Payton Linnehan - Way More Than a Footballer
For all the talk of the incredible player she is, Payton Linnehan is an even better person. She has an incredible family that has supported every step of the way, but they also have inspired her.
This is part one of a two-part feature on Portland’s newest rookie sensation, Payton Linnehan. Be on the lookout for part two soon!
After being selected 11th overall in the first round of the 2024 NWSL Draft, Payton "Peeps" Linnehan has absolutely brought it on the pitch for the Portland Thorns.
On May 1st, she got her first start at Bay FC. Like a fairytale, Linnehan scored minutes into the match. Soph Smith drove and found her for a left-footed rocket.
If the story couldn’t get any better she scored her first goal at home in front of 20,000 fans at Providence Park against their rivals, Seattle Reign.
Although she is living one of her dreams of being a footballer, Payton Linnehan has never lost sight of what is most important to her, family.
“I owe my parents and my family everything. The things they have sacrificed my whole life, just to be able to bring it into practices, to games, and traveling all the way across the world to watch me play. I'm so grateful for it.”
She credits her parents, Sean and Sheri Linnehan and two older siblings (brother & sister), Austin and Brooke for all playing a massive part in her journey. Sean played football while Sheri was a cheerleader and ran track.
Where did she get all of her athletic talent? The debate is still ongoing. One thing that is not in question, is how both parents have always been there for their daughter.
“We haven't settled the debate yet” said Linnehan. “They've done so much for me and there have obviously been periods of my life where, like soccer had been really hard and mentally and taxing, especially with the [youth] national team in high school. My parents have learned to know exactly what I need, when I need it.”
Brooke is two years older, but was a role model for Payton growing up. They both also played soccer.
“My sister was a big role model for me growing up, not just on the field, but off the field too” said Peeps.
Payton Linnehan has learned to live life through a completely different lens (viewpoint) through her brother, Austin.
“My brother, he is a few years older than me” said Payton. “He has autism and that's another thing. Just in over the years, figuring out the reason why I play when things get hard and that kind of thing — he's definitely a big reason for that. He isn't able to do any of the things that I do. He's non-verbal and I think it's just allowed me to see things from a new lens and from a new perspective — that not everybody has the same opportunities as me or even, you know, the same supportive parents that I do. So, just trying to be grateful for all of those things and they've all played such a pivotal role in my ability to be a professional soccer player.”
Sean, Sherri, Brooke, and Austin have always been there for her. She is beyond appreciative for their major part in helping achieve her dreams.
For many, the dream is to make it as a professional athlete. However, Payton Linnehan strives for so much more. She wants to make a real impact, difference, and help people.
At Penn State, she graduated with a psychology major. She plans on getting her masters in either education, special education, or psychology once she gets settled in Portland.
“I've always wanted to do something with special education just because I've been around my brother and people like him for my whole life” said Linnehan. “Like that's always something I'm very passionate about. Something along those lines, I almost majored in communication sciences and disorders. It's something a little similar just helping people with those kinds of disabilities. I feel like I'm a very compassionate person and I want to help people like that. So I definitely see myself doing something like that in the future.”
Austin has inspired her to see the world with a whole new perspective. Payton’s compassion and empathy towards others, is character in the highest order.
“I mean, he's the best. So right now he's living in a separate house and then my parents will pick him up every weekend. He was in high school till he was 22 [and] went to a school in Boston. The school in Boston was for all kids with autism. I think it kind of just like opened my eyes to not even just like what he faces every day, but even just the way that my parents have raised him — how like much they love him unconditionally and the way that they've like made his life the happiest it could possibly be. I know that's not the case for every kid in there. That breaks my heart.”
Being different has very often been looked down upon for the worse in society. The lack of understanding we have for one another has always made it even more difficult. What Payton Linnehan is trying to accomplish off the pitch is quite special.
“There's a lot of, you know, things that can go wrong — because with autism, like in terms of people that take care of them having not enough patience, things happening, and that makes me really sad. I've seen some of Austin's teachers in the past, how much like they care about him, and about what they do. I know that I would have the same passion for that. He's a big reason for why I play soccer. Seeing it firsthand all my life, it’s definitely inspired me to want to do something along that path.”
Austin was in attendance for all her soccer games and loved being there. Payton is hoping the entire family will make another trip to Portland to see her play this time (they were in town for the Washington Spirit home match when she was still injured).
The media often falls short in highlighting the real people athletes are. The focus has typically been achievements in their respective sports — and that fails to capture everything that these human beings are. We should all celebrate the person Payton Linnehan is — both on and off the pitch. Doing anything less would be a disservice.
What sets her apart as a human being is the fact that she wants to find understanding and empathy with everyone, especially those who aren’t as fortunate. Her love and compassion for her family and the people who need it most will make her successful as a professional footballer and to every individual she’ll help in the future. There’s no doubt she’ll be able to dominate on the soccer pitch, classroom, and making a real impact in the world.
This was just wonderful, Phuoc. You happened to express in your introductory sentence a Thorns fan mantra which I've been thinking as long as the franchise has existed: "She's an amazing player but an even better person." I've thought that over and over about dozens of Thorns and that certainly goes for Payton. This was one of the most moving Thorns profiles I've read; many, many thanks.
She has a great story, Phuoc, thanks for sharing it!