Wonder Woman of the Week: Natasha Kai

The Wonder Woman for this week served alongside the giants of early US Women’s soccer. While her name is often overshadowed by the more famous players like Rampone, Hamm, and Wambach; this week’s spotlight was herself a giantess on the international stage. She was a fierce forward at a time when women’s soccer was under appreciated and one of only a handful of openly gay women on the US Olympic roster. On top of all of that, she stands as one of the most important women in Native Hawaiian history as a leader in the Native Hawaiian, LGBT, and Women’s Rights communities. The Wonder Woman of the Week is Natasha Kai.

Natasha Kanani Janine Kai was born in Kahaku on the island of Oahu in Hawaii. Before becoming a professional soccer player, Kai set records as a collegiate athlete when she became the first soccer player to be names both Freshman and Player of the Year in the same season. By the end of her professional career, Kai had 446 career shots-on-goal, 72 career goals, and 162 career points. Apart from all these successes was the fact that Kai was among only two other openly gay soccer player on Team USA at a time when the LGBT community faced major backlashes in their native country. [1]

In 2008, Natasha Kai was called up to serve on the US Women’s National Team ahead of the Beijing Olympics. Her national service to Team USA did not bring her far from her home in Hawaii however. With only weeks away from the Olympic Games, Kai spent her final moments before the big tournament with her hometown helping out in the community and serving as a role model to the youth of Hawaii. [2]

The Beijing Olympics were not Natasha Kai’s first international games with Team USA and neither were they her last. The Hawaiian forward made her first goals in her first tournament at the Algarve Cup in 2206 against the Danish and French teams setting her up for a long career in the sport. In 2008, Kai had her best year for points, scoring 15 total goals in 28 total games. [3]

Natasha Kai is a heroine of Hawaiian history and a major role model in US Soccer. Her goal record alone is enough to inspire her posterity to achieve more and reach higher. But her ability to navigate the waters of oppression as both a Hawaiian Native and a lesbian at a time when both staunch racism and homophobia were major players in United States culture. Regardless of the oppression, Kai achieved major victories and broke several records both before and after graduating from college.

Dekneef, Matthew. “14 extraordinary women in Hawaii history everyone should know.” Hawaii Magazine; 9 March 2016. Web. 29 March 2017.

Tang, Jason. “Natasha Kai enjoys family time before heading to Olympics.” Hawaii News Now; nd. Web. 29 March 2017.

“Natasha Kai.” US Soccer; nd. Web. 29 March 2017.