Game Time Prep Unveiled: Players Share Their Rituals with INDIVISA and e.l.f. Cosmetics
Ready to Play is a new video series revealing how top U.S. soccer players prepare for life on and off the field.
With the popularity of women’s soccer on the rise and the Paris 2024 Olympics only months away, Ready to Play is a new platform where top players share their routines, rituals and the mental preparation required to compete at the highest levels of the game. Creators Megan Reyes and Jessica Black host conversations with U.S. Women’s National Team and West Ham star Kristie Mewis; Houston Dash/Nigerian National Team player, Michelle Alozie, and Chilean National Goalkeeper, Ryann Torrero.
Kristie takes us through her routine and how she sets herself up for success and to feel confident, while sharing some pretty incredible moments along the way.
Alongside these interviews, several players share their own Get Ready to Play videos, inspired by the popular Get Ready With Me trend, to share how they prepare for different occasions including media day, training, an off day of errands or even, “a girly day.”
A Good Day Starts With Good Eyebrows
For players, their morning routines include a mix of making coffee, checking social media channels, and curating the perfect combo of e.l.f products to set their face as they get ready for the day.
“I think as I’m getting older, my skin is actually getting more dry,” said Mewis. “So, I feel like the cream just sits so well on my face.”
Beyond her soccer skills as a midfielder for Team USA, Mewis’s camera-ready eyebrows are iconic. She refers to them as her “Holy Grail” and shares her favorite hack to make her eyebrows look longer.
Angel City FC defender Sarah Gorden also emphasizes her brows as a key essential to her routine.
“For me, the most important part of getting ready is my eyebrows,” said Gorden. “This pencil has done wonders for my eyebrows because I like them to look perfect every single day,” she adds, holding the e.l.f. Instant Lift Waterproof Brow Pencil.
The Fun of the Game
While debunking myths about superstitions and favorite stadiums, Mewis confirmed that having chapped lips will affect a player’s performance on the field. “When my lips are chapped in a game, I can’t focus on anything else. Like, I might as well get off the field... I cannot function.”
Alozie firmly planted her flag on team “more goal cellies in soccer.”
When asked how she feels about “doing a victory dance everytime you score a goal” she answers “Oh for sure… let’s get those going. I think we need to do a little bit more of Lo'eau LaBonta’s goal celebrations in the NWSL.”
Alozie plans on leaning into her hand-to-ear celebration but wants to get a little more of her Brazilian dance going!
Tools Players Use to Build Their Confidence
Athletes typically build a mindset of focus, determination, and grit to boost their performance on the field. Off the field, players utilize visualization, manifestation, and breathing techniques to help keep their focus. In Torrero’s unique role as both a model and a professional soccer player, the set of challenges she faces nearly doubles in her dual industries.
“As a model, you are criticized as a woman, on your body, on your appearance, and on your age,” said Torrero. “As an athlete, you’re criticized on your performance, but what I can say is that I’ve found peace in the quiet moments and I’ve found confidence in the things that I know that are most valuable about myself and that’s how I try to impact the people in my world: my family and the people that love and value me.”
While winning is the name of the game, setbacks, losses, injuries and bad days are an inevitable part of the journey. Alozie shared how she frames those moments on and off the field.
“I try to think of setbacks as a great opportunity for a comeback,” said Alozie. “I realize that the setback is happening now, but in 2 weeks from now, I’ll be so thankful that I went through that and I just have to grow from that and move on from that and just learn from all of my battles.”
Beyond the Game
With an NWSL season that runs February through November, players shared how they find joy and self expression outside the sport.
Houston Dash and Mexican National Team forward Diana Ordóñez uses a mix of fashion and faith to stay grounded.
“Fashion is a really big passion of mine,” said Ordóñez as she prepared for a full shoot day. “Being able to express myself in a different kind of way other than on the field is something I’m excited to do.”
Off the field, Alozie is a Research Technician working in the pediatric leukemia research lab at Texas Children's Hospital.
“I knew it was always a dream of mine and a goal of mine to attain when I’m done with playing soccer and so to be able to do those concurrently right now is amazing. It also helps me mentally to just completely shut off my soccer brain and do something completely different that is so meaningful and worthwhile to my life”.
The full episodes of Ready to Play are available across Indivisa.com, GOAL.com and YouTube, with exclusive cutdowns running across OTT channels, TikTok, Instagram and select women’s lifestyle and sports sites. Look out for more episodes coming soon!
