Rainbow Warrior and international soccer star, Joanna Lohman knows!
In June, 2019, when Joanna retired from the Washington Spirit after four seasons, and a 16-year professional career, she was the first player to have her number retired in team history.
Lohman, a Maryland spent nine years on the United States Women’s National Team and began her professional career after a decorated four years at Penn State University.
After graduating with honors in 2003, with no domestic professional league in place, Lohman spent time overseas until she was drafted by Saint Louis Athletica of the WPS during the 2008 WPS General Draft. Lohman did not want to leave the DMV, so she was then immediately traded to the Washington Freedom.
Also known as the Rainbow Warrior, Joanna partners with organizations around the world to advocate for inclusivity, equality, and gender equity. As a proud member of the LGBTQ community she has been a featured speaker sharing her own personal story of being an out and proud professional athlete.
Working alongside groups like the Human Rights Campaign, GLAAD, and SMYAL and as an ambassador for the Women’s Sports Foundation, DC SCORES, and Athlete Ally, Joanna strives to create opportunities for every individual to play sports and thrive as their authentic self. As a Sports Diplomat with the Department of State, Joanna has traveled the world focusing on racial justice and building bridges between cultures.
So, what does it take to take on the world, smash glass ceilings, win gold medals and discover who you are in the process?
“Rainbow Warrior” and international soccer star, Joanna Lohman knows!
So do the more than 100 female sports legends who changed the rules, challenged gender norms, discrimination, and had the courage to transform the face of professional sports to paved the way for the girls of today to become the champions of tomorrow.
In her new book, “Raising Tomorrow’s Champions,” sports legends from Mia Hamm to Megan Rapinoe, Brianna Scurry to Mallory Pugh, the book tackles some of the most timely topics of our day including the issues of gender, orientation, race, discrimination and finding your unique identity within a team or an organization.
A portion of book sales will go to support causes near and dear to the hearts of the soccer community including America Scores, Athlete Ally, the National Center for Lesbian Rights and the Women’s Sports Foundation.
Readers can designate which charity they wish to support with their purchase at www.rtcsoccer.com. The book is also available at Amazon from Inspire Media Publishing.