Lindsey Heaps has become a symbol of perseverance and ambition for American players venturing abroad, and she is preparing to leave the south of France this summer. After joining the newly created Denver Summit midway through their inaugural campaign, Heaps will return home having transformed dramatically since her arrival in Lyon in January 2022. The 31‑year‑old United States captain often describes her evolution from a "baby" to the leader of the world’s second‑ranked national side, while also serving as a flag‑bearer for U.S. talent thriving outside North America.
Her story has resonated so strongly that the NWSL now voices genuine concern about losing its brightest homegrown stars to European leagues. In the most recent USWNT roster, seven players ply their trade in Europe – five in England’s Women’s Super League and two at Lyon, including Heaps and teammate Lily Yohannes. Heaps explains to Sky Sports, "I’ve seen many players struggle with being far from home, adapting to a new culture and language. It’s tough, but these years have been some of the best of my career because of the growth and the comfort I’ve found here.
Playing alongside the world’s elite pushes you to prove yourself and shows young girls back in the United States that such a path is possible." She notes the surge of interest among younger Americans: "I see more and more players wanting to make the move. You now have Americans in England, France, everywhere. It feels special." Heaps traces her love for the game back to a modest backyard, where she and her older brother would kick a football around while their parents – both accomplished runners – encouraged their athletic pursuits.
Competing with a sibling two years her senior gave her early confidence that she could hold her own against peers, a feeling that later translated into her willingness to try new challenges. "I was a very shy, timid girl," Heaps admits.
"Stepping out of my comfort zone wasn’t easy, but my parents’ support, playing with my brother, and joining my first club – which my mother also coached – helped a lot. My most vivid memories are of football. Once I entered that environment, made friends with the other girls, my confidence grew.
I was only five." Without those formative experiences, Heaps believes she would never have become USWNT captain, never lived in France, and perhaps never discovered the self‑assurance that sport gave her. Arsenal Women, who face Lyon this weekend, have partnered with Unilever’s Dirt Is Good campaign to inspire girls to play outdoors.
A survey commissioned by the initiative revealed that one in five UK children lose interest in outdoor play by age eight, and one in ten never play outside regularly. The partnership has already reached more than 5,000 families through school visits and community work. When Heaps learned about the campaign, she felt a personal connection and offered to help.
Tati Lindenberg, CMO of Dirt Is Good, told Sky Sports, "We identified a gender gap: girls are 22 % less likely to play outside than boys. Many girls think getting dirty is a ‘boys’ thing’, so they stay indoors.
From a brand perspective, this matters because outdoor play fosters confidence, resilience and creativity." Heaps’s own childhood illustrates the point. By the time she was barely a teenager, she recognized football could be a career and began representing the United States in youth national teams. At 17, French scouts – the very ones who would later sign her for Lyon – spotted her talent. She chose to finish high school in Colorado before moving abroad, and when the opportunity resurfaced, it came via Paris Saint‑Germain rather than Lyon.
Heaps faced a pivotal decision: stay in the United States and attend college, or chase a dream that had been fueled by late‑night Barcelona matches on a secret subscription. "I grew up watching European football.
I remember seeing Barcelona lift the Champions League and thinking, ‘That’s what I want.’ So when the chance came, why not step out of my comfort zone?" she reflects. She returned to the United States to play for Portland in 2016, largely because the USWNT at the time was hesitant to select overseas‑based players. In 2022 she made the leap back to France, this time with Lyon, and quickly became a cornerstone of the side.
Even with prior French experience, the move still felt nerve‑wracking. Heaps recalls the anxiety of joining PSG and later Lyon, saying, "There are always hesitations when you join a new team. My earlier stint made me a bit more stressed coming back, but I also remembered how far I’d come – the confidence, the leadership, the experience.
That foundation gave me the courage to return." She emphasizes that personal growth often requires repeated pushes beyond familiar boundaries. As she prepares to depart France again, Heaps will carry back a wealth of memories and a legacy that proves taking a leap of faith can yield extraordinary rewards. Her journey demonstrates that American players can thrive in Europe, inspire the next generation, and ultimately bring that knowledge home to elevate the domestic game. Beyond the pitch, Heaps hopes her story will continue to motivate young athletes to pursue their ambitions, whether that means crossing oceans or simply daring to try something new in their own backyard.
The upcoming Arsenal‑Lyon clash, the Dirt Is Good campaign, and Heaps’s own upcoming return to Denver all underscore a broader narrative: confidence built through sport can ripple outward, encouraging girls everywhere to get out, get dirty, and chase their dreams.