By OkayGoal 
Some partnerships are born of strategy. Others are born on mountaintops.
In 2018, before Girls Soccer Network had grown into the media platform it is today, and before IDA Sports was a household name in women’s soccer footwear, a group of women climbed Mount Kilimanjaro to play a soccer match at the highest elevation on Earth. The stunt made headlines, but the purpose ran even deeper: to raise awareness for gender equity in sport. One of those women was IDA Sports founder Laura Youngson. One of the first outlets to tell that story was Girls Soccer Network.
That was also the first time that I connected with Youngson, and we’ve been walking (and running) in stride ever since. What began as a shared passion for storytelling and equity has grown into a powerful, long-term collaboration that helped both of our organizations grow alongside the women’s game itself. IDA Sports, known for its science-backed cleats designed for the female foot, became a recurring presence across GSN’s content and community — from early product spotlights to creator campaigns and digital activations.
It was the kind of alignment you don’t plan; you recognize it.
A few years later, a sophomore at the University of Iowa named Sam Angel sent a direct message to me at GSN, asking if she could intern. Within six months, we co-launched Soccerista United, a mentorship program that connects college athletes with the next generation of youth players. Sam threw herself into every aspect of the company. From managing social media, writing editorial, and creating branded content for partners like IDA, to eventually co-hosting GSN’s flagship college soccer podcast, The BIG LIFE, with Jordyn Wickes.
After graduating, Sam continued to write her own story. She was drafted into the NWSL and played for Racing Louisville. Then she took her talents overseas to Sweden’s Norrköping for two seasons. Through it all, she remained a driving force within GSN, helping shape our creative voice and values. Last year, she became an owner in the company.
And then, this summer, the stars aligned again.
Sam returned from Sweden and signed her first NWSL contract with the Chicago Stars. In a full-circle moment, she also signed her first individual brand deal. With none other than IDA Sports.
A player who had once created content for the brand was now being sponsored by it. I, a founder who had once told Laura Youngson’s story, was now watching it intersect with her own team’s. A brand that set out to change the game for women helped elevate the very people helping tell that story.
It’s not just brand synergy. It’s something deeper. A constellation of people, values, and timing. A shared belief that the women’s game deserves gear built for her, stories told by her, and platforms powered by her.
We’ll be sharing more about Sam’s responsibilities, her journey to the NWSL, and the latest IDA campaign she’s involved with. But for now, we’re just taking a moment to celebrate how far we’ve all come and how beautifully the paths have converged.
Because in this game, when the right people come together for the right reasons, anything is possible.