Ali Krieger
This pro-soccer player was the captain of her college team when she was a senior at Penn State. Right after graduation, her career began with the Washington Freedom, and by 2008, the U.S women’s national team was calling her up to play in the Summer Olympics. FOX named her one of Soccer’s Best 11 for her incredible efforts as a right back in the FIFA Women’s World Cup match.
She had a serious injury to her knee a few years later, which is terrible for any athlete to experience (or anyone, for that matter), but she was right back on the field not long after her surgery. Aside from being an awesome soccer player, she’s also got a huge heart, which she makes apparent through her philanthropic work. She works with several non-profit organizations, including MiracleFeet and Athlete Ally, which fights for the equality of all sexual orientations within the pro sports world.
