By Steve Hartman, Correspondent
At Mile High Stadium during Denver Summit FC’s home opener last month, the new NWSL team didn’t find the net. For 9-year-old Hayden Stine, however, the evening was a triumph. Meeting Summit defender Carson Pickett — a player who shares a similar limb difference — changed how Hayden sees her future.
“I want to be a professional soccer player when I grow up,” Hayden told reporters after the game. Seeing Pickett on the field gave her a concrete example that it’s possible.
Hayden was born without most of her right arm. Her mother, Christina Hayden, says the encounter boosted Hayden’s confidence dramatically: from the way she walks into school to how she plays on the pitch. The family describes the meeting as life-altering.
Pickett, who also plays with a limb difference, said that her own relationship with visibility has shifted over time. For years she avoided showing her arm in photos and didn’t want to be labeled “the girl with one arm that plays soccer.” It was a conversation with her mother that helped her reconsider that approach and see the opportunity to encourage others.
On social media Pickett reflected that her journey became less about herself and more about the people she could impact. Embracing that purpose, she now seeks out chances to meet young fans, families and others who might draw strength from her example.
This week, Pickett surprised Hayden by turning up at the girl’s team practice. She plans to stay in touch and help Hayden explore her own path — both as a player and as someone who could inspire others in the future.
When asked whether she imagines herself as a role model one day, Hayden didn’t hesitate: “Yes, I am up for it.” The exchange between player and fan underscores how representation in sports can shift a young person’s sense of possibility and purpose.