Christina Unkel addresses the crowd at the Super League Tampa Bay launch event | Photo courtesy of Super League Tampa Bay
We caught up with Christina Unkel for her thoughts on the expanded WWC field and the U.S.’s chances of claiming the top spot
The USL Super League caught up with Super League Tampa Bay’s recently appointed President Christina Unkel to discuss her memories and thoughts about the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Unkel, who is a former FIFA referee, an entrepreneur, and well-known sports television analyst and journalist, brings a unique perspective on the tournament having been a part of the game at the highest level for over 15 years.
Super League: What is your earliest memory of the Women’s World Cup?
Christina Unkel: It was 1999 and I was living in San Diego with my family, and my dad turned on the TV. He didn’t know what it was since it wasn’t a Men’s World Cup but turned the TV on because it said FIFA World Cup. That was first time my whole family ever saw women playing soccer on TV and my dad was excited for me.
SL: Who is your favorite women’s soccer player of all time, and why?
CU: Michelle Akers. How she controlled the center of the field and how nothing kept her from playing with all her heart and strength – she left everything on that field every time she stepped on it. To her it was about TEAM and not her – she was the first servant-leader player I saw.
SL: What are you most excited about heading into this year’s WWC?
CU: I am most excited about seeing new teams from traditionally underfunded and underrepresented countries make their first appearance at a Women’s World Cup. Seeing is believing. Those countries will now have girls who see someone like them representing their common flag on TV in front of the world, and now they can dream that they can do it because someone who looks like them can. It’s important to provide access and opportunities in the women’s game – there will be a growing point but the acceleration of what happens when this occurs will blow away the naysayers who are upset the format has increased the teams.
SL: How will the expansion to 32 teams impact the WWC?
CU: It will overturn preconditioned stereotypes, eliminate assumptions, and open the eyes of those who couldn’t “see” the reason before the WWC [for its expansion]. They now will be able to see it once the underdogs prove they deserve to be there.
SL: What are your thoughts on the US Women’s National Team’s chances to win a third straight title?
CU: With the attacking prowess of the USWNT, I would say the chances are very strong. They will need to find ways to pull teams out of their defensive stance to unleash their attacking forwards and some of these attacking forwards will need to be more creative off the ball to create the needed gaps to exploit other teams with their nose for the goal.