10 Questions with Summer Yates

BY BOB SHERWIN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Summer Yates, a senior standout on the University of Washington soccer team, did not arrive at her elite skill level in a conventional fashion.

Summer grew up near the Columbia River in Pasco, Wash., 230 miles from Northwest soccer-central Seattle. Lewis and Clark may have extensively explored the area, but it’s still mostly uncharted territory for soccer recruiters, greatly limiting her soccer exposure.

She also did not get formative full-out training from experienced coaches. Her father, Blake Yates, was her coach and they both agree that Blake knew nothing about soccer before he assumed that role. What he passed onto her was what he learned watching the renowned Barcelona team and nonpareil attacker Lionel Messi.

Messi turned out to be a providential archetype because Summer, like Messi, is of smaller stature (5-foot-4) but through skill development and hard work she was called up to the U.S. National teams and has become an indispensable Husky.

She dreamed of being a Husky ever since she visited the campus when she was 10-years old. Former UW women’s coach Lesle Gallimore took notice of her and followed her career as she twice earned first-team all-state honors at Pasco’s Chiawana High School, won the state championship with PAC NW club team and her national U-16 experiences.

Summer has played in 56 games – 49 starts - for the Huskies entering this season with 15 goals and 12 assists. She was an All-America secondteam selection last season. Here’s a 10-question insight into Summer Yates as she ventures through her senior (maybe not last) season:

How did your journey to become one of the nation’s elite players evolve?

“I never really trained with a team until I was like 13. I was a discovered player for PAC NW. We would drive (four hours) to Seattle on the weekends for games and my dad would train me five or six days a week back home. He was like my only real coach. That was a little different. He was a football player and a wrestler (when he was young) and knew nothing about soccer. We would watch a lot of Barcelona games growing up, Messi, Ronaldinho. That’s how he taught me how to play. And it worked out. My dad sacrificed so much, getting new cars, getting me back and forth to Seattle, just to literally make me a better soccer player, to help me succeed. It means the world to me, all the things that my parents (Kandy and Blake) did for me, all the time and money.’’

You have described yourself as a daredevil as a youngster. When did that start?

“It started with my dad who was a daredevil and he kind of passed it onto me. I raced quads, four-wheelers, motocross. I did that when I was 6 years old, against boys. It definitely made me a little more of a daredevil. I did cliff jumping, snowboarding, skateboarding and all the extreme sports at a young age. Skydiving is something I want to experience, for sure. Me and my sister (Hope) always talk about doing that. Doing some crazy things sounds so fun to me. (But) Dad would say, ‘remember, you have soccer. You can’t hurt yourself.’ I did dial it back as I got older.’’

When did you first realize that you could play on a national level?

‘’I was probably around 11. I did a lot of traveling and everyone around my area was making it a big deal. And I didn’t think it was a big deal. They were like saying, ‘you can make it.’ And I was, ‘OK, I guess I can.’ Then getting the call up to the national team really opened my eyes and I thought I can do something with this.’’

When you finally were called up and joined the national team, were you intimidated?

‘’When I first got called, I was super nervous because I was like this smaller player and seeing kids older than me, towering over me, definitely intimidated me. But once I got on the ball and started playing, I got more confident and made some of my best friends out of it. Everyone got closer.’’

Might being smaller give you an advantage?

‘’I like being small. I feel my agility is something that I bring to my game. I love it when I play tall people now because when I’m lower to the ground I can cut harder to beat you. I’ve learned to embrace it, using my strength and my size to my advantage.’’

The USWNT has several older players and likely will be making wholesale changes over the next couple years. Do you see yourself as a candidate for a roster spot?

“That’s always been a dream of mine, always a possibility. I think I have more work to do but I’m always striving to get there. I’ve seen girls I used to play with. I see them called up. It’s like surreal. I’m definitely hopeful for all of us that we can make it together on the national team.’’

Because of the ‘lost’ COVID-19 season, the NCAA has granted an additional year of eligibility. Will you come back for a fifth season?

“Most likely I’ll be taking that. I’m doing a year-long internship, looking to graduate in the spring of 2023. I’m an ECO major, standing for education, communities, and organizations. I’ve always been interested in teaching and coaching. I feel like that would set me up for success after soccer, working with young kids for soccer, sports or schoolwork. My parents and my family have done so much to support me, sacrificed so much, anything I can do to give back to my community and Pasco kids who may not have the opportunities, would bring me joy and I’d be excited to do that.’’

It sounds like wherever life and your career may take you, eventually you’ll find your way back to Pasco?

“I love Pasco. The community is amazing. Everyone there did everything they could to support me, all my dreams and my journey. There’s just a small-town community vibe to it. I love where I grew up.’’

You talk about how impressed you were as a 10-year-old in your first visit to the UW campus, watching the Huskies’ women’s team. Now that you’re a senior, have things come full circle?

“It’s definitely full circle, seeing all the young girls coming to our games. Now it’s going in another circle. It’s so cool to see them live out what I dreamed about at such a young age. It’s fun to see how happy they are to see us. And I tell them, ‘it’s going to be you in a few years.’ And they’re like, ‘what!.’‘’

In the season opener, the Huskies were challenged by 21-time NCAA champion North Carolina (a 4-1 road loss). How will the early season results impact the team as you progress toward conference play?

“We had a bit of a rough start. We had some injuries, but really came together. We’re all striving for the same goals, making a run at the Pac-12 title and making the (NCAA) tournament. My role on the team is doing everything I can to put goals in the back of the net, help the team get some wins and just be a supportive teammate. This team has been put through so much adversity; it just makes us stronger. To be a player on this team is just an amazing experience.’’