Rally Madison FC, the city’s new pre-professional women’s soccer team, has announced the formation of a club advisory board as the team prepares for its inaugural USL W League season beginning later this month.
The board is made up of Wisconsin sports figures and community leaders who will support player development both on and off the pitch. Areas of focus include financial literacy, NIL and brand building, media training, mental health support, career pathways from amateur to professional play, and community engagement.
Activities will include workshops and training sessions as well as one-on-one mentorship throughout the year, extending beyond the season itself, team officials said.
The club said the advisory board is intended to help its pre-professional athletes build lifelong skills and prepare for life beyond soccer.
The board members:
Lauren Sesselmann will focus on mental health advocacy and mentorship. A Green Bay native, Sesselmann played in the WPS, NWSL, and for the Canadian national team, appearing in the 2015 FIFA World Cup and winning a bronze medal at the 2012 London Olympics. She has been an outspoken advocate for athlete mental health.
Jay DeMerit will work on athlete development. DeMerit played in MLS and England’s Premier League and represented the U.S. Men’s National Team.
Mason Crosby will lend expertise in leadership. Crosby was a kicker for the Green Bay Packers and holds the franchise’s all-time scoring record.
Bianca Miceli will advise on NIL and brand building. Miceli was instrumental in bringing women’s volleyball to Madison through LOVB and previously spent 10 years at UW-Madison working with student-athletes on brand storytelling.
Karen Menéndez Coller will focus on community engagement. She is the executive director of Centro Hispano, a community organization focused on youth programming, immigration and family services, and community connection.
Michelle Behnke will advise on career development and leadership. Behnke is president of the American Bar Association and a member of the Boardman Clark law firm. She has received the Charles L. Goldberg Distinguished Service Award and the YWCA Women of Distinction Award.
Rally Madison FC begins play with a friendly against Chicago House AC on May 15, with its first home league match set for May 23 against Minnesota Aurora.
