Do What You Love, Love What You Do: Nichelle Prince on Journey in Soccer, Career in the NWSL, Joining Boston Legacy FC, Navigating Adversity, Passions Beyond the Pitch, and More
- The Ballers Magazine
- 24 hours ago
- 14 min read
Stepping on the pitch for the first time. Playing her first game-ever. Scoring her first goal. Three memories that vividly replay in Nichelle Prince's mind as she reflects on her earliest memories in soccer; and ones that—as she highlights—served as catalysts for her commitment to the sport at a very young age. Growing up in Ajax, Ontario, Nichelle remembers beginning her journey at just four years old after watching her older sister play the game, and immediately falling in love with the sport. This was only the beginning. As she continued to immerse herself in the world of soccer and develop her game, the goal became clearer and clearer: to one day play professionally. Sure enough, after graduating from high school, Nichelle took the next step in her career and moved to the United States to play at Ohio State University. She was on a mission. "I had to learn a lot. Not just on the field, but nutrition-wise, strength, recovery—all those things that (you) don't really learn or you don't really feel like you need as much when you're young," she shares with a laugh as she ponders on the growth of her game throughout her collegiate career. Lessons which in turn would lead her to not only achieve her childhood dream, but also prepare her for all the ebbs and flows within the journey itself.
With the 28th pick in the 2017 NWSL College Draft, the Houston Dash selected Nichelle. This was it. This was the moment and opportunity she has been working towards for as long as she could remember. Even then, she knew that this incredible feat called for another level of work ethic and dedication to begin. "Oh my gosh, it's a whole ‘nother level—especially because the season is so much longer. You're not just pushing for four months and then getting a break, it's your job (now). It's what you're doing 24/7. It's what you're doing for 11 months of the year," she highlights. This was only
the beginning. From playing for the Houston Dash and Kansas City Current to most-recently joining Boston Legacy FC for the team's inaugural season, Nichelle has fostered an incredible legacy in the league over the past 10 seasons. Through it all, she remains rooted in her deep love of soccer and fueled by that spark that was ignited back when she was four years old. As she reflects on those moments of triumph, and even those instances of temporary defeat, there is a life mantra that shines through...and that is to always: DO WHAT YOU LOVE, AND LOVE WHAT YOU DO!
Take us all the way back! When did you discover that you were passionate about soccer and wanted to pursue a career in the space?
I'll never forget when I was in 3rd or 4th grade and, you know, you always have that assignment when you're a kid (of): “What do you want to be when you grow up?” I remember saying that I wanted to be a soccer player, and it's crazy because I don't even know if I really knew what that looked like or if that was even possible. I just knew I loved it and I wanted to do it for a long time. I remember my teacher just being like, “Ok, is there anything else?” But, I knew from a very young age that I wanted to do this for as long as I could.
Love that! Fast-forward to your journey in college, you played at Ohio State University. Could you share more with us about your time there, being a student-athlete, and playing the sport at the collegiate level?
It was always a dream. I think something that my parents always—from a young age—instilled into me and my sisters (was) using sports to get your education. So it wasn't always because of soccer necessarily, but it was a way to be able to get my education. My parents made it clear: “This could be a great opportunity for you to get your education for free and be able to play the sport that you love.” So I knew from a young age that I wanted to go to the States and play soccer, because in Canada, you can't get a full scholarship to do that. I always knew that that was the dream—to go to the States and get to experience sports in the States. If you’re from America and you've grown up in it, it's so huge. It's so big. Watching it from the outside it’s like, “Wow.” I remember going to my visit to Ohio State. It's actually crazy because I learned about Ohio State because there was someone in my high school that was wearing the Ohio State sweatshirt. I was like, “I want to go to a school that everybody knows. A big school that's a big deal.” I went on a visit and I just loved everything about the school. It was a huge campus, a huge school, and a huge sports school (at that). The process was kind of short for me. I didn't go on a ton of visits. I went on maybe one other visit other than Ohio State, and fell in love with the school. I think it was at 16 or 17 (years old) that I committed.
During that time, you were not only going to college and playing at that level but you were also moving to the States. How was that transition like for you and what were some of those adjustments that you had to go through early on?
Yeah! It was definitely an adjustment just being away from home. When I was little, I was a shy, quiet kid; but I feel like I was like that for a while. I’m a homebody for sure, so that first year definitely was an adjustment. Even from Canada to the States, (that) is a cultural adjustment and was very different for me. For me, sports were so much of my whole life—in high school and growing up—that when I went to Ohio State it opened up my life to so much more. Not just sport, but my education, social life, and everything outside of just school and soccer. I just learned a lot about myself and I think that was so important for me. I think I needed that experience of those four years of being on my own, learning life, growing up, (and) becoming an adult.
How do you think your game elevated throughout your four years to prepare you for the professional level?
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