STATESBORO, Ga. – As South Georgia Tormenta FC Women gears up for its inaugural USL W League kickoff in May 2022, the club looks forward to making a positive impact and inspiring female athletes across South Georgia and the Lowcountry of South Carolina.
By showcasing firsthand experiences, Empowering the 912 dives into how Tormenta Women will personally impact girls across the region. First up is 13-year-old TFC Academy midfielder Abbigale Akins of Rincon, Georgia, who competes on the 2008 Girls Ibis team.
“Tormenta has no clue how great they have been for Abbi and her confidence as a player,” Abbigale’s mother, Georgia Akins, commented. “Abbi was always the shy kid on the field that didn’t believe in herself until we made the switch to Tormenta a few years ago. Tormenta is an amazing club, and we’re so happy we found it.”
Q&A with Abbigale Akins
How did you first get involved with Tormenta FC?
I switched to Tormenta FC Academy in 2018 because my confidence was struggling at my other club, and I thought that Tormenta could help me with that.
What does Tormenta FC’s new women’s team mean to you?
Having a local pre-professional women’s team means a lot to me because you don’t see a lot of women’s teams in our area, and they can be an inspiration to so many players, including me. It’s going to be an amazing addition to Tormenta FC.
What is it like having more female role models in the community?
It’s exciting to know that we have these female role models in the community because you can go watch them in person and learn from what they’re doing on the field and then maybe even one day be able to play alongside them.
What are you most looking forward to this season?
I’m most looking forward to having a local women’s team around this area that players can go watch.
Who is your biggest inspiration?
One player that inspires me is Alex Morgan. I’ve looked up to her since I was little, and she’s always been a big inspiration to me.
What is your favorite soccer memory?
My favorite soccer memory is when I scored a game-winning goal for my TFC Academy team in a Charleston tournament.
In June of 2021, Tormenta FC was named a founding member of the USL W League, an elite pre-professional pathway for women looking to build their careers both on and off the pitch. Led by Head Coach Jim Robbins, Tormenta FC Women will kick off in May and end with the W League Playoffs and W League Final in late July.
Tormenta Women has already announced several top talents to its inaugural roster like TFC Academy forward Elise Holcey, University of South Carolina Beaufort midfielder Madison Foshee and Western Illinois University forward Amy Andrews.
Aspiring footballers can try out for Tormenta FC Women at its final open trial on Sunday, Feb 6, at the Tormenta FC Training Grounds at The Clubhouse in Statesboro, Georgia.
To stay up to date on Tormenta FC’s new women’s team, fans can follow Tormenta Women on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. To learn more about the USL W League, visit USLWLeague.com or follow the W League on Twitter at @USLWLeague.
