Ever since Sam Meza returned to the Seattle Reign, she has been unstoppable.
The midfielder came into her own this year as one of the Reign’s top players, and even earned her first USWNT call-up in June. Meza is a rising star—and her proud identity as a Mexican-American woman is something she carries with her everywhere she goes.
Meza was drafted by the Reign in 2024, as the 17th overall pick out of the University of North Carolina. But after signing her first professional contract, things didn’t go as planned. She struggled to adjust to the professional environment, and months after joining the club, she was essentially sent back home—to the Dallas Trinity, the USL Super League team where she would play the remainder of the season.
But Meza didn’t let that stop her. Instead, in a new environment and with more game minutes, she found a confidence she never had in Seattle.
“I think they welcomed me with open arms, and allowed me to be myself,” she said. “That helped me get back to myself and instill that confidence in me.”
Meza returned to the Reign in 2025, and the change was evident.
“I had been given the second opportunity to come back and showcase myself again,” she said. “I wanted to make sure that people were actually able to see me for who I am as a player. I had a chip on my shoulder, and I had to prove myself.”
Soon, Meza was playing better than ever before. She became a regular starter, and one of the top players on the team. Just a year after struggling to adjust to the league, she was now shining in it.
Meza’s first callup to the senior USWNT, something she had dreamed about for years, came sooner than she expected. She played in two matches, against Ireland and Canada in June and July.
“The Women’s National Team is the team that you kind of idolize, and you dream to be there one day,” said Meza. “Getting called up to camp was amazing.”
But for Meza, the chance to represent the United States was about far more than just herself. It was about representing Mexican-Americans, and being the role model she never had as a young girl.
In her Instagram post after her first National Team appearance, she wrote an eloquent caption about how meaningful it was to wear the USWNT jersey for the first time as a Mexican-American.
“It’s hard to put this feeling into words,” Meza wrote. “As a Mexican-American, stepping onto the field wearing this crest felt surreal — a moment the little girl in me had dreamed of, even when she wasn’t sure there was space for someone like her in this jersey.”
“In times like these, having the chance to represent my Mexican heritage serves as a constant reminder of where I come from. It’s a quiet but powerful affirmation of the importance of visibility — and the strength that comes from knowing you belong. I’m looking forward to continuing to grow through this journey.”
While Meza grew up watching Liga MX with her family, she hardly had any representation of women in soccer to look up to. Representation of Latin and Mexican women in particular was even less.
“Even if there were women playing, the percentage of Mexican or Latin women playing was pretty miniscule,” she said.
Because of this, Meza now seeks to be the representation she never had as a child. She hopes that in the future, young girls will know that they can grow up to do anything they want to do, whether or not their dream is soccer.
“Representation really matters,” she said. “And I think when a little girl can see somebody that looks like them doing something that they aspire to, it goes a long way.”
Meza has grown into an incredible player this past year, but her true impact goes far beyond the field—she proudly represents her Mexican-American heritage, and is an inspiration to young girls and boys everywhere.
