Taylor Aylmer is used to finding calm amongst the chaos, and she’s never felt more motivated. After winning a National Women’s Soccer League Championship with the Washington Spirit in 2021, the 25-year-old midfielder is ready to bring a title to her new team Spokane Zephyr FC.
“It’s hard to put into words how special it feels to be part of this,” Aylmer said. “This new league is bringing so much excitement.”
Although the team is far from the New York native’s home, she sees in Spokane a team that shares her values, a place that feels like home, and a city that is already invested in the brand new club.
“From my first conversations with everyone involved at the club, I saw they had a very clear framework for their values and what they want this club to represent which is something that so deeply aligns with how I view myself as a player,” Aylmer said. “It was such an easy decision and it immediately felt like home and the right place for me.”
The enthusiastic embrace from the city of Spokane is already apparent to Aylmer and her teammates. In July, the squad visited its brother team, Velocity FC, and received a standing ovation from the crowd, a moment that will stick with Aylmer for many years to come.
“It was the first time the whole team was together and I got chills standing at the game,” Aylmer recalled. “The city is so genuinely excited to have a women’s team and it just makes this all the more special.”
With the season slated to start in just a few weeks, Aylmer is ready to take all that she’s learned to her new team in a new league. She is prepared to bring her insight from her professional career and help motivate and encourage her club, raising the standards both on and off the field.
“I hope I can bring a sense of calmness in the chaos,” Aylmer said. “It’s a new league, so who knows what the season will bring. Seasons are long. In the past I’ve been on teams with plenty of chaos, so I hope that I can bring a voice of calmness and steadiness.”
For Zephyr coach Jo Johnson, it was both Aylmer’s leadership and playing style that made her confident she was the perfect fit to the team.
“Taylor was a crucial signing for our club, valued not just for her on field abilities but also for her leadership and the extensive playing experience she brings to the locker room,” Johnson said. “When forming a team in a new professional league, it was important to sign players who align with the organization’s vision and can establish the club’s standards and values through their conduct. Taylor meets all these criteria, and we are already relying on her leadership during preseason as we gear up for the upcoming season.”
Throughout Aylmer’s professional career, she has never forgotten what motivates her during the inevitable ups and downs. It is her internal motivation that has helped her through pre-season, getting to know her teammates and their style of play, and finding joy in the moment when it all comes together.
“For me, it’s the pure joy I get when I’m on the field,” Aylmer said. “We’re a team with about 20 girls who have never played together and we have to figure out how to become a team in a few weeks. It’s that feeling when it clicks, how good it feels to look like a team that’s been playing together for months and to have built those connections, that feeling is what motivates me.”
As Aylmer prepares for the start of another season, she’s ready to explore a new city, finding the best coffee spots along the way. Most of all, she’s excited for soccer fans in Spokane to see good soccer played by great players, an opportunity that has only been made possible with the Super League.
“This is such a great opportunity for fans to support the women’s game, continue to see it grow, and give opportunities for players to play closer to home in the states,” Aylmer said.
From the front office to the coaching staff to her fellow players, Aylmer’s experience has already been fantastic, and she’s looking forward to this translating to the team’s on-field results.She is confident that the team will have no problems navigating whatever chaos comes their way while building a legacy for Spokane.
“Our whole team is already such a cohesive group of good people and that’s what’s going to make this experience so fun to be part of,” Aylmer said. “In five to ten years, I’m going to look back at this and know I was there at the beginning. It’s so cool to be part of this moment.”