Clarissa Larisey couldn’t have requested for a greater begin to her NWSL profession with the Houston Sprint.
In her first-ever begin with the membership, the striker scored the primary aim and earned an help on the second in simply 45 minutes because the Sprint went on to defeat the San Diego Wave 3-0 on September 7 at Snapdragon Stadium.
It wasn’t that way back that taking part in within the NWSL, or as knowledgeable in any respect, was removed from Larisey’s thoughts. Born in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, the striker was having fun with lighting up the NCAA whereas taking part in on the College of Memphis. Throughout her collegiate profession, Larisey was named to the AAC All-Rookie Crew, First Crew All-Convention (sophomore and junior years) and the AAC All-Convention Second Crew (senior 12 months).
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Even with all that success, she had by no means heard of the NWSL. A minimum of till her junior 12 months of faculty.
“I used to be considering, ‘what can I do after’ as a result of I wish to hold taking part in,” Larisey stated. “That’s after I discovered concerning the NWSL and Europe. For me, my aim since I used to be younger [has been] to play for the nationwide group. I didn’t know concerning the skilled [teams], for me, it was Crew Canada.”
Larisey’s skilled profession started in Europe, the place she landed at Valur in Reykjavik, Iceland, and scored two targets in seven appearances. From there, she made the leap to Celtic FC within the Scottish Girls’s Premier League and shortly discovered her knack for locating the again of the web, scoring 12 targets in as many matches
“What gave me a variety of confidence going (to Celtic), was that the coach solely actually checked out my time in Iceland and was like…‘I imagine on this participant,’” Larisey stated. “I had confidence in myself as a result of I knew he noticed one thing in me that I noticed in myself, however had but to point out anybody.”
After banging in double-digit targets in Glasgow, Larisey made the transfer to Swedish aspect BK Häcken through the January 2023 switch window.
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“Of all of the groups that had been , Sweden was the nation the place I may proceed to develop,” Larisey stated. “I’m nonetheless not the place I wish to be, and I simply wish to continue to grow and getting higher. Sweden [was] the right subsequent step for me.”
Enjoying for BK Häcken offered the extra invaluable expertise taking part in within the UEFA Girls’s Champions League. Scoring in opposition to Chelsea at house within the UWCL group stage in 2023, stays her favourite all-time aim.
The ahead went on to attain 13 targets throughout 40 video games in all competitions for the Swedish aspect. As soon as once more, her prowess for scoring earned her one other alternative, this time with Crystal Palace within the English Girls’s Tremendous League, one which Larisey views as one of many prime two ladies’s soccer leagues on this planet.
Sadly for Larisey, she has struggled to flee the harm bug all through her profession, a lot of which have sidelined her for lengthy durations. Up to now this 12 months, Larisey has been named to Canada’s roster for friendlies in April, solely to be compelled to withdraw.
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Larisey stays constructive by specializing in the small steps and understanding that accidents are part of the sport. The harm additionally meant that Larisey missed a month of play throughout her five-month stint within the WSL. When Crystal Palace was relegated on the finish of the 2024-2025 season, it was good timing for her to make the transfer to the NWSL.
Nervous about coming again to the USA, Larisey relishes the problem and alter that comes with taking part in in North America. Describing everybody on the Sprint as “completely superb,” Larisey is having fun with being again on the pitch and contributing to her group.
Her longer-term targets?
They embody making her approach again to the Canadian Girls’s Nationwide Crew, the place she has seen success in restricted match time. Since first receiving a call-up in 2022, she has earned 12 caps, scored two targets, and recorded one help.
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“My entire world shook,” she says of listening to the information of her first call-up. “It was such a healthful second for me. I’m so grateful to be representing my nation.”
Larisey acknowledges that she has been out and in of the nationwide group since 2022, and that’s one thing she wish to change.
“The largest factor for me is making an attempt to be extra constant,” Larisey stated. “I’ve discovered it just a little arduous to adapt due to how superb the gamers are at Canada. I [need to continue] to point out my talents, whether or not I play 5 minutes or get the beginning. I wish to be extra constantly on the group and supply extra for us. It’s doing what I can to point out the workers and the gamers that I should be right here.”
These are robust phrases from a participant who as soon as didn’t even know skilled ladies’s soccer existed. Each aim she scores is a reminder of how far her perception can take her, and in Houston, that perception burns brighter than ever.