This week, we caught up with Dallas Trinity FC defender and history-maker, Hannah Davison, to learn more about her previous professional experience, why she chose Dallas Trinity, her favorite soccer memory, and more. Continue reading to learn more about Dallas Trinity’s first goal scorer.
Q: Tell me about your soccer journey to get to this point (from when you started playing)
A: I have been playing soccer since I could remember. I grew up with 4 siblings and my dad coached all of our teams so I would be out there jumping into all their practices before mine would start. I knew from an early age that I loved playing soccer and begged my parents to put me on the most competitive club team when I was in 2nd grade. I worked my way to earning a scholarship at Northwestern University in Chicago. It was nice because I was close to home so my family could come to my games and see me play and we went on to win a Big Ten Championship and set multiple program records throughout my four years. After a successful college career, I decided early on that I wanted to continue playing professionally because I grew up watching the Chicago Red Stars games all of high school and college. I entered the 2019 draft and was so fortunate to be drafted to my hometown team in Chicago. I played for the Chicago Red Stars for two seasons and then decided to check out European football and signed my first overseas contract in Stockholm, Sweden with the largest club in Scandinavia, AIK. I fell in love with the team and the Swedish culture and it quickly became my second home. I spent two seasons in Sweden with AIK before making a move to the UK to join Rangers FC in Scotland. It was another huge, historic club with a winning history I was excited to be a part of. I wanted the opportunity to play in the Champions League and was able to achieve that with them and netted my first professional goal in my Champions League debut. After that season, I returned to Sweden to finish out the year with KIF Örebro. After that season, I made the decision to return to the States to play and was looking at teams in the NWSL, however, when I heard about the USL Super League starting it really sparked my interest and was kind of the perfect time to build something from the ground up and so I found my new home here in Dallas!
Q: What made you choose DTFC?
A: I chose DTFC because of the opportunity and potential I saw in this club. It’s tricky when you have a brand new league and club with no history to go off of when deciding where the best fit will be but after speaking with Chris the general manager and Pauline, the head coach, and hearing all about the Neil Family I was sold on their vision quickly. Everyone here has a successful history in their respective fields and is confident of what they can build here. Everyone was so supportive and excited to bring Dallas their first professional women’s soccer team. Playing at the Cotton Bowl, being in such a big sports city, and having recruited an amazing, talented group of players and coaches were also big sells for me. I knew this team was going to fight for a Championship and that is exactly what I came here to do.
Q: What are you most excited about being in Dallas?
A: I think I am most excited about the culture here in Dallas. It’s a massive sports city and the support and crowds that their professional sports team draws are amazing. I don’t know how it’s taken so long for Dallas to have a professional women’s team but I am excited to bring professional women’s soccer to the city and give them some entertainment!
Q: What is your favorite soccer moment in your career?
A: My favorite soccer moment in my career was being drafted by the Chicago Red Stars. I think at the time it gave me a giant confidence boost and affirmation of all the hard work I had put in over the last 5 years that my childhood dreams of going pro had finally come true. It was such a special night to have my name called and have my family there with me as well knowing that I would get to be playing for my city and the club I grew up watching. It was also pretty surreal to play with some of my childhood idols who were on the team at the time like Julie Ertz, Casey Short, Morgan Brian, Allyssa Naeher, Sarah Gordon, and Sam Kerr. It was just insane to think they were going to be my teammates and I would get the opportunity to learn from them every day.
Q: What are some other hobbies and interests outside of soccer?
A: Outside of soccer, I like to play with my kitten, read, paint, go on walks, try new coffee shops, and just spend as much time with friends and family!
Q: Who is your biggest soccer inspiration and why?
A: My biggest soccer inspiration is Julie Ertz. She was always a player, and probably the very first player, that I looked up to. She played on the Chicago Red Stars and my youth club team would occasionally train at the same time and field as us I remember watching and hearing her train and just being starstruck. Her intensity in training, relentless defending, composure on the ball, and how vocal she was in organizing her team and encouraging them was something that stuck with me and something I have always tried to mimic in my play as well.
