Portland, Ore. • Jaelene Hinkle chose not to play for the U.S. women’s national team last year because her religious beliefs prevented her from wearing a jersey that commemorated LGBTQ Pride Month.
Hinkle revealed the reason for her decision last June in an interview with the Christian talk show The 700 Club, which posted a video Wednesday on its website. No reason for her absence was given by the national team at the time.
“I just felt so convicted in my spirit that it wasn’t my job to wear this jersey,” she said.
A defender, Hinkle plays for the North Carolina Courage of the National Women’s Soccer League.