Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • NPR

    Jamaica's 'Reggae Girls' Are The Unlikeliest Team Of The Women's World Cup

    The Jamaican women's national soccer team are the first from the Caribbean to ever make it to the Women's World Cup. Grit, luck and a little help from a reggae star helped them get there.
    by Jason Beaubien Jun 08, 2019 4 minutes
    Jamaican star forward, Khadija Shaw, battles for the ball during a friendly match against Scotland in Jamaica's last game before the Women's World Cup.

    The "Reggae Girlz" of Jamaica are the underdogs of this year's Women's World Cup.

    The Jamaican women's national soccer team debuts on Sunday, June 9 at the tournament in France against a highly-rated team from Brazil.

    FIFA, soccer's global governing body, ranks the Jamaicans the lowest among the 24 teams at the tournament. But don't try to tell that to any of the players.

    "Football is a very funny thing," says Jamaican midfielder Deneisha "Den-Den" Blackwood. "You can never predict what's going to happen. And I feel like we are going to be the team to shock everybody in this World Cup."

    Just five years ago, Jamaica didn't even have a women's national soccer team. Now they're the first team from the Caribbean

    You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

    More from NPR

    NPR2 min read
    Melinda French Gates Resigns As Co-chair From The Gates Foundation
    French Gates says she is "immensely proud" of the work of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and the decision to step down as co-chair was not easy. Her last day is June 7.
    NPR2 min read
    Controlled Demolition Planned At Baltimore Bridge Collapse Site
    After weeks of preparation, crews are scheduled to conduct a controlled demolition Sunday to break down the largest remaining span of the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge in Maryland.
    NPR3 min read
    My Octopus Teacher's Craig Foster Dives Into The Ocean Again In 'Amphibious Soul'
    Nature's healing power is an immensely personal focus for Foster. He made his film after being burned out from long, grinding hours at work. After the release of the film, he suffered from insomnia.

    Related Books & Audiobooks