Naomi Girma: podcast appearances and interviews

Naomi Haile Girma is an American professional soccer player who plays as a center back for Chelsea in the Women's Super League and for the United States national team. She played college soccer for the Stanford Cardinal and captained the team to the 2019 national championship. Girma was selected first overall in the 2022 NWSL Draft by San Diego Wave FC. During her first two seasons, she received the NWSL Rookie of the Year award and was named NWSL Defender of the Year both years, contributing to San Diego winning the NWSL Shield in 2023. In 2025, she transferred to Chelsea for a reported transfer fee of 1.1 million dollars, which set a women's soccer world record. Girma represented the United States at the under-17, under-19, and under-20 levels before making her senior national team debut in 2022. She was honored as U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year in 2023 and was part of the United States team that won gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics, playing every minute of the tournament.