As senior Angelica Chou limped off the soccer field, her right knee screaming in pain, the reality of a torn ACL began to set in. Panic swept through her. One year later, however, Chou committed to play Division I soccer at the University of Washington.
Chou committed to UW at the end of April this year, but she was just five years old when she first donned her soccer cleats. At age seven, she made the leap to playing club soccer competitively.
Chou additionally played club basketball starting in fourth grade and opted to play varsity basketball instead of varsity soccer as a freshman. “Everybody goes through their ups and downs in sports, especially if […] you’ve had pressure to perform well most of your life; my ‘soccer down’ was freshman year,” Chou said. By 10th grade, however, she decided it was soccer she wanted to play at collegiately.
Just as she was gearing up for the intense college recruiting process, disaster struck. A torn ACL during her club spring season took her off the field for a year, dealing a heavy blow to her recruiting prospects. “It’s probably every athlete’s worst nightmare,” Chou said. “I went from playing two sports to one to zero in a matter of months.”
Despite the physical pain, it was the mental aspect of recovery that proved most challenging for Chou. Yet, this low point also became a turning point. “I was always motivated, but the injury gave me a new kind of drive,” Chou said.
Chou felt the need to re-prove her worth as a collegiate level athlete, ultimately making her a stronger player. “It’s impressive how she’s persevered even after having an injury that sets people back a lot,” junior Julia Axelrod, her Menlo teammate, said.
While many colleges hesitate to reach out to players after large injuries, UW showed faith in Chou early on. To Chou, this was one of the first aspects that set UW apart from other schools. “They believed in my ability to come back fully,” Chou said.
Her official visit to UW in January 2024 decided her commitment. “Talking to the players, seeing the facilities, stepping onto campus — it all felt right,” she said. “I could see myself being happy there.”
Girls soccer head coach Ross Ireland said he is excited about Chou’s opportunity to play NCAA soccer at a prominent school. “To be to be pursued and selected by a school soccer program like this, it really is a feather in her cap,” Ireland said. “I have zero doubt that she will make an impact.”
As Chou prepares for her transition to DI soccer, she’s also keeping her academic goals in focus. “I could see myself pursuing playing at the professional level, but obviously UW has great academic programs, so I’m open to both paths.”
One thing is certain: soccer will be something she carries with her. “Regardless of what my future is, soccer will always be a part of my life,” Chou said.
