Building community and camaraderie: Spotlight on Christina Bragado

If you love soccer, San Diego is a fortunate place to find yourself. Strikers center defender Christina Bragado is one of the lucky few who's had a community with as much passion for the game as ours from the start.

As a teenager, Bragado played soccer at Torrey Pines High School and cheered from the stands at SeaLions games. The local soccer scene was a part of her from the beginning. These days, her connection to her fellow Strikers is driving those local roots even deeper. 

“I just love playing with the team. I look forward to it every year,” Bragado said. “I keep coming back because I’m so grateful to have a team with the chemistry and the great group of women that we have.”

Bragado left San Diego after high school to attend Western Kentucky University, where she continued playing soccer. In the off-season she returned home to play with the SeaLions. When that team folded, she and her teammates became the first generation of women Strikers.

No longer a student, Bragado balances her commitment to her teammates and competitive play with her career as a nurse. She loves taking in all San Diego has to offer: backpacking, hiking, live music, and enjoying the picture-perfect weather with her friends, many of whom she first met as teammates.  

“When I started, I didn’t expect to form as deep of relationships as I did,” Bragado said. From getting through tough training sessions together to grabbing drinks to catch up about life after each game, “Small things stick with you that build camaraderie.”

She says playing on the Strikers offers her a meaningful connection to her hometown community.

“We’re building something together as a group,” Bragado said. “It means a lot to all of us, and I think it shows on this team.” 

Bragado has played in every season since the Strikers’ WPSL debut in 2018. In no time, she went from looking up to her older teammates to being the veteran Striker that new players go to for advice. Her relationships with her teammates go beyond the field; just like soccer itself, they’re a key part of her life and wellbeing. 

From the great weather to ample field access and the sheer number of players, Bragado never loses sight of the many reasons she’s lucky to live in San Diego. Here, locals’ passion for soccer means a welcoming athletic community and growing opportunities to stay in the game. 

When she began playing with Strikers, the team traveled often to neighboring cities or states to find competition. These days, the league has expanded to include many more teams in town. Bragado and her fellow Strikers are a part of that legacy; their early dedication to the game and to their team means that more San Diegans get to keep playing great soccer with dear friends.

“It’s really nice to be able to continue to play at a high level with people who are continuing to develop themselves and their game,” she said. “It’s by far the highest level league for women in San Diego that’s not professional. Hopefully, we keep the seasons coming!”

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Strikers fans, you are our community!

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