Team USA Women’s Soccer Lone Caribbean Roots Player

Amy Rodriguez

News Americas, VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Mon. July 6, 2015: Team USA women’s soccer team overcame 15 years of bad luck last night to take the win in the 2015 Women’s Soccer World Cup finals held in B.C. And in the predominantly Caucasian team was one player whose roots run to the Caribbean.

Amy Rodriguez, who up until earlier this summer was written off as unlikely to get a spot on coach Jill Ellis’ 23-woman roster, is Cuban-American. Her paternal grandparents were from Cuba and immigrated to the United States in the 1950s.

The 28-year-old, nicknamed ‘A-Rod,’ was part of the history making team who took home the gold last night for their squad and fans around the country and the world who cheered them on.

Rodriguez started playing soccer at a very young age and plays for FC Kansas City in the NWSL.

“It’s surprising that I’m the only Latina player on the team,” she told Fox News Latino recently.”I think it will change in the future.”

Born in Beverly Hills, California, to parents John and Lori, Rodriguez grew up in Lake Forest, California and attended Santa Margarita Catholic High School in Rancho Santa Margarita, California, where she was a Parade All-American in 2003 and 2004 and the Gatorade Player of the Year in 2005.

Carli Lloyd scored a hat trick for Team U.S. as the women burst to a four-goal lead in the first 16 minutes. From then it was no looking back for the Americans who defeated defending champion Japan 5-2 Sunday for their record third championship and first since 1999.