It’s been at least six years since women soccer players in the Tri-Cities have had the chance to play against only women.
They could have traveled to Walla Walla, Sunnyside or Yakima — or joined a coed team. But players said playing with the guys just wasn’t quite the same.
“ There are over 100 men's teams in the Tri-Cities,” said Mary Reimers, a self-described “soccer nut.”
So, Reimers decided to organize an outdoor women’s league in Pasco. Reimers recruited people in grocery store checkout lines and over social media.
“If I see someone who I think's fit, I'll go, ‘Oh, do you play soccer?’” she said.
Soon, more than 100 women signed up, ranging from 16-year-olds to those in their 40s. Semi-pros, former division one athletes and current and former high school players all compete together.
“ You want to see women blossom. You want to see them, you know, getting more excited about what they can do versus being worried about not being good enough,” she said.
Reimers watched the league’s June 17 semi-finals from the sidelines, often cheering good plays or protesting a bad call.
“ There's some real talent,” she said.
For the league, some women didn’t have a team to join, so Reimers assessed players’ skill levels to make sure one team didn’t dominate the game. Some women became rovers, playing for teams that needed an extra person.
Former Pasco High School soccer player Eden Snider recruited most of her 2018 team.
“ It's really fun camaraderie,” Snider said. “I've made a lot of friends from this league. It's really fun to see women get back into something that they love doing.”
Others came with their own teams. Jackiie Ramos heard about the league on social media. She put together a team of former soccer friends who now live all over the Columbia Basin, from Connell to Mesa to Basin City.
“As a mom, I go and watch my kids, I go and watch my husband, so having them on the side and being able to cheer me on, it feels great,” Ramos said, whose boys are 11 and 9.
And for those who don’t yet know how to play? Reimers said she’d like to pull in a coach who could help teach them.
“ I would see where they're at, and then see if there's something I can do to help them so they can get up to speed,” she said of potential new-to-soccer players.
Eventually, she said she’d like to have a rec and competitive league for women.
Mountain West 401k sponsored the league, providing teams with jerseys and helping subsidize some of the costs. To participate, players paid $60 for the 10-game season.
Pasco resident Elida Leyva said there’s nothing like playing in an all-women's league. She grew up playing soccer for Manson High School in central Washington.
“For me, it's the freedom that I experience on the field. Just a sense of freedom being out here playing as a team, fighting for the same objective, which is scoring, right?” Leyva laughed.
To help the women out, Reimers said she also wanted all the games to be on the same night, at the same time.
“They can get the childcare they need,” she said, “So there's a lot more stability and more people can play.”
Ramos' team won its semi-final match on penalties and will advance to the final. She said the team’s efforts over the season paid off.
“ When I got here, I told the girls, ‘Let's play like we're in the World Cup,’” Ramos said.
This season’s final match will take place on Wednesday.
Next, Reimers said she plans to start pickup games for women in July, another gap she’ll fill in the region.
