Meet Washington’s world traveled, college graduate, shot stopping twin
In life, some people talk about doing great things and other people simply do them. Washington Spirit goalkeeper Aubrey Bledsoe falls into the latter category. Let’s take a look at her resume. She’s played professional soccer at a high level in four different countries, has a college degree from a top-50 college in the country (according to USNews.com), and is a twin, which she didn’t really choose, but it’s still cool. Thankfully, I was able to catch up with Aubrey to discuss all of that and much more!
The 27-year-old goalkeeper was born in Cincinnati, Ohio and yes, she has a definitive take on the Queen City’s chili debate. “Skyline all the way! To be honest, I’ve never even had Gold Star, I don’t even need to try it because Skyline is the Cincinnati chili,” she said, laughing.
She attended Wake Forest University, where she holds school career records in shutouts, goals against average, minutes, and starts. Also a star off the pitch, she graduated with a major in health and exercise science and minors in chemistry and biology. “My original career plan was to go to med school! Learning about the body and exercise science really interested me and I ended up minoring in biology and chemistry by default from all my med school prerequisites,” Aubrey explained.
Her twin sister Amber also played goalkeeper collegiately, starring for the Brown University Bears. When I asked her to compare her and her twin, Aubrey said, “We have a lot of similar passions and interests but differ in the way we analyze things. I’m more scientific and analytical while Amber is creative and artistic. She’s a very talented painter, graphic designer, and has an eye for interior design. All things I’m pretty terrible at!”
One thing Aubrey is definitely not terrible at is playing soccer. Since turning pro in 2014, she has played in Norway, Denmark, Australia, and the United States. She said the three foreign countries were all very unique. “I liked Norway for the nature. I lived in the Arctic Circle and went on beautiful hikes, ferry rides, and saw the Northern Lights. Sydney has the best food by far though. Nothing beats an Aussie brekky and there is a wide variety of delicious Asian cuisine.”
To be able to play for that many clubs, and always at a high level, there must be a key. “Consistency is mainly a mental thing for me. I know I have the ability to make the saves, so it comes down to staying in the present and calm in the moment,” she said. “Watching film, practicing yoga, and communicating with my backline all goes into having a confident performance and helping the team succeed on game day.”
On those match days, there may be some familiar faces playing for the Spirit if you are a USWNT fan. Aubrey is teammates with Mallory Pugh and Rose Lavelle of the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup champion squad. If you are just now getting into the league and the Spirit, Aubrey explained what you can expect. “We may be young but we can play! We play a possession-based, attractive style of soccer which aims to get everyone on the ball, sharing it, and expressing themselves. I’m so excited by this team because we’ve only begun to unlock our potential, so if fans are tuning in now they will watch us continue to grow and improve throughout the season. It’s going to be a fun ride!”
Aubrey currently leads the league in saves and sits second in clean sheets with five. You can see the talented, world traveling goalkeeper Aubrey Bledsoe and the Washington Spirit on Yahoo Sports on 7/20 when they face off with the Houston Dash at 7 PM Eastern Time.
