To some sports fans in America, soccer can feel far from home. But for the recently announced One Knoxville SC women's team, debuting May 10 at Covenant Health Park, soccer is deeply personal. It's uniquely Knoxville.
There's something different about the women's One Knox team compared to its male counterpart; the women's team has deep Knoxville roots. Nearly 75% of the members of the women's squad have ties to the area, whether they were born and raised here or play for the University of Tennessee at Knoxville women's soccer team.
For comparison, just one player has Knoxville ties on the men's team, with most of the roster hailing from other countries.
The women play in the W-League of the United Soccer League, whose USL League One has featured the men's One Knox club since the team jumped to the pro ranks after its inaugural 2022 season.
While Covenant Health Park's primary tenant is the Knoxville Smokies baseball team, the One Knox men's and women's teams will play a combined 23 home matches at the new Old City stadium − 17 men's games and six women's games.
Forming the women's team has been a fast-moving process. One Knox announced the team in March, but conversations about starting the club and subsequently recruiting a head coach and players began in January.
These One Knoxville SC women grew up playing soccer in Knoxville
Simon Duffy, head coach for the One Knox women's team, also is the head coach of Carson-Newman University's women's soccer team. Duffy moved here from Ireland in 1999 to play soccer for Lambuth University in Jackson.
One Knox women's soccer coach 'made the right decision' moving to TN
Duffy remembers the first time his feet touched U.S. soil after stepping off a plane at the Memphis airport, nerves swirling. He turned the corner to see 10 of his future teammates holding a Lambuth University banner.
"Immediately, I was like all right. I made the right decision. This is this is going to be great," Duffy told Knox News.
For the past two decades Duffy has been working to elevate the soccer culture and players in Tennessee the best he knows how. It's sometimes difficult for people in this region to buy into soccer, Duffy said, even though they eagerly buy into American football.
Soccer is on a different level in Europe − almost "like a religion," Duffy said. Knoxville is positioned to apply its passion for sports like football and baseball to the One Knox women's team, he said, especially since most of the players are homegrown.
Women's soccer players from Knoxville, UT get acclimated to One Knox
Kate Runyon is a forward for the University of Tennessee and made the 2023 SEC All-Freshman team. Ally Zazzara is a goalkeeper for the Vols, ranking 10th all time in career saves for the program.
But it was Norah Jacomen, a Butler University player and Hardin Valley Academy graduate, who was the first player signed to the One Knox women's team. After playing her last Knoxville game two years ago at Hardin Valley, she's returning to the city to play for thousands at Covenant Health Park.
Jacomen sat in a suite at the new stadium May 7, watching the Earthadelic crew lay sod over the baseball diamond. She knew in a few days she would play her first game for her new team at the new stadium, but she couldn't quite picture how the pitch would be positioned.
"Is it this way?" she asked, motioning toward left field.
Local connections will make One Knox women 'really special to watch'
The women's team had its first-ever practice earlier this week, and some players won't be available for the first game May 10.
"We're still figuring things out," Jacomen said. "So, if it doesn't look pretty, just be ready."
Even if the team has some growing pains, she said, there's something remarkable about watching players with Knoxville ties rally under a new city-focused identity.
"You're not just watching people from other countries or states coming together. Like, these are people who've grown up here, probably played for the club teams that your children are playing on," Jacomen said. "I think it's just because we're all from here. I think it makes it really special to watch."
The One Knox women's team takes the field at Covenant Health Park at 4 p.m. May 10 against Asheville City.
Joanna Hayes is the restaurant and retail reporter. Email: [email protected]. | Sign up for the free Eat65 newsletter
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