The Thompson family contributes not just one, but two members of the elite U.S. Women's National team. Alyssa and her younger sibling, Gisele, hold the record for the most shared starts by sisters in USWNT history, and it all began with a gifted shirt and a big dream.

'The first shirt that I got was a U.S. soccer one,' says Thompson. 'I don’t think there was a name on the back. I can’t remember who gave it to me, either. I always looked up to the national team, and how they won a lot, so I always wanted to play for them.

'I just always aspired to be on that team, to be one of the best in the world, and I feel like being able to put on that US jersey- that’s what it means. Being able to play for your country is a really high honour.

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'I think being able to support whatever team or country you're from is always special. You always remember the first one because it brings you back to that moment in your childhood when you were dreaming of being in the place where you want to be.'

Thompson joined Chelsea last summer, making a courageous move thousands of miles away from her home city of Los Angeles.

The forward made 32 appearances for the Blues in her debut campaign and scored nine goals. As she looks back on her time at her previous club, Angel City FC, she has fond memories of the kit she first played in.

'My first professional jersey is really special to me,' she continued. 'In terms of being able to play for my hometown of LA, having been able to feel all the people behind me, and also playing with my sister.

'The black home kit for Angel City is definitely something that I remember because that's where I started and how I got to where I am now.'

Talking of where Thompson is now, almost a year has passed, and she's now settled in SW6. The dynamic winger was selected as one of the players to model the new 2026/27 home kit for Tuesday's launch, and she described what she hopes to achieve as she begins her second campaign in blue.

She said: 'In the new Chelsea shirt, I definitely want to help us get back to the old Chelsea ways of winning as much as we can, and lifting as many trophies as we can.

'I know when we come back next season, we'll be hungry to be top of the league. Even though we were good at times this season, I think we can be even better next year, and all the girls on the team want that, too.

'The home kit is a very bright Chelsea blue; I really like it. We want to be a force that people are scared to play against because we are Chelsea. Being in the new kit will allow us to be that.'