Casey Phair ready for professional debut

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. -- Casey Phair debuted at the World Cup at 16. She had never played a day of professional soccer but faced and held her own against the best players in the world. 

Less than a year later, the young forward signed with Angel City. But one thing has remained unchanged: she has yet to debut professionally. 

That may change soon, though. 

Head coach Becki Tweed said Phair would appear during the NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup. Phair was unavailable for the first match against Club América but trained fully ahead of Angel City’s match versus Bay on Friday.

“She is available for selection,” Tweed said. “I'm excited to give her the opportunity. 

Tweed allows competition in training to guide squad selection. She wants to ensure the time is right for young players to debut, setting up well for development.

That moment could be Friday for Phair. 

"Casey has put in an insane amount of work over the last month," Tweed said. "Her growth has been huge. The moment she gets her debut is going to be a moment that she deserves. Hopefully that will be tomorrow.”

Phair has learned how to be a professional with Angel City. She has worked on recovery and lifting and is looking to improve daily.

In July, Phair spent extra time after training working on her game. She practiced finishing, gained confidence, and now finds the back of the net more.

“The transition from club to professional is crazy, but I'm learning a lot, which was my goal when I came [to Angel City],” Phair said. “I'm really happy with my time here. I haven't played yet, but I still feel like I've learned so much playing with the players we have on the team and with the coaching.” 

Phair has also gained confidence elsewhere. She is a teammate of some of her idols, including World Cup winners Christen Press and Sydney Leroux. They have mentored Phair as she looks to make her mark.

“[Press] has helped me a lot,” Phair said. “I've grown more comfortable speaking to her. I was a little bit shy and scared because she's Christen Press. 

The older players on this team are super encouraging. They are just people who want to help you and want you to get better. That has been so helpful. I'm grateful for them reaching out first and being eager to help.”

In June, Phair knocked off more nerves as she faced forward Mallory Swanson, a player she has looked up to “for so long.” They played when South Korea took on the United States Women’s National Team (USWNT). 

Although Phair grew up in the United States, her mom is from South Korea, so she represents that country. 

“I was more nervous for the U.S. games than at the World Cup because all the U.S. stars have been my idols since I was a little kid,” Phair said. “That was nerve-wracking… it made me really happy and proud to play against the country I grew up in with the country I now represent. 

With increased self-assurance and knowledge of being a professional, Phair is on the verge of making her Angel City debut. But she plans to continue developing. 

“For growth, it just starts on the training pitch,” Phair said. “[I want] to keep putting in the work that I am putting in now, keep working hard on the training field, and hopefully to apply it into the game.”

Phair has taken the necessary steps to grow as a soccer player, and her work is being noticed. 

“Her growth as a teenager and as a footballer is massive,” Tweed said. “The [NWSL] doesn't care how old you are; the league cares how you are going to show up every single day as a pro.. We have challenged her. She's been patient. She's had her ups and downs, and it happens. 

When she gets her moment, she is ready for it.”

Phair’s journey is just getting started. Her first professional appearance could be the first of many games for the teenage phenom with a strong work ethic.