From the Club Team to Big Ten Champion: Avery Nguyen’s Come up Story
The club soccer walk-on who helped make Washington history
Avery Nguyen started on the club team at Washington before trying out and earning a spot on varsity as a walk-on. Now in her senior year, she has helped the Huskies win their first-ever Big Ten Championship and the program’s first regular season crown since 2000.
We interviewed Nguyen to learn more about her journey from the club team to the Huskies’ DI roster. ⬇️
Andrew McDevitt (Host): Washington senior Avery Nguyen joins us. Avery, you're a part of the first Big Ten regular season championship team in Washington Women's Soccer history. How does it feel to be a part of that?
It's a pretty surreal feeling. Coming from the beginning of the year when we set our goals, this being one of them to win the Big Ten Conference... I'm just super proud of the whole team, and I'm grateful to be a part of it. Hopefully we can keep pushing towards our other goals.
You mentioned in the beginning of the year, the very first game of the season, you scored your first Division I goal. Did you know right at that moment that this was gonna be a special year?
Scoring a goal was one of my main goals. It's a simple goal, but, just not having scored one before, everyone kept telling me, “You're gonna get one, you're gonna get one.” And I'm glad I finally got one because once you get the first one, it helps [get you] rolling. The coaches challenged me to deepen my impact this year, so I've been trying to do that.
You started your career at Washington on the club soccer team. How was that experience for you, and is it surprising for you to be sitting there now as a Big Ten Champion?
I had an awesome experience on the club team. It was super cool to be able to keep playing soccer in college because I didn't think that I would be able to. I [had] fun, and I made a lot of great friends. I'm still friends with them, and they come out and support at a lot of the games.
I definitely wouldn't be here without them, so shout out to the club team. It is crazy thinking that I'm a Big Ten Champion now. I remember my freshman year, I went to one of the games with one of my club teammates, and I never thought that I would be here.
You were a champion that year, correct? Your club team won some type of championship?
Yeah, I think it was the director's cup or something.
You had a ton of success that year scoring. You were the leading scorer on the club team. How quickly did that transition into you being on the Division I team?
From the time that Nicole, our head coach, texted me, it was a pretty quick turnaround. But when I came to school here, I was hoping to walk onto the team. Obviously, they didn't know who I was, so I didn't come in knowing that I would have a spot. I texted her in December, and I never got a response.
Then in Mid-July, she reached out to me. She just texted and asked, “Would you hop on a call with me?” I called her, and she said, “We would love for you to try out for the team if that's something you're interested in.” I had a super quick two-week turnaround, and then drove up to Seattle.
So you were really planning to just go into your sophomore year as a student, and then all of a sudden in July, you get that text, and next thing you know, you're on the pitch training to be on the Husky soccer team?
Yeah, I think I was coming back from my sister's dance competition in Florida when [coach] texted me, and I was like, “Oh my gosh, what is happening right now?” But it was super exciting.
Yeah, I bet! Were you in shape, ready to go?
Yes. I was definitely not in the shape that I'm in now, but I tried to keep up with my fitness. I would lift and do the fitness that I [did] in high school, so I wasn't in terrible shape. I was able to keep up a little bit, but definitely not the best.
Was it a challenging transition, going from the club level to Division I, and then obviously you transitioned now into the Big Ten?
Yeah. Club is a high level, but DI is definitely a lot faster and more physical, and people have more skill.
You've been a part of the team for a handful of years, but to see your name on the score sheet and put the ball in the back of the net a couple of times. What has that feeling been like, knowing that you fulfilled what you went to college to do and be a Division I soccer player?
It's still kind of hard to believe sometimes. When I scored the goal against Minnesota, I didn't really realize it at first. But it's great to make an impact.
It seems like this group is particularly close. When did that happen, and how has that helped generate production on the pitch?
We've had a lot of returners over the past 2 or 3 years. A lot of the upperclassmen have been here forever, so just continuing to bring in the freshmen and transfers... that obviously helps on the pitch.
Think back to 2022, and where you are now as a Big Ten Champion. What would you have said to yourself entering college as a club team member?
Probably to run more. Just to be ready because things are unexpected, and [I] definitely was not expecting this opportunity.
What would it mean to you guys to continue this run and win a Big Ten Tournament Championship?
It would be super exciting. We're just taking each game as it comes. We have bigger goals, but [we’re] just focusing on each game and not getting ahead of ourselves. I know for me it would be exciting to play in Kansas City [for the NCAA Women’s College Cup] because it's where my home is. So hopefully we can continue and make it as far as we can.
How many friends and family would make that trip to see you play with an opportunity to play in the NCAA semifinals or the championship?
I would hope most of them, because they're all around the area, so they don't have any excuse.
Avery, great meeting you. Congrats on all your success this year and best of luck heading into this weekend in the postseason.
Thank you.