A soccer player who chose not to play for the U.S. women’s national team last year because her religious beliefs prevented her from wearing a jersey that commemorated LGBTQ Pride Month was booed Wednesday when she was introduced before a National Women’s Soccer League match.
Jaelene Hinkle revealed the reason for her decision last June in an interview with the Christian talk show The 700 Club, which posted a video Wednesday on its website. No reason for her absence was given by the national team at the time.“I just felt so convicted in my spirit that it wasn’t my job to wear this jersey,” she said. “I’m essentially giving up the one dream little girls dream about their entire life, and I’m saying no to. It was very disappointing.”
Hinkle has not been called up to the national team since.
A defender, Hinkle plays for the North Carolina Courage of the NWSL. The Courage visited the Portland Thorns on Wednesday night, and there were boos heard when she was announced in the starting lineup. Some waved rainbow Pride flags.
The 25-year-old Hinkle, who played soccer at Texas Tech, didn’t comment after the match.
“She is high on her faith, and in my honest opinion that’s absolutely incredible,” teammate Jessica McDonald said. “If she’s for God, then that’s fine, that’s great if that’s what keeps her going in her life and keeps positivity in her life, then let that be.”
Courage coach Paul Riley said he heard the boos and echoed McDonald’s sentiment.
“She’s got a good heart, and she battled through the game. It’s not an easy thing for her,” Riley said. “I give her a lot of credit, to be perfectly honest. Whatever her beliefs are, whatever she believes in, that’s her. It doesn’t affect the team. It doesn’t seem to affect anybody on the team.”
Hinkle’s team beat the Thorns 4-1 and currently lead the NWSL standings. Right now, winning with her club team is enough for Hinkle, who said she’s accepted the possibility she might never wear the U.S. jersey again.
“If I never get a national team call-up again, then that’s just part of His plan and that’s OK,” Hinkle told the TV show. “Maybe this was why you were meant to play soccer, just to show other believers to be obedient.”
With AP