Jacks in the WPSL: Part 2

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In a two-part series, GoJacks.com visited with current and former Jackrabbits playing in the Women's Premier Soccer League. Part two features Kayla Braffett of the Chicago Red Stars and Kellyn (Farrell) Green of the ISC Gunners, located in Issaquah, Washington.  -------------------

Two former Jackrabbit soccer players are continuing to play the game they love in the WPSL to one day achieve their goals of becoming professional soccer players.

Kayla Braffett '12 plays for the Chicago Red Stars reserves team and Kellyn (Farrell) Green '09 is with the ISC Gunners FC team in Issaquah, Washington.

Braffet and Green have helped their teams to solid years, with the ISC Gunners FC (4-1) on top and the Red Stars (4-2) second in their respective divisions. The Red Stars won the League Championship in 2015 and with a late season surge are positioning themselves nicely for another run at the title, while the Gunners have locked down their division.

Green is in her eighth season of semi-pro ball, starting in the WPSL while at South Dakota State with Real Colorado. After graduation, she played in the W-League for the Colorado Rush from 2010-2013, because there was not a professional soccer league for women at the time.

She now lives in Seattle, Washington with her husband, Brian, and their dog, working at a law firm as a paralegal while playing soccer in her free time.

"I really play soccer whenever I can," Green said. "I'm playing for the Gunners in the WPSL and then also with a team in the Northwest Premier League, which is a Washington-only league. They needed extra players so I joined them and we're in the playoffs now."

Braffett had a significant career change recently, moving to Chicago to pursue soccer more seriously after spending a summer with the WPSL's Minnesota TwinStars.

She is the former boys' soccer coach at Harrisburg High School in Harrisburg, South Dakota, working as the eighth-grade language arts teacher at the South Middle School the last three years. Since the move, she joined up with a law firm with her aunt in the Chicago area and embraced the challenge of playing soccer full-time.

Playing in and out of the WPSL, both Braffet and Green have had their fair share of experiences they won't ever forget, playing against some of the world's best during their careers.

Green was playing in Colorado in the W-League in 2012 when she was tasked with guarding an Olympic gold medalist and FIFA Women's World Cup champion Alex Morgan. Morgan wasn't the only U.S. National team member on that squad as the Seattle Sounders roster also included Hope Solo, Sydney Leroux and Megan Rapinoe.

"We were talking through the game plan and I was told by coach that Alex Morgan was playing up top, and 'you'll have to mark her,'" Green said. "My first thought, was 'seriously? You want me to do that?' I've always been a player who gets up for challenges, but that made me nervous. I mean, you don't want to be the one to get shredded by her."

Braffet had a brush with the national scene when she studied abroad in France to finish her degree.

"I was able to be a practice player for a team in Paris," Braffet said. "It was really cool being able to put those two parts of my life – my French major and soccer – together."

The Red Stars currently have four U.S. National team members on their top squad, and when those players went overseas for games this summer, Braffet was called on as a practice player for the pro team.

Now that they've been playing out of college longer than they did at State, both Jackrabbits look back and remember the games, lessons learned and laughs shared, rather than the goals. They also remember how former head coach Lang Wedemeyer and current Jackrabbit leader Brock Thompson helped them grow their love of soccer more than they thought possible.

"Brock and Lang created this encouraging environment that was positive all the time," said Braffett. "Now that I'm away from State, I realize that isn't the norm for a lot of other players. It was a blessing to be in place where you love the sport going in, and they teach you to love it more while you're there."

Braffet and Green also remember the Jackrabbit coaches as skilled teachers of the game.

"Coach Wedemeyer and coach Thompson taught the 'why' of the skill rather than just teaching the skill," Braffet said. "They also showed how the drills we did translated into situations on the field."

Green agreed, and added that the transition to Division I during her time at SDSU taught her about overcoming difficult situations and working with others even when conflicts arose or personalities clashed.

As veterans of soccer at this point in their career, both Green and Braffet find themselves giving back to the game they love. Braffett was a high school head coach for three years, while Green mentors the athletes not only on her team but the club teams also associated in the area.

"I see areas I wish I had grown when I was younger, different things I notice and pass on," Green said. "One Division I commit in particular, comes to me a lot and really wants to get better. When they come to me and seek direction it's fun to be the mentor for the younger players."

The new roles and challenges have brought new life into the careers of both Jackrabbits, who intend to play soccer for as long as they can. Braffett caught wind of an agent and is looking to play overseas soon, possibly returning to France or other European countries.

Green laughs at the question she's often asked by her husband and others, "when will she be done?"

"I thought there would come a time where I would just be at peace and walk away from the game and be happy," Green said. "But now I'm not really sure that'll come. I'll continue to play as much as I can. The team I'm at right now is great, and I really love my teammates. You know, you just find a good group and stick with them. People love soccer here in Washington."