Nealy Martin isn’t afraid of a challenge.

That’s part of her story to get to where she is today, in her fifth season in the NWSL.

After a four-year career at Alabama, the chemical engineering major went undrafted in the NWSL draft, so she went a different route to kick off her professional career.

“I was in Wales (2020) and I heard about an open tryout for Racing Louisville (in the NWSL). I signed up for it, I knew I was going to be home for Christmas,” Martin said. “I was guaranteed two weeks and then 10 weeks turned into two years. It was a different way to get into the league.”

Martin ended up playing the 2021 and 2022 seasons with Racing Louisville. She then signed with Gotham FC in 2023 and became a key piece to the midfield and won an NWSL championship. Now, her story will contin

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