When Nobody Was Watching: My Hard-Fought Journey to the Top of the Soccer World by Carli Lloyd

Read February 1 - February 4

It's no secret that I enjoy soccer.

But soccer is a relatively new enjoyment of mine. Specifically - March of 2009 when I attended my first Seattle Sounders FC match. I was hooked after 90 minutes (let's be honest, it was more like the first 10 minutes.)

I was aware of the 1999 Women's World Cup victory by the US Women's National Team because of the "outrage" of Brandi Chastain ripping off her jersey to celebrate the win, but still never watched anything.

I don't remember when I first started paying attention to the women's game, but in 2012, the Seattle Sounders Women signed a few of the USWNT players. While Carli Lloyd was not one of those players, I first because aware of her then because of the Olympics.

This book chronicles Lloyd's high school, college and professional careers. It takes place during the same time as Hope Solo's book (that I read) and it's quite interesting to read another perspective of what goes on behind the scenes, and sometimes in front of the cameras.

A player that even the national team coaches didn't believe in proves all of her critics wrong. It's a pretty typical sports story, but one that as a fan I watched at times.

And the 2015 World Cup - that about sums Lloyd up. Going up against the best and utterly destroying them.