LADYSPORTS: Welcome to LadySports, Jessica! When did you first
get into football?
JESSICA HOPKINS: I noticed a coworker of mine was playing for some
women's football team on her Facebook, and asked her about it. She said they needed
more players because they had lost some to injuries, and said I'd be a great fit
for the league. I went out to the next practice, having no idea what I was
getting myself into…and never looked back. I fell in love with the game quickly,
being part of a team and being a competitive athlete again. It was exactly what
I needed at that point of my life.
LS: Who trained you to play? And what positions do you play?
JH:
I'm a Personal Trainer and Sports Performance Coach so I
trained myself all along. I played wide receiver and free safety for the majority
of my career and dabbled at corner a few games towards the end of my career.
LS: What was your biggest influence to become a football player?
JH:
I don't think I ever had anyone or anything in my life
that influenced me into becoming a football player ... that just kind of happened.
I'd say that from a young age I naturally loved being involved in sports, mostly
individual at first and then moved into team sports around 12 or 13 years old.
I have always loved to compete and be active, so once college sports were done
and I was settled into my personal training job for several years, I was naturally
drawn to the opportunity to light that fire again.
LS: What other sports do you have an interest in?
JH:
I grew up playing basketball and still love the game
very much and hope to get back to it regularly.
I also have a background in volleyball and enjoy racquetball, weight lifting and
figure competitions.
LS: How would you describe yourself in terms of attitude, personality,
likes, dislikes, and strengths?
JH:
Personality, I'd say I'm very even-keeled. I don't have too
many highs or too many lows. I'm very down to Earth, genuine, funny and caring,
I love to help people.
My attitude in regards to sports is focused, determined, a team player and coachable.
I have many likes: I love spending time with my son, who is 16. We have a lot of fun.
I love animals, I have two cats named Luna and Eris. I love spending time with my
family and friends, going to happy hour, everyone that knows me knows I love a good
cheeseburger. I love beer. I enjoy going to sporting events like the
Seahawks or Husky games or just watching them on TV. I enjoy staying in
and watching movies and traveling when I get the chance.
Dislikes: Messiness, disorganization, laziness, people who are rude or act as if
they are better than everyone else. I hate spiders. I hate cleaning the bathtub.
My strengths: I'm reliable, disciplined, organized, good communicator, quick at
getting back to people, laid back, consistent and dedicated.
LS: What is your most marked characteristic as a pro player?
JH:
I'd say my most marked characteristic was my dedication
to the sport, my team and my craft over the last 8 years. When I commit to something,
I commit wholly and give everything I have to it and I can honestly say I did that
during my football career.
LS: Describe a typical day of training for you. What is most important
in your workout?
JH:
My training days will vary depending if I'm in off season,
pre-season or in season. During a typical off season I'm in the gym working on getting
stronger, staying consistent with weight lifting 5 days a week and doing some cross
training for cardio including doing other sports like basketball to keep up my
endurance, speed and agility. When the season starts approaching I start working in more
agility drills that we will be doing at our tryouts like the combine. L-drill, 40 yard
dash, the shuttle, broad jump etc. I'll work in the agility ladder and hurdle drills
a lot to prep my feet, ankles and legs for the volume of pounding they are going
to take. In season I'm more about maintenance.
I continue my strength training but am working more on strength maintenance rather
than gains and I'd taper down leading up to a game and focus more on cardio, breaking
a sweat and a lot of stretching, foam rolling, hot tub, icing, steam room. It all
just depends on what my body is feeling like leading up to a game.
Typically we were practicing 12-14 hours in a weekend the week before the game
so a lot of times I was trying to calm down flare ups from the volume of training we
did, so a lot of times I was just doing cardio to keep the blood moving, lots of
stretching and rolling and often time physical therapy appointments as
needed to help speed recovery.
LS: How would you best describe your playing style?
JH:
I'm a total finesse player. I'm all about my routes
and my hands and finishing. I'm not the fastest player and have definitely lost a
step or two over the last few years but my strengths have always been my ability
to create space with my cuts on my routes and my ability to finish the catch.
I'd say I'm very consistent and over the years I started to notice that anytime
I'd make a mistake in a game, I come back and make up for it the next play or
next series.
LS: Playing, what are you best known for?
JH:
My hands.
LS: Have you ever been injured on the field?
JH:
Yes, I sprained my MCL towards the end of a game in 2013
when a girl rolled up on my leg as it was extended out in front of me. It was very
scary as I had already torn my ACL on that knee and feeling it crunch when she
landed on it with all her weight. When our team doctor tested it after the
game he told me it was likely I tore my ACL and MCL, I got an attitude, got up
and went out to take my lap to thank the fans, refusing to believe him. I knew
the knee wasn't right but I refused to believe I was done for the season. After
an MRI confirmed it was a bad sprain of the MCL, I missed one game two weeks
later and was back for the next one. It's not quite been the same since that
injury though.
LS: Who have been your toughest team to play?
JH:
We've always had a great rivalry with LA. We couldn't
beat them our first 4 seasons but we've pretty much owned the win column over
the last 4 years. We know when we play them, no matter what
their roster or ours looks like, it's always a battle and usually
comes down to the last series. It's been a fun rivalry over the years.
LS: What has been your most memorable win?
JH:
Other than the two Championship games (obvious choices)
it'd have to be the first time we finally beat LA in 2013. They just raised their
3rd championship banner before the game; in their house, and we came out and
beat them on the road. It was a long time coming and I think it was one of
the best defensive games we've every played against them.
LS: What was your worst loss?
JH:
Losing in the Championship last year to Chicago by just
a handful of points was pretty devastating, especially after coming back after winning
our first Championship with the hopes of winning back to back. To get that far
and not finish it the way we should have was a tough one to swallow for quite a while.
LS: What sort of reactions do you get from people when they learn
you are a football player?
JH:
People are usually really surprised when they learn I play
football. They usually ask a
lot of questions and are really interested in what it's like and why I play. It's
fun to surprise people and break down stereotypes.
LS: What is so special about this sport to you?
JH:
The most special thing, as I've told many people, is not
actually the game; there's so much more to this league than the game. It's the
family and the relationships you build. You're spending time with these people
so much during the season, they become your family and you build so many amazing
memories over each season, we fight through adversity together and we support each
other. We lift each other up when we're down and we celebrate everyone's
accomplishments and our wins together.
LS: What are your fans like?
JH:
Our fans are amazing!! They are loyal and unwavering.
They've become family as well in a sense. It's great to be in a sport where they have
the ability to really connect with the players via social media and I've really enjoyed
getting to know many of them on a personal level, knowing about their kids, what
they do and be able to support and encourage one another. It's a great community.
LS: If you had the power, what one thing would you do to improve
the sport?
JH:
Only one thing? haha. Well, a lot of people don't know
that we are not paid in this sport and while we do play for the love of the game,
the women in this sport deserve to be paid for the time and efforts they give this
sport. The league is still growing and trying to break through to major networks so
we can get to that level. I don't know all the financials on the league obviously
so it's hard to say if that's even possible but once it is, that would be the first
thing I would change because obviously it would incentivize
a lot more athletes out there who might be interested as well as help maintain those
that have already sacrificed a lot of their time, energy, money, their body etc.
The product on the field is the athletes and you have to take care of them because
without them you have no league and while there are plenty more athletes out
there, it's hard to build a league that is continually having to rebuild.
LS: What are your thoughts on women participating in the sport?
JH:
The women in this sport are some of the most badass,
beautiful and amazing women I have ever met. We hold down full time jobs, raise families,
compete at a high level in a full contact sport and give back to our communities.
LS: What was your most unforgettable moment in the sport?
JH:
One of the most unforgettable moments in this sport
for me personally was when we won our first Championship in 2015 because we were able
to do so on our home field in front our amazing fans, our family and friends who
had supported us and rooted for us since 2009. It was so special to be able to share that
moment with everyone.
LS: Have you been able to play off of the sport to endorse any
products or make any advancements in what you do to make money?
JH:
I sell my own personalized autographed photos to our fans
but other than that our team has had some sponsorships over the years so we've been
able to get some nice things and I've dabbled a bit in trying to make some money
helping some local start up companies with their apparel line but nothing that
is going to allow me to walk away from my job. There's definitely opportunities out
there though.
LS: Any regrets?
JH:
Not one.
LS: What would you do if you couldn't play football?
JH:
I'm sure I'd have found something else to compete in
if football had never come along. As for now I will have to figure out what that
will be moving forward. :)
LS: What is your personal motto?
JH:
I've always liked the quote,
"Follow your passion and it will lead you to your purpose."
I think that's great advice you can live by.
LS: What would make you most happy in life?
JH:
I'm already extremely happy with my life; I couldn't ask for more,
I'm just very grateful for my health, I have a great job that I love, I'm blessed with an
amazing and supportive family, a son who is one of my best friends and my very special
football family and friends. And I'm so proud of my son, who is excelling in football.
LS: Anything else you'd like to add?
JH:
Thank you for reaching out to me and for all your
support of the league and it's athletes.
And fans can visit me on Facebook at Seattle Mist Jessica Hopkins LFL.
