We are just hours away before the NWSL comes waltzing into our lives. In what is going to be a record-breaking season for the league, it will be interesting to see some of the biggest stars deliver on the biggest stage for women’s football. When we talk about the biggest stars, Maria Sanchez‘s name has to be at the top of the list. After all, we are talking about the highest-paid NWSL athlete!

The Mexican star’s rise has been phenomenal with the Houston Dash superstar climbing up the ranks from humble beginnings. Sanchez penned a blockbuster $1.5 million deal with the Dash last year becoming the highest-paid athlete in NWSL netting half a million USD per annum from her wages alone. Apart from her contract, Sanchez has multiple brand endorsements posting her net worth. The big money deal will surely bring added pressure to the player with fans hoping to see her justify her ginormous price tag.

However, her journey to the top hasn’t been an easy ride. Sanchez had to go through her fair share of thick and thin to become the superstar she is today. The Houston Dash star commented on her early life struggles in an interview last year talking about her struggles as a growing soccer star.

“I honestly don’t know how I did it”: Maria Sanchez

While Maris Sanchez has been on a roll ever since her move to the NWSL, the former Liga MX Femenil star had to go through multiple ups and downs. Sanchez talked about her journey as a growing soccer player in an interview with the Houston Dash after penning her latest contract. The Mexican star stated, “It was just a lot of struggles that made me appreciate playing the sport even more. It makes me appreciate everything I’ve accomplished now even more, especially coming back home and reliving everything. I honestly don’t know how I did it.”

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She then added, “I have to play with boys growing up. I have a brother that’s six years older than me and I would play soccer with him all the time until he moved out for college. My parents didn’t really want me to play with boys, um, so most of the time I would have to play by myself. There’s Idaho Winters where you really can’t play soccer outside, so I’d either have to break into this Middle School gym uh that’s right in front of my house as well as the soccer field.”

Despite the initial struggles, Sanchez has shown many budding athletes that sheer talent and hard work can open multiple doors and she will look to take the Houston Dash to the NWSL title.

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