Seattle Majestics’ Wilson selected to USA Football’s Women’s National team

She grew up with dreams of qualifying for the Olympic games in track & field.

While that never quite panned out for Adrienne Wilson of the Seattle Majestics women’s football team, a second chance of sorts has materialized.

Wilson, a wide receiver who possesses speed to burn, recently was selected to the USA Football’s Women’s National team.

“This is a huge deal for me,” said Wilson, who runs the 40-yard dash in 4.8 seconds. “I always wanted to go to the Olympics for track, and it’s upsetting that I never achieved that goal. I look at this as a second chance for me.”

A rare one at that, too. Just 45 players from around the nation were chosen to play for Team USA. The selection committee chose from the pool that consists of the 51-team Independent Women’s Football League, which includes the Seattle Majestics.

Though the Majestics endured an uncharacteristically down year, finishing at 2-6, being part of Team USA provides Wilson with a silver lining to the season.

“It was a very upsetting year,” Wilson conceded. “It’s heartbreaking to lose a game. We were out of the playoffs early. But I am back to being excited again with this huge opportunity.”

Wilson flew to Austin, Texas late last week to take part in Team USA’s five-day practice period. After that, the team will head to Stockholm, Sweden, where it will play in the Women’s World Championship from June 27-July 3. The Women’s World Championship consists of six teams from six different countries.

For Wilson, this will be the experience of a life time. Other than a trip to Canada years ago, the fleet-footed wide receiver has never left the country. That said, she’s looking forward to the trip, but remains a bit apprehensive about the hot Texas heat that awaits her this week.

“I have been nervous about that,” said Wilson, a 1996 graduate of Spokane’s University High School. “I don’t do well with the heat. We will have two-a-days down there and I am not sure how my body will adapt.”

Team USA didn’t hold any formal tryouts. Instead, players applied to be on the team while coaches also took letters-of-recommendation into account in addition to watching hours upon hours of game film.

Being named to the team also gives Wilson a chance to do what she loves best — play football. Growing up in Spokane, Wilson excelled in basketball and track. In fact, she attended Eastern Washington University on a track scholarship.

Football?

That didn’t enter the equation until a few years ago, when a friend convinced her to play. Little did Wilson know at the time that she’d take to football like no other sport she had ever competed in.

“Football is better than track,” said Wilson, who was a sprinter and a long jumper on the oval. “I can’t believe I didn’t start it earlier. Football incorporates everything you could imagine.”

And it’s panned out for Wilson, too.