After concluding the NCAA season with UCLA, Jennie Immethun was waiting for an opportunity to live out her dreams of playing professional soccer.
Coming out of college, she was rated one of the top names at center back according to Top Drawer Soccer.
Phuoc Nguyen (Fook Win)
Instead of offers coming left and right, early on, it was all crickets. A few weeks later, the wait continued.
"Three weeks of the end of the season, I really heard, like, nothing, so I was just training and hoping someday I was gonna wake up and then hopefully get some good news, but, it was honestly a big waiting process for me."
All Immethun needed was a chance – and she finally got that phone call.
"I got a text one day from my agent, and he was just like, 'Hey, Portland trial, they have a flight for you Friday, pack up for 2 weeks, head over there and see what happens, try to get a contract."
Once arriving to the Rose City, she hadn't spoken to the coaches quite yet and was joined by five other trialists.
"Coming in as a trialist, I think you're expected to show a lot in a short amount of time, and I think the big part for me was staying in it mentally. You know, it's hard not knowing day by day, 'contract, no contract.'"
"I just tried to honestly enjoy the process every time. I mean, I didn't know if I was gonna extend it or not until maybe, like, a couple days before the trial extension was up, so I just kept trying to push through, and there were games throughout it. I just tried to do the best that I can, honestly, stay confident, and try to show the best of my ability that I can play."
Another challenge presented to Immethun? Playing defensive midfielder for the first time in years, after coming out of the UCLA as one of the highest-rated center backs.
"When I first came, I was playing the six, and I was honestly expecting to be at center back, because I hadn't played six for three and a half years, but I was like, 'dang, this is a blessing.'"
"Being in the middle of the park, I was beyond excited, and, I was expecting to get reps at center back, but it ended up working out perfectly, and midfield's a position that I really wanted to play in, so it's cool to see how it all worked out."
Extension after extension, those bags continue to remain unpacked. She didn't know if she did enough or would be continuing with Portland Thorns close to opening day.
"Oh goodness. Obviously, the thought of whether I was gonna get a contract or not for two months. It was so refreshing to just hear, like, 'we want you on this team.' I didn't even think about the amount of time, and I was like, 'I'll take what I can get.'"
"I love Portland, I love the staff, I love the girls. I got along super well with everyone. They embraced my weirdness, which is hard to come in as a rookie and have a big personality. They opened welcomed us with open arms, so it was so refreshing."
For Jennie Immethun, getting her first professional contract was a dream and one she was excited to share with her parents.
"My first call was my parents, and they were like, 'finally!' They were like, 'so are you coming home? 'I was like, nope! Now I'm staying out here.'"
"Yeah, it was surreal. It was a dream."
As the season progressed, head coach Robert Vilahamn and assistant coach Jen Lalor continue to rave about the midfielder's progress.
"Jennie has grown with us in these 13 games without playing too much," said Vilahamn. "And always been knocking on my door on when I should give her the chance to play because she's competing so well."
For young players like Immethun, that extra belief means everything.
"It's a huge factor that nobody really talks about is how much they consistently reassure you, no matter if you're not playing as much and how much that actually impacts a player. And I think, you know, through the long months of me not seeing the field as much as I want to.
"From the outside looking in, it could be like, oh, she's not happy, or she isn't getting what she wants, or she's not doing well. But, it was never a thing of, like, oh, 'I'm unhappy, I'm not playing.' They were constantly there, and being like,' you got all the things that you need to be a starter, we just need to see consistency, and continue to be you, be confident in that, be the player that you are.'"
After coming off the bench in matches against Bay FC and Utah Royals, she earned her first start in a friendly vs San Diego Wave.
Immethun made an instant impact by tallying an assist to Olivia Moultrie. The midfielder had been knocking on the door and has wanted to step out as a starter at Providence Park since day one.
"When I first got here and I first saw a home game, and I was on the bench for it, I was like, 'what is going on? Who are these people? Why do they care so much about us? This is awesome.' I immediately envisioned myself walking out on that field as a starter."
"I knew that that was something that I wanted to experience, and I didn't want to leave here without experiencing that. And I think the more I continued to envision it, the more it started to become a reality."
Strong appearances and trainings led to her first ever regular season start in Portland Thorns' 4-0 win over Racing Louisville. She has long awaited this opportunity and it's moment she will never forget.
"When I first found out I was starting, there was really no conversation. I just saw my name on the board, I was like, 'oh, that's a new face, that looks like me, shoot, that'll be awesome.'"
"I don't know, I went out, and I didn't have any expectations, I kind of just black out when I get on the field, like. I try to enjoy every moment. I didn't really realize how many people there were, I didn't realize until I looked back at the film.
Three hometown club friends were in attendance as they had a trip planned to see her for the Fourth of July even before she knew about the start or the contract, making the experience even more memorable.
Immethun's contract is set to expire on July 31, but she has continued to defy the odds and smash her own path in the Rose City.
"Every time I've gotten a short-term contract, I take it day by day. I don't think about when the end date is, you know, I show up acting like I'll be here for years [and] enjoy it as much as I can. I don't think they treat us like I'm on a short-term contract either."
"I just live present and try to play like I'm a huge starter on this field, even if I wasn't, I just continue to show up every day and pray for a longer contract, but also do as much as I can in the moment."
The midfielder would earn another start at Lumen Field vs NWSL rivals, Seattle Reign.
Throughout it all, Jennie Immethun's mental fortitude, patience, and work ethic has shined brightest. Whatever comes next, she'll be ready for everything.
"A big word for me is patience. It's hard to stay in it for so long, and actually trust that something will come out of being a good teammate, being a good person, being there for the people who are playing in front of me, and knowing that hard work does end up paying off at the end of the day."
"So just staying in it and taking small wins and being grateful for even being in this position. I mean, I never could have imagined I would be playing midfield in the NWSL, and this is one of the only teams that showed interest in the beginning. It's obviously a dream."
