Midge Purce

Forward • Age 31 • #23

Margaret Melinda "Midge" Williams-Purce is an American football player who plays as a forward for NJ/NY Gotham FC of the National Women's Soccer League and the United States national team.

237 Appearances

75 Goals

8 Trophies

9 Awards

Fun Facts about Midge

Quirky facts. Inspired by her game.

She played college soccer at Harvard University, where she was named Ivy League Player of the Year in both 2015 and 2016 and scored 42 goals in 69 appearances.

She co-founded the Black Women’s Players Collective (BWPC), a nonprofit organization committed to creating opportunities and equity for Black girls in sports and beyond.

In 2021, Purce appeared at the White House alongside teammate Megan Rapinoe to advocate for equal pay in sports.

During her remarks at the White House, she delivered the now-iconic line, “You would never expect a flower to bloom without water, but women in sport who have been denied water, sunlight, and soil are somehow expected to blossom.”

She was included in the Forbes 30 Under 30 list for Sports in 2023 in recognition of her advocacy and leadership.

In 2024, Purce created a reality television series titled The Offseason, which follows NWSL players as they prepare for the upcoming season.

As a child in Olney, Maryland, Purce played both soccer and the violin, balancing athletic and musical pursuits.

While at Harvard, she initially considered becoming a doctor but shifted her focus to law and studied in the Harvard Law School.

She says the one thing she can't live without are sweets and cookies.

Her go-to coffee order is chai tea latte.

Her go-to off season vacations is to go explore new islands and beaches.

She is a lifelong Manchester United fan, thanks to her dad randomly buying her a jersey as a kid. She keeps it low-key because "it’s been a difficult commitment."

Her football crush was Robin van Persie, especially after that iconic header against Spain in the 2014 World Cup.

She adores Marcelo for his creativity and entertainment value, and sometimes tells herself mid-game: "Be entertaining" to spark joy and freedom in her play.