At High Performance Academy, we believe in the power of sports to inspire, challenge, and empower athletes of all ages—especially young girls looking to carve their own paths in sports. Today, on National Girls & Women in Sports Day, we’re shining a light on two incredible women who are not only accomplished athletes but also dedicated coaches and mentors: Sydney Smith and Valentina Vivas.
From Players to Mentors
Sydney Smith, our School Programs Manager, and Valentina Vivas, our Camp Coordinator, both have deep roots in the game of soccer. Sydney, who also coaches the Clovis North Frosh Girls Soccer Team, started playing soccer in kindergarten with a brief stint in dance, and eventually played at Clovis North High School before continuing her collegiate soccer career at Azusa Pacific University, where she played for three years and graduated in record time.
Valentina, now the Assistant Coach at Clovis West, started playing soccer at the age of eight while simultaneously competing in equestrian sports. By 2017, she earned a spot on the Columbian Under-20 National Team. This incredible experience led to her recruitment at Fresno State, where she played at the collegiate level before transitioning into coaching.
Learn More about Our team & Watch the full clip on YouTube:
Join the Movement
We invite everyone to celebrate and support the girls and women in sports who are making a difference. Whether it’s signing up for a sports camp, attending a game, or just recognizing the achievements of female athletes, every step forward makes an impact.
Happy National Girls & Women in Sports Day from all of us at High Performance Academy!
About the Women’s Sports Foundation
The Women’s Sports Foundation® (WSF®) exists to enable girls and women to reach their potential in sport and life. We are an ally, an advocate, and a catalyst for tomorrow’s leaders. Founded by Billie Jean King in 1974, we are one of the first organizations to recognize the powerful connection between sport access, equity, and society. For 50 years and counting, WSF has been changing the game through its research, advocacy, and community programming, investing over $100 million to help girls and women play, compete, and lead – in sports and beyond – without barriers. A leader and champion of the entire women’s sports ecosystem, WSF amplifies the vital societal and cultural impact that is made when girls and women play sports. When girls play, they lead, and we all win!TM To learn more about the Women’s Sports Foundation, please visit www.WomensSportsFoundation.org.
About National Girls & Women in Sports Day
National Girls & Women in Sports Day® (NGWSD®) was co-founded by the Women’s Sports Foundation in 1987 as a special day in our nation’s capital to recognize women’s sports. The day united premiere organizations and elite women athletes to bring national attention to the promise of girls and women in sports. In 1987, NGWSD also served as a remembrance of Olympic volleyball player Flo Hyman for her athletic achievements and dedication to promoting equality for women’s sports; Hyman died of Marfan’s Syndrome in 1986. NGWSD has since evolved into an event to acknowledge the accomplishments of girls and women in sports, the positive influence of sports participation and the continuing struggle for equality for women in sports. NGWSD is powered by the Women’s Sports Foundation, supported by its team of champion athletes and celebrated throughout the year by schools and community-serving organizations across all 50 states. Learn more here, and follow the hashtag #NGWSD2025 on social media.
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