OUR TEAM

Kassie gray, CEO and Founder

Kassie Doubrava Gray grew up in San Jose, CA, playing soccer from the young age of 5. She played club soccer, joined the Olympic Development program at age 12 where she climbed the ladder from District Team, State Team, Regional Team and eventually made the U18 National Team. Kassie’s passion was always the camaraderie with her teammates. Kassie got a scholarship to UC Berkeley and played four years for their Division 1 program.

While at Cal, Kassie learned the value of having a strong mental game and was surrounded by amazing, independent women who inspired her to giveback to the game and the community. She coached Cal ID camps and ran clinics for inner city youth in Oakland. Kassie graduated in 2004 with a BA in Interdisciplinary Field Studies with a focus in psychology and childhood development. She then went onto San Jose State to get her multi subject teaching credential.

Kassie has been an educator and social emotional coach for 18 years. During the time her husband was playing professional soccer, she saw an opportunity to get back into the game of soccer. This came from the recognition of how different the youth soccer structure is and has changed in the last 15 years. Kassie found Female Footballers in 2014. Kassie has worked with female players from all over the country. She specializes in empowering young female athletes to have more confidence, communication skills and a growth mindset. Kassie uses her work experience from Girls Leadership, and her experience in education to develop unique curriculum around the mental side of the game.

Kassie is married and has three adorable children. Kassie hopes to help empower female soccer players by finding their voice, autonomy in their role and harness a strong mental edge.

Rachael Thomas, chief Program Officer

Rachael grew up outside of Sacramento playing many sports. The youngest with two older brothers, she never backed down from a challenge. Once in high school, Rachael focused on soccer, basketball and leadership. She finished her youth soccer career with a top level team the Davis Sidekicks, then went on to play at UC Berkeley. A “recruited walk-on,” Rachael knew it would be tough competition to even see time on the playing field. And while injuries hampered her college playing career, Rachael worked through the injuries and learned how much power there is to the mental side of the game and how important the mind set is for measuring and creating success . She continued her education at Cal, earning her M.A. in Education “Athletics and Academic Achievement.” Rachael went on to earn her teaching credential and taught in a K-2 multi-age program in Redwood City.

After becoming a mom to twins, Rachael took time to be home with her young children. She has three daughters, 13-year-old twins and a 10-year-old. She coaches all of them in their many sports endeavors. While most of Rachael’s coaching in the past 10 years has been coaching at the recreation level, she has noticed the immense need for female influences in the youth sports world at all levels.

Rachael has a passion for keeping girls involved in sports as long as possible as so many of her great memories and life lessons came through sports. She is thrilled to be a part of Female Footballers and their fantastic mission!

Sadie Brown, Mentorship Program Coordinator, Intern

College: Claremont McKenna College

Soccer Career: CMS Athenas WSOC (Captain), Pleasanton RAGE USL-W (Captain), Pleasanton RAGE ECNL (Captain), NorCal ODP & PDP

Sadie is a rising senior at Claremont McKenna College (CMC) where she is studying History with a sequence in Gender and Sexuality Studies. With a focus in Women’s Studies, Sadie hopes to delve into the roles, experiences, and achievements of women in different aspects of society. At CMC, she is the Vice President of Women Empowerment in Sports and a member of the Title IX committee. This summer she is interning for the Women’s Sports Foundation founded by Billie Jean King. As a collegiate goalkeeper and captain for the Athenas, Sadie understands the importance of communication, mental toughness, and being a positive role model and mentor for her teammates both on and off the field.