We are pumped to announce that the 2022 NWSL Challenge Cup Champion and 2019 U.S. Soccer Young Female Player of the Year, Brianna Pinto, is the newest addition to our Soccer Resilience® family! Please welcome Brianna Pinto to the family!
Brianna is currently a midfielder for NWSL NC Courage and a senior at UNC-Chapel Hill, majoring in Business Administration and minoring in Spanish. During her time with UNC Women’s Soccer team, Pinto earned 1st-Team All-ACC honors all three years. During her sophomore and junior campaigns, she was also named to 1st-Team All-America. She also ended her collegiate career as a 2021 MAC Hermann Trophy finalist.
The great Anson Dorrance had this to say about her…
“She has a fabulous skill set. She’s great in possession. She’s a complete player with the ability to attack! She is outstanding at defending and playmaking!”
High praise from one of the greatest coaches to ever walk the earth! Needless to say, having played at the highest levels of youth, college, and professional soccer, Brianna knows what it’s like to experience the ups and downs of the game.
“I’m thrilled to join Soccer Resilience® because I believe in their mission to train the most underutilized and competitive edge in sports: the mind. For far too long, many elite athletes, including myself, have neglected the importance of mental strength training, which plays a critical role in our success in our sport. As I develop my own mental strength tools, I hope to be a source of inspiration for next-generation athletes, who are seeking to become elite on all fronts: psychologically, tactically, technically, and physically. When we prioritize psychological wellbeing, we are better equipped to approach the game with a growth mindset, which dramatically accelerates our development.”
Brianna Pinto
“From the outside looking in, Brianna’s resume is about as impressive as they get. But then you get to know her and you’re really blown away. Spend any time with Brianna and you find out quick that she’s so much more than her remarkable achievements on the field. Her maturity, composure, and mindset are true testaments to her success. But what really separates her is her heart for others. Her passion to advocate for and elevate others aligns perfectly with who we are at Soccer Resilience®, and the mission and vision we have! Her impact within Soccer Resilience® is already being felt!”
Wells Thompson, Soccer Resilience® Founder
At the international level, she trained with the U14, U17, U19, U20, U23 and Senior WNTs, representing the United States in a U-17 and U20 World Cup all before entering college. At the 2017 She Believes Cup, Pinto was the youngest player in the modern era to make a tournament roster for the Senior WNT. In 2018, she served as the USSF youth representative to help the United Bid Committee secure the 2026 FIFA World Cup hosting rights. Pinto also helped form Next Gen United to help five young and diverse athletes get elected to the U.S. Soccer Athlete Council, where she also represents the Athlete Council on the USSF Governance Taskforce.
In January 2021, Pinto opted to forgo her senior year of eligibility and entered the 2021 NWSL Draft. Pinto was selected #3 overall by Sky Blue FC (later rebranded to Gotham FC,) and completed her rookie year after the conclusion of her third consecutive NCAA College Cup run. In December of 2021, Pinto was traded back to her hometown club, NC Courage. This opportunity enables her to play in the NWSL, finish her degree, and devote time to local soccer endeavors in North Carolina.
