she founded Jas It Up in 2016, an eco-conscious apparel company created to help people embrace their individuality and live a healthy and active lifestyle.
From childhood memories of TLC’s empowering anthem “Unpretty” to driving to pro tryouts while bumping Jay-Z’s “Empire State of Mind,” Jasmyne discusses the music that shaped her journey.
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Time Stamps
Start – 15:00: Learning to play big as a small player // Importance of developing technical skills // Life lessons learned from TLC’s “Unpretty”
15:00 – 25:00: Repurposing Wiz Khalifa’s “Black and Yellow” for Maryland Terrapins // Building a winning culture at Maryland // Disappointment of WPS folding after getting drafted
25:00 – 37:00: Channeling Jay Z’s “Empire State of Mind” for NWSL tryouts // Rebuilding confidence at Brondby FC // Competing against teammates in Australia’s W League
37:00 – End: Inspiration found in Beyonce’s “Brown Skin Girl” // Scoring a community healing goal in wake of tragedy in Orlando // Founding Jas It Up
Highlights
Wise words from mom
An unexpected route to Champions League
The peaks and valleys of chasing a dream