From Finland to Dallas: A Women's Soccer Player's Journey

Dallas Trinity Football Club's Jenny Danielsson started playing soccer in Finland at age six. The midfielder, now 30 years old, recalls a group of 10 to 20 neighborhood boys of different ages, ethnicities and backgrounds pursuing sports in her backyard.

"Anytime I saw them, I put on my shoes to play," Danielsson said. "They took me in immediately and taught me how to play soccer."

Danielsson grew up in a sports-minded family, with her dad playing basketball and her mom and sister riding horses. They were always very supportive.

"They encouraged me to keep playing because they saw how much I loved having a soccer ball," Danielsson said.

Over the course of her professional career, Danielsson has accumulated 46 goals in 241 appearances. Having played youth soccer with FC Honka in Finland's top division before joining her first team at age 17, she made 70 appearances with the club before signing contracts with clubs in Sweden, Spain, and Scotland. She played over 50 games with the Swedish club AIK, 23 games in the 2022-23 campaign with Scotland's Rangers WFC, and nine games with KIF Orebro DFF in Sweden, most recently with Växjö DFF.

In her homeland, she has made 38 appearances for the Finland National Team, scoring eight goals, including three during World Cup Qualifying rounds. She also represented Finland in the U20 team.

After almost a decade of playing around Europe, she made the move to Texas in 2024. She notes that European play emphasizes tactics and technical work while U.S. teams focus on physicality and speed.

"The U.S. was an unknown territory I wanted to experience for myself," Danielsson said. "I wanted a new challenge in my career because I was feeling a little stuck."

Launched on May 16, 2023, Dallas Trinity FC is a founding member of the USL Super League and plays at Dallas' iconic Cotton Bowl Stadium. Dallas Trinity FC is the city's first professional women's soccer team, created to embrace the diverse, enterprising, and passionate flavors of Dallas. The team's name was inspired by the 710-mile Trinity River, the longest watershed entirely within Texas, with a north-to-south flow that includes east and west forks. Trinity also represents the trilogy of the past, present and future within the city's cultural and sports traditions. The DTFC logo features Art Deco typeface, the mythological flying horse Pegasus, and the river's four tributaries: West Fork, Clear Fork, Elm Fork and East Fork. The team's signature maroon color represents the hue of Dallas's eastern sunrise.

Danielsson feels she became "unstuck" when she joined the team and is glad she made the move to Dallas.

"Our club's culture allows everyone to be themselves," Danielsson said. "This group is fun, but also competitive. The owners and staff are also amazing, but the best relationships are with our fans. They make home games special."

While she's enjoyed visits to other American regions like Washington State and North Carolina, Danielsson loves Dallas and the surrounding suburbs.

"I like finding cute neighborhoods, getting coffee at cozy cafes, window shopping and people-watching," Danielsson said.

But Danielsson also remembers massive culture shock when she first moved to Texas. In Finland, there are only about three months of the warm season, followed by eight long months of dark and cold. Most Scandinavian roads have two car lanes compared to the large six lane highways in the States. She also notes that Americans tend to be bubbly and talkative, while northern Europeans are usually more reserved and quieter.

"Life is fast-paced in the U.S.," Danielsson said. "In Finland, we take it a lot slower. Throughout my career, I played abroad in several different countries, but Dallas is the furthest that I have lived away from home. Although it's an exciting new chapter, I'm still figuring out these new challenges."

She says she's still adjusting to the time change, especially when trying to stay in touch with family and friends back home. She also knows that she can't jump on a flight for a quick visit.

"I am accepting the fact that I will miss a lot of things," Danielsson said. "So I'm learning appreciation and gratitude for the small things that bring me joy."

A lot of Danielsson's bliss comes from playing her beloved soccer. She's occasionally played forward in Dallas, but usually plays in the middle section.

"I love to play as an attacking the midfield or as one of the holding midfielders," she said.

The Dallas Trinity Women's Professional Soccer Spring season kicked off on February 15th and features seven away and seven home games. There are three upcoming home matches in April: DC Power FC on the 2nd, Fort Lauderdale United FC on the 19th, and Lexington Sporting Club on the 26th. April 2nd is a special "Pups at the Pitch Night" when dogs can attend and receive a DTFC dog collar. "Celebrating Our Abilities" is the theme of the April 19th match, offering free DTFC keychains, and April 26th is "Boots' Rodeo," featuring pre-match mechanical bull rides and square dancing, a halftime mascot race, and post-match fireworks. Attendees will also receive a free bobblehead that day.

Danielsson is a fan of the sport, as well as a top player.

"We have started to find our flow again," Danielsson said. "It's important to take one game at a time and enjoy our wins."

In addition to her DTFC teammates, she's also inspired by legendary mononymous Brazilian players Marta and Neymar.

Danielsson appreciates the loyal fans of the Dallas women's soccer team and invites them to attend upcoming games via single-ticket or season-pass options. Seating choices include the endzone VIP deck, premium sideline, reserved sideline, and DFTC supporters. Tickets include access to a climate-controlled hospitality lounge, covered exterior stadium seating with chair backs, access to snacks and beverages, and exclusive club-level entrance. Meet-the-team, match-day experiences and merchandise discounts are also available.

Danielsson recalls that when she first moved to Texas, she needed to set up a bank account. Wearing her training gear, she walked into a random branch. The woman she spoke with recognized the Dallas Trinity FC logo and told Danielsson that she and her coworker were already season ticket holders. They had seen DTFC's first game against FC Barcelona. When Danielsson returned the next day, the employee had purchased Dallas Trinity T-shirts for the other workers.

"I'm so grateful for our growing fan base like those loyal bank employees," Danielsson said. "I love challenging myself and becoming a better person on and off the field. I'm lucky to be surrounded by amazing people who can support me and the Dallas Trinity Football Club."

For any inquiries, please contact Dallas Trinity FC at [email protected].