2020 was a year of loss and uncertainty for almost everyone worldwide. But for Kristie Mewis it was the year that ignited the rise in her career.
Numerous years’ worth of scepticism and an ACL injury later, the older half of the Mewis duo is finally finding her way.
Newly graduated from Boston College, Mewis was a third pick in the NWSL draft in 2013. Her name was the topic of conversation for many clubs as a result of a successful college career.
With 39 goals and 38 assists in 89 matches, she managed to help her team advance to the College Cup for the first time in the school’s history. Mewis was the perfect all-round player. FC Kansas City secured her signature and so her professional career took off.
Embed from Getty ImagesStarting out
Despite the abilities and potential of Kristie Mewis, she struggled to secure a place in a squad. She spent her first five professional seasons at five different teams, bouncing around the American top-flight at clubs such as Boston Breakers and Chicago Red Stars.
Now, she’s a regular starter and stand-out for Houston Dash, but it hasn’t always been that way. With a lack of game-time and security, thins eventually took it’s toll on how the youngster saw herself as a player.
Finding her place
With the talent flowing into Houston Dash to cover different positions in the team, Kristie’s place in the squad was yet to be concrete. Defence, attack, out-and-out striker, she had tried it all, before eventually committing herself as a versatile midfielder.
In 2018, her biggest challenge yet met her head on, when she tore her ACL whilst playing against her former club, Washington Spirit. The seasons leading up to the injury were average for the American in comparison to her star sister Sam.
Embed from Getty ImagesSam was making a name for herself for both North Carolina Courage and the US National team. Upon reflection of her injury and career so far, she vowed to come back stronger, fitter, faster. She stuck to her word, and she did just that.
Fighting spirit
It was with that attitude and mindset that Mewis returned to the Dash better than before. In 20 matches she featured in the starting line-up for Houston, only coming on from the bench twice.
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On a high, there was no stopping her. Although Covid-19 had brought the NWSL season to an abrupt stop, the Challenge Cup was announced. This was both the club and Kristie’s chance to prove themselves against top teams.
Unfavoured and coming off the back of a fairly disappointing season, James Clarkson’s side defied the odds and lifted their first piece of silverware in the club’s history.
Not just that, Kristie Mewis proved a vital player throughout the tournament, grabbing a goal, an assist and seven match starts. This success and boosted her team into a second-place finish in the table.
The Mewis sisters would soon be re-united in the colours of their country; Kristie’s national team call up in six years had arrived.
Embed from Getty Images2,722 days after scoring her last goal for the USWNT, the 29-year-old came on with 30 minutes to go and grabbed the second goal of the night against the Netherlands.
An emotional scene of hugs and applause, there was no hiding just how much it meant. Years of doubt and set-backs had finally been swept-aside and been replaced with merit and high-hopes.
There is no denying, that Kristie Mewis’ time has finally come, and that her name is topic of conversation again, like it was eight years ago. She is back. Stronger, fitter and faster.
