It is not only that Michelle Alozie plays for the Houston Dash in the National Women’s Soccer League in the US, or that she recently won an African championship with Nigeria — the Yale grad also helps conduct pediatric cancer research at Texas Children’s Hospital.
Alozie’s dual careers sprang from necessity because — in the days before the NWSL adopted its first collective-bargaining agreement in 2022 — she was uncertain whether she could earn a livable wage in soccer.
“I remember telling my boss that football was my main priority and I just needed kind of like something on the side to make sure that, if needed, my resume was still there,” she said. “I’m still in the medical field and I’m ready if my football life doesn’t pan out.”
Photo: AP
The child of Nigerian immigrants, Alozie originally played at Yale, where she graduated with a degree in molecular biology, but finished her career with Tennessee. After going undrafted, she played in Kazakhstan for a year before trying out for the Dash in 2021.
At about that time she also got a call from Randy Waldrum, Nigeria’s American coach, who was scrambling to find eligible players after the Super Falcons arrived in the US for a game without a full squad because of visa issues.
“I think it was since I was in college that I wanted to play for the Super Falcons, but I didn’t really know how to get on their radar,” Alozie said. “So for it to happen this way, and for me to play my first professional football game on a national team as opposed to the club side, it was just kind of crazy.”
She went on to play under Waldrum in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Nigeria advanced to the round-of-16 before falling on penalties to England after a hard-fought scoreless draw.
Alozie grabbed attention during the match when England’s Lauren James stepped on her, drawing a red card.
Alozie also played for Nigeria at the Paris Olympics last year, adding Olympian to a growing collection of honors.
Then this summer she helped Nigeria win the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations. The Super Falcons had dubbed their bid for a 10th African championship “Mission X.”
A versatile defender, Alozie had one of the most memorable goals of the tournament. She sent a long-ball forward from distance and it bounced into the goal in stoppage-time to give Nigeria a 2-1 victory over South Africa, putting the Super Falcons in the championship match. Nigeria went on to defeat hosts Morocco 3-2 for the title.
In the US, Alozie works several days a week at Texas Children’s Hospital in addition to playing for the Dash.
Her supervisor, Alexandra Stevens, said she did not know when Alozie applied that she was also a professional athlete.
Alozie asked if she could contribute as a researcher while continuing her soccer career and the hospital agreed.
Alozie’s immediate focus is on the second half of the season with the Dash, who are in a rebuilding phase after finishing at the bottom of the NWSL last year.
Under new coach Fabrice Gautrat, the team have made modest gains.
“The playoff push is still there, we’re still very much focused on that. We see the changes being implemented in our culture and how we want to play in the overall identity of the Houston Dash being built,” Alozie said. “So that is something super positive, not only for right now, but for the future.”
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