By OkayGoal 
Some players may not always remain in the spotlight, but that doesn’t make their stories any less worth remembering. Ella Masar is one of those players. While she might not have the same name recognition as some of her peers, her journey is just as compelling. Throughout her career, Masar faced countless challenges—and overcame them. Today, she’s living proof that resilience pays off, and she’s truly living the dream.
Troubled Childhood
Masar has gone through a lot since her childhood. She spoke time and time again about how her family didn’t have a lot of money when she was growing up. Both her parents were alcoholics as well. It didn’t help that her mother was diagnosed as bipolar. Through all of this, Masar stayed determined. She kept going until she achieved what the younger version of her probably never imagined possible.
“When you’re between 14 and 18 you don’t really ever understand why things are going the way they are. You care a lot about what people think and you think people judge you on your parents and your lifestyle. That was one of the hardest lessons but now, at 32, I look back and I’m so proud of what I grew up in and I know it shaped me to be who I am today,” she said in a previous interview with Rich Laverty.
Ella Masar’s Club Career
During her time as a player, Masar went around the globe as she joined one club after another. She played in the United States, France, and Germany, too. The number of countries she lived in reached eight. Ella Masar has left her mark on every team she played for, including the Houston Dash, Paris Saint-Germain, VfL Wolfsburg, FC Rosengard, and the Chicago Red Stars. She won the Bundesliga with Vfl Wolfsburg. She also won the Cups in Norway, Sweden, Germany, and France. While at the Chicago Red Stars, she was named the team’s Golden Boot winner in 2010.
Masar played the game for a long time, and she left behind her a rich history of achievements. But Masar’s achievements weren’t just on the pitch, but off it as well. She previously played in the now-defunct WPS league for MagicJack. When the owner, Dan Borislow, was accused of creating a hostile and oppressive environment, Masar made sure to speak out about what she witnessed.
“I spoke out publicly about what I’d seen, but not everyone agreed. For me, there was no other choice—I just felt like I had to do the right thing. I can’t judge anyone else’s actions, because you never know what someone is going through. And I can say that now, because I’ve had time to think it over and let it be,” she said in an article for Women’s Health.
Transitioning to Coaching
Following her career as a soccer player, Masar became a coach. Masar’s passion for coaching didn’t appear suddenly; “I always knew I wanted to coach, because I did it for most of my career, teaching kids as young as 13 years old while I was still playing. I coached a seventh division men’s team in Germany that was made up of all refugees, and it was such a rewarding experience,” she told Women’s Health.
Masar’s determination led her to make her coaching dream a reality. She was previously a coach at Kansas City Current, where she spent the 2022 NWSL season. She also spent some time at Real Madrid. Masar’s latest move was joining the Chicago Red Stars as Assistant Coach in 2023. It’s easy to understand why the team would sign her, especially since she has a UEFA A and B coaching license.
“You know, they say, there is nothing quite like coming ‘home’ and after leaving Chicago in 2012, just over 10 years later, I can’t wait to do just that. I am honored, excited and ready to help CRS bring home its first ever NWSL championship and I wouldn’t be coming here if I didn’t think that was possible,” said Masar through the Chicago Red Stars official website.
Joining the USWNT
Now, Ella Masar’s coaching career is coming to a full circle moment. The Chicago Red Stars’ assistant coach was called to join the April camp by Emma Hayes. Hayes previously coached the Chicago Red Stars, and she has drafted Masar.
“It really feels like a full circle moment. We’re standing here at Seatgeek Stadium, and I’m thinking back to when Emma was down on this field coaching me —what was it, 2008 or 2009? So to now be part of her staff is incredibly meaningful,” said Masar in a statement.
“It’s been great to see Ella again, having drafted her as a young player in Chicago, and experiencing you know how she’s developing as a coach firsthand. She’s got great energy to her and think she connects well with everybody, players and stuff alike,” said Emma Hayes to the press. Hayes’s inviting young coaches like Masar to camps is one of the many ways she is changing the USWNT.
Ella Masar Transcends the Game
Ella Masar has more to her than being a former player and an assistant coach. She is also a mother. She shared how this opportunity with the USWNT will be a learning moment for her as a mother.
“What’s also powerful for me is seeing Emma not just as a coach, but as a mum. I know what it’s like to juggle work and family, and the guilt that can come with both. Watching how she balances winning, leading, and motherhood – that’s a huge learning moment for me. It’s about respect. She’s showing what it mean to succeed on and off the pitch,” said Masar.
Embracing Her Queerness
A huge part of Masar’s character is her queerness. She has been out since 2015, but it wasn’t an easy journey. Masar might not realize that, but she surely inspired many. “At the same time, I know I am the way I am, and I will never feel ashamed for loving someone again in my life,” she said in an interview with SportSpiel. “When I look back, I realise how lucky I was that my mum loved me no matter what,” she added.
Just the Beginning for Ella Masar
Ella Masar joining the USWNT is well-deserved. She is someone who chased the game all over the world and you can easily recognize her love for soccer. To her, it’s more than a game. “I think football was my psychiatrist,” she told SportSpiel. Today, no one can forget the kind of player Masar was. She is someone you can’t forget about.
Image via @emasar3 on Instagram
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