Black Women's Player Collective Transforms NWSL's Juneteenth Celebrations with Powerful New Programming
Abby Smith leads a packed schedule. The Houston Dash netminder balances practice sessions, rehabilitation, and match commitments alongside her duties as secretary for the NWSL's Black Women's Player Collective (BWPC). This season, Smith has been instrumental in organizing flagship events for Juneteenth 2025, and despite her hectic agenda, she embraces every moment of it.
"I believe Juneteenth holds tremendous significance," Smith explains. "We're marking 160 years, and many people are still learning the facts and background. We can commemorate this in every [NWSL] city and truly honor that there are Black athletes in this league, with representation in all markets. We want to recognize that Juneteenth is a federal observance and honor the heritage it represents."
It required two and a half years for the over 250,000 enslaved individuals in Texas to learn about President Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation. That date, June 19th, 1865, would later become known as Juneteenth, a commemoration observed in Black communities. It would gain federal holiday status in the United States 156 years afterward.
For the BWPC, Juneteenth offers a chance not only to raise awareness about the historical significance, but to honor Black women and athletes throughout the NWSL while staying committed to their goal of motivating the next generation of Black women in every aspect of life.
"I appreciate that we're beginning to observe Juneteenth more widely," Smith states. "I hope people will learn about Juneteenth's history, because as a Black athlete and Black woman, it holds deep meaning. We must acknowledge that Juneteenth occurred because enslaved Black people gained freedom, though they didn't receive that freedom until two years later on June 19th, and we're gradually incorporating this into celebrations across various platforms."
Commemorating on match day
This season, the BWPC is elevating its Juneteenth initiatives to new heights. With clubs throughout the league organizing Juneteenth festivities at matches surrounding the holiday, the BWPC has collaborated with teams on special events including Angel City FC, Bay FC, Racing Louisville, Washington Spirit, and Gotham FC.
Laura Petro, vice president of brand and fan experience for Gotham FC, explains that the significance of the club's Juneteenth celebration reflects the team's diverse and welcoming community and supporter base.
"We're privileged to create these occasions where we unite our supporters and honor our community," Petro explains.
The festivities at Gotham's Juneteenth fixture on June 21st will center on community engagement, featuring a drum ensemble and dance showcase by local group Marching Cobras, a Black-owned business vendor marketplace, a rendition of "Lift Every Voice and Sing," and halftime acknowledgment of community organizations including the BWPC.
"What excites me most is our collaboration with our community team to bring 56 girls to the match in partnership with the BWPC, working with PowerPlay NYC to offer complimentary tickets and transportation for the girls to attend and experience the Gotham match," Petro explains. "We're also partnering with the BWPC to support the [prematch warmup] jersey they created with the league for exclusive sale at the match."
This season, the BWPC collaborated with Cortney Herron, a distinguished visual artist, to create the special-edition Juneteenth prematch jerseys. The jerseys will be worn by athletes across the league during Juneteenth weekend, paying tribute to the holiday's heritage with a collective message: Celebrate Freedom.
"The Juneteenth commemorative jerseys hold great meaning because you witness the players endorsing and displaying that representation," Smith explains. "Having the jerseys worn by players league-wide is crucial because of the platform they possess [at matches and] during broadcasts."
Through the BWPC's social media platforms, supporters can discover additional resources about Juneteenth and the Collective's initiatives, including directories of Black-owned enterprises across NWSL markets.
"With league support, we're gaining increased participation," Smith notes. "Our objective is to eventually have every market observe Juneteenth, but we're enjoying excellent collaboration [in selected markets] on merchandise and scarves, so we encourage as many people as possible to buy that merchandise because proceeds benefit the BWPC and recognized nonprofits, helping us provide financial assistance to offer resources back to players and demonstrate community support."
Commemorating in the community
Beyond social media and match day festivities, the BWPC is advancing their Elevate The Next initiatives with a Chicago-based five-versus-five Juneteenth tournament for young participants in partnership with the Chicago Stars, PRO Referees and Mason Elementary on Thursday morning. The tournament will showcase BWPC members, including Kayla Mills, Gabrielle Vincent and Darian Jenkins, a former player now working as a TV commentator.
"Whenever I can play around, particularly with young children, I'm completely enthusiastic," Jenkins states. "I consider it incredibly meaningful for my retired self to remain active in the BWPC, advocate, and provide the representation I needed as a young girl with ambitious dreams of playing soccer."
The tournament will wrap up with a Q&A session, player interactions, photo sessions and a community celebration.
"This sport and the intersectional, wonderful communities it unites have shaped my career," Jenkins reflects. "The BWPC demonstrates that when you witness it, it becomes much simpler to envision yourself reaching your aspirations."
Bringing girls to matches represents one of the BWPC's main objectives, and for Smith, providing Black youth with resources and opportunities to see themselves represented on the pitch is a vital aspect of the Collective's mission. Juneteenth is just one component of the year-long efforts the group undertakes to give children the resources they need to participate in the beautiful game.
"Playing soccer is challenging, it's costly, it's not readily available, so that's our continuous objective—to bring more girls to matches, demonstrate that they can be in our position, and provide them with a pathway," she explains. "Juneteenth deserves celebration, but we're working throughout the year so we can continue to develop and expand in these communities."
Smith observes gradual but consistent progress throughout the league in not only recognizing but actively commemorating Juneteenth and its significance to the Black players in the NWSL. As the league administration expands, so can the players' efforts, and so does the momentum of the meaningful work the BWPC accomplishes year-round.
"There's still significant potential for development, but we're gradually progressing," Smith concludes. "The aim is to have every single team truly embrace and commemorate Juneteenth."