Whether she’s hunting for a ball in the box or signing with a brand new team, Jorian Baucom can always see the vision. She especially sees the vision of the USL Super League and she’s ready to bring her all to DC Power Football Club.
“In understanding [Super League President] Amanda Vandervort’s vision, plan, and where she wants to take this league, I immediately wanted to be part of it,” Baucom said. “ Professional opportunities in the United States are limited, but now with a new league, there are several more teams, plus it’s aligned with the international window, and there’s free agency. They’re going about building this league differently.”
Baucom’s already successful soccer career has taken her from the National Women’s Soccer League to the UEFA Women’s Champions League, and so much more. She now gets to return stateside, bringing that international experience, variety of playing style, and deep understanding of the game to her new team.
“I can bring my experience to a new team, help mentor younger professionals coming, girls that are coming out of college, and even though I have that experience, I am always looking to learn, grow, and get better,” Baucom said. “This is another reason I came to DC because our head coach really emphasizes getting better each day. I know it’s a place I can develop and improve my game.”
In speaking with the staff, including head coach Frédéric Brillant, Baucom felt an instant pull to be part of their vision, building up this club and culture from day one. For DC Power coach Brillant, adding Baucom to their inaugural roster was a crucial step in building a strong foundation for this new team.
“Jorian is coming off an incredible season in Scotland with Hibernian where she scored 29 goals,” said Brillant when Baucom was initially signed. “Securing a proven goal scorer was a priority for us and we think that Jorian will be an invaluable addition to our squad.”
From her goal scoring abilities to her proven leadership across multiple leagues, Baucom is prepared to lead naturally, both on and off the field, be it vocally or by example. Together with her teammates, she’s looking forward to helping establish a lasting identity for DC Power.
“I want to be the player that can provide that leadership both on and off the pitch for girls to look up to,” she said. “That’s another exciting thing about being one of the first players signed. It’s a sense of responsibility and an accountability role that the DC Power staff want to see me do. We’re a brand new team in a brand new league, so it’s even more of a responsibility to learn, but we’re all in this together.”
Baucom knows this new adventure will be a challenge, but she’s ready to face the inevitable ups and downs that come with a professional soccer career. When doubts have crept in or when she’s needed internal motivation, Baucom has always come back to the love of the game, being confident in herself and her abilities, and enjoying herself while playing. In joining DC, she is hoping to bring that love and joy for the game to a new team and a new city.
“Knowing that the club, my teammates, and everyone who is part of the DC family truly believes in me and what I can bring to the field is a really good feeling,” Baucom said. “Everyone’s been through a hard part in their career, I’ve persevered many times throughout my career, but being able to come here, be surrounded by great people, everyone supports each other and believes in each other.”
As she prepares to represent DC with its newest professional women’s soccer team, Baucom hopes fans can also see the vision this new club is bringing to the area.
“Having fan support in the stands helps the women’s game grow,” Baucom said. “We have another women’s pro team coming to the city I think is exciting in itself. For our fans, they can expect that we’re going to be the hardest working team out there, which is something our coach really emphasizes – leave it all on the pitch.”
As a forward, Baucom’s got a nose for the goal. In joining a team that is looking to be aggressive going forward, she’s hoping to utilize her goal-scoring abilities to help get fans excited every week, and keep them coming back for more.
“My job is finding the back of the net so hopefully I can do that a few times,” Baucom said. “We want to get three points each week, but it’s also just an exciting time for fans to come out and be part of this brand new league. We’re making history, and the fans and community are part of that.”