Lindsey Heaps has become a beacon for American players abroad, and she hopes her journey will inspire the next generation. "I want to be a role model," she told Sky Sports, noting how rare it is for U.S. athletes to remain at a European club for an extended period. "Many have struggled when they moved overseas, and I’ve seen that first‑hand." This summer, the 31‑year‑old captain will leave the south of France and head back to the United States, where she will join the newly created Denver Summit midway through their inaugural season.
The move marks the end of a transformative chapter that began when she arrived in Lyon in January 2022. In just over two years, Heaps has evolved from a relative newcomer—a "baby" in her own words—into the leader of the world’s second‑ranked national side and a prominent ambassador for U.S. talent on the continent.
Her rise has not gone unnoticed. The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) has expressed concern that its top homegrown players are increasingly lured to Europe. The current U.S. Women’s National Team (USWNT) features seven Europe‑based stars—five in England’s Women’s Super League (WSL) and two at Lyon, including Heaps and teammate Lily Yohannes.
This exodus underscores a broader shift: American players are seeking the highest level of competition, training facilities, and exposure that European clubs can provide. Heaps reflected on the challenges of living abroad: "I’ve watched many athletes struggle with the language barrier, cultural differences, and the distance from family. It’s tough, but these past years have been some of the best of my career. The comfort level is different when you’re surrounded by world‑class teammates and coaches." She added, "I wanted to prove to myself that I could compete at the highest level, and I also wanted to show young girls back home that it’s possible.
The opportunities are expanding—Americans are now in England, France, and beyond. That’s something special." Her passion for the game began in a modest backyard in Colorado, where she and her older brother would kick a football around while their parents, both accomplished runners, encouraged them.
Those early scrapes and sibling challenges gave Heaps confidence that she could hold her own against peers and later, professionals. "I was a very shy, timid girl," she recalled. "Stepping out of my comfort zone was hard, but playing with my brother and later joining my first club—coached by my mother—helped me grow." By the age of five, Heaps was already forming friendships with other girls on the field, a social dynamic that boosted her self‑esteem and cemented her love for the sport. Without those formative experiences, she admits she might never have become a USWNT captain, lived in France, or developed the confidence that sport has given her.
Arsenal Women, who will face Lyon this weekend, have partnered with Unilever’s "Dirt Is Good" campaign to encourage girls to play outdoors. A survey commissioned by the initiative revealed that one in five UK girls lose interest in outdoor play by age eight, and one in ten never play outside regularly. The partnership has already reached over 5,000 families through school visits and community programs.
Heaps, resonating with the campaign’s message, volunteered to get involved, noting the gender gap in outdoor activity. "Research shows girls are 22 percent less likely to play outside than boys, and many view getting dirty as a ‘boys’ activity,’" explained Tati Lindenberg, CMO of Dirt Is Good. "From a brand perspective, this matters because unstructured outdoor play nurtures confidence, resilience, and creativity." Heaps’ own childhood illustrates that point.
She recognized her football potential before reaching her teenage years and soon earned spots on U.S. youth national teams. At 17, French scouts—ironically from the Lyon club she would later join—noticed her talent. Yet she chose to finish high school in Colorado, prioritising education over an early move abroad.
After graduation, she received another offer, this time from Paris Saint‑Germain (PSG), forcing a pivotal decision. "I had to ask myself whether staying in the U.S. and going to college would truly help me reach the next level," Heaps said. "I grew up watching European football; I even watched Barcelona on a secret subscription my parents didn’t know about.
Seeing them lift the Champions League trophy made me think, ‘That’s what I want.’ So I stepped out of my comfort zone and chased that dream." She returned to the United States in 2016 to play for Portland, largely because the USWNT at the time was hesitant to select players based overseas. However, the pull of Europe remained strong, and she re‑joined the French league in 2022 with Lyon.
Even with prior experience in France, the transition felt daunting again. "Going to PSG for the first time, then arriving at Lyon, there were still nerves.
The familiarity helped, but the pressure was there," she admitted. Heaps credits her growth to the cumulative confidence, leadership, and experience she gained over the years. "When you look back at how far you’ve come, you draw on that inner belief.
That’s why I returned to Europe—because I now know who I am and what I’m capable of." As she prepares to leave France once more, Heaps carries with her a trove of memories and a legacy that proves taking calculated risks can pay off. Her story demonstrates that American players can thrive abroad, inspire teammates, and pave the way for future talent. By joining Denver Summit, she will bring elite European experience to a fledgling club, potentially raising the league’s standard and encouraging more U.S. athletes to consider overseas opportunities.
In addition to her on‑field contributions, Heaps hopes her involvement with campaigns like Dirt Is Good will continue to shift cultural attitudes, encouraging girls to embrace outdoor play, develop resilience, and pursue their sporting ambitions without hesitation. Her journey—from backyard games in Colorado to captaining the USWNT and starring in the French league—serves as a testament to the power of perseverance, adaptability, and the belief that stepping outside one’s comfort zone can lead to extraordinary outcomes.
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