Amber Brooks grew up with a women's professional soccer team one hour away and soaked in every moment of every up-close experience she could get.
Brooks, now a midfielder with the Dash, was obsessed with the Philadelphia Charge of the Women's United Soccer Association. She knew all the players, like Heather Mitts and Hope Solo. She had season tickets. She played on its U-13 select team.
In 2003, three seasons after the team debuted, it dissolved with the rest of the league.
"I was that 9-year old who always wanted autographs," Brooks said. "At the time, I thought I would grow up to play for the Charge.