Before the packed stadiums. Before the television deals. Before women’s soccer became one of the fastest-growing sports in the world. There were women who played anyway. They played because they loved the game. They played because they believed they belonged. They played knowing that recognition might never come, but hoping that opportunity eventually would.
In the latest episode of ESSENCE Black Women In Sports presented by Coca-Cola®, Passed Forward brings together three generations of Black women connected by soccer and united by legacy: trailblazer Kim Crabbe, World Cup Champion Crystal Dunn, and rising athlete Kieryn Jeter.
Set against the backdrop of Atlanta, a city built on resilience, progress, and the belief that when a seat isn’t offered, you build your own table, the conversation explores the sacrifices, breakthroughs, and dreams that continue to shape the future of the sport. For Kim Crabbe, the journey began at a time when there were few Black women playing soccer and even fewer examples of what was possible. As the first Black woman to play for the U.S. Women’s National Team, her impact extended far beyond the field. She helped create visibility where there had been little and possibility where there had been none.
“When I started playing, there just weren’t a lot of African Americans playing the sport,” Crabbe reflects in the episode. Yet despite the challenges, she remained committed to the game she loved, helping open doors for generations to come.
That foundation would eventually support athletes like Crystal Dunn. A World Cup Champion and one of the most accomplished players of her generation, Dunn recalls growing up without many role models who looked like her in soccer. As her career progressed, she became one of the very examples she once searched for.
“Women of color don’t only exist within this sport,” Dunn shares. “We excel.”
Her words reflect a larger truth about the evolution of the game. Representation isn’t simply about visibility. It’s about belonging. It’s about creating spaces where future athletes can see themselves not as exceptions, but as possibilities. That reality is embodied by Kieryn Jeter.
As a young player with dreams of competing professionally and representing her country, Jeter represents the next chapter of a story still being written. Sitting alongside Crabbe and Dunn, she speaks openly about the impact their journeys have had on her own aspirations. For Jeter, the opportunity to learn directly from women who transformed the sport is more than inspiration. It’s a reminder that every generation carries a responsibility to keep moving the game forward.
And that is the heart of Passed Forward. Every pass carries something with it. A story. A sacrifice. A lesson. A dream.
What begins with one player doesn’t end with her. It continues through every athlete she inspires, every barrier she breaks, and every young girl who steps onto the field believing she belongs there. As the global spotlight on women’s soccer continues to grow, so does the importance of honoring the women who helped build the game long before the world started paying attention. Their contributions made today’s opportunities possible.
Presented by Coca-Cola®, Passed Forward celebrates the power of community, connection, and the moments that bring us together. It reminds us that progress is never individual. It is shared, passed hand to hand, generation to generation.
Because the game didn’t grow on its own.
It was carried forward.
And now, the next generation is ready to do the same.
Continue the Conversation
As the excitement surrounding FIFA World Cup 2026 continues to build, hear directly from the women whose stories helped shape the game. Watch the full episode of ESSENCE Black Women In Sports: Passed Forward, presented by Coca-Cola®, now on the ESSENCE YouTube channel.
