Lindsey Heaps says she wants to be a role model for young athletes, noting that it is rare for an American to stay at a European club for an extended period. "I've seen many players struggle when they move abroad," she told Sky Sports, reflecting on her own journey. Heaps will leave the south of France this summer to re‑join her native United States, signing with the newly created Denver Summit halfway through the team's inaugural campaign. The move marks the end of a transformative spell that has left her a very different player and person from the one who arrived in Lyon in January 2022.
Now 31, Heaps has openly described her evolution from a "baby" on the international stage to the captain of the world’s second‑ranked national side. In doing so, she has also become a visible ambassador for American talent thriving outside the United States. Her success has sparked a new anxiety within the NWSL, which fears that its brightest home‑grown stars may be lured overseas.
The most recent United States Women’s National Team (USWNT) roster featured seven players based in Europe – five in England’s Women’s Super League and two at Lyon, including Heaps and teammate Lily Yohannes. "It’s tough being far from home, dealing with a different culture and language," Heaps explained as she prepares for her final month in France’s second‑largest city. "Yet those years have been among the best of my career because the level of competition and the comfort I’ve found here are unlike anything I experienced before. Playing alongside the world’s elite pushes you to prove yourself, but it also shows young girls back home that such a path is possible." She added that the current climate is encouraging more Americans to consider moves abroad.
"I see a growing number of young players wanting to test themselves in England, France and beyond. That’s something special for the sport." Heaps’ love affair with football began in her Colorado backyard, where she and her older brother would toss an American football around under the watchful eyes of their parents – both accomplished runners. Those early sibling contests gave her confidence that she could hold her own against peers, and unknowingly laid the groundwork for a willingness to try new challenges.
"I was a very shy, timid girl," Heaps recalled. "Stepping out of my comfort zone wasn’t easy, but playing with my brother and later joining my first team – coached by my mother – helped me immensely. My clearest memories are of those early football days. When I finally entered that environment and made friends with other girls, my confidence grew, and I was only five years old." Without those formative experiences, Heaps believes she would never have become the USWNT captain, lived in France, or developed the self‑assurance that sport gave her.
Her story dovetails with Arsenal Women’s recent partnership with Unilever’s Dirt Is Good campaign, which aims to get girls 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 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.
"We identified a gender gap – girls are 22 percent less likely to play outside than boys," explained Tati Lindenberg, CMO of Dirt Is Good. "Many girls see getting dirty as a ‘boys’ thing,’ and that limits their confidence, resilience and creativity." Heaps’ own childhood provides tangible proof of the campaign’s message.
By the time she was a pre‑teen, she recognized that football could be a viable future, earning spots on U‑17 and U‑20 US national squads. At 17, French scouts – the very ones later employed by Lyon – noticed her talent.
She chose to finish high school in Colorado before returning to Europe, this time through a contract with Paris Saint‑Germain (PSG). The decision forced her to weigh comfort against ambition. "I asked myself whether staying in the USA and going to college would really help me reach the next level," she 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 when the chance came, I stepped out of my comfort zone and chased the dream." After a stint with Portland Thorns in 2016 – a move influenced by the USWNT’s historic reluctance to select overseas‑based players – Heaps returned to France in 2022 to join Lyon. Even with prior French experience, the transition was still nerve‑wracking.
"The first day at PSG, then the first day at Lyon, there were still hesitations. The nervousness of joining a new club is real," she admitted. "But I reminded myself of how far I’d come – the confidence, the leadership, the experience. That’s why I wanted to go back: I now know who I am." This summer, Heaps will once again cross the Atlantic, bringing back a wealth of experience and memories that no one can take away.
More importantly, she leaves a legacy that demonstrates the power of taking bold steps. Her journey shows that leaving familiar surroundings can lead to personal growth, professional success, and the inspiration of the next generation of American girls who dream of playing on the world stage. As she prepares for her next chapter with Denver Summit, Heaps hopes her story will continue to encourage others to pursue opportunities beyond their borders, reminding them that the biggest rewards often lie just outside the comfort zone.