As the US Women's National Team ramps up for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup [1] (which kicks off on July 20!), the players are certainly focused on optimizing their performance. Turns out, one of the ways they recover from training is endearingly wholesome: among the team, there's a "Kindle crew" who sit around reading while they're spending time in Normatec compression boots [2].
In a series of interviews shown in a TikTok [3] posted by Just Women's Sports, defender Emily Fox shared that she's part of this super-exclusive book club, saying, "I'm part of the 'Kindle Crew' with our Normatec recovery boots and stuff, reading." Fellow defender Alana Cook chimed in, adding that teammates Rose Lavelle [4] and Naomi Girma have converted her into a Kindle user, and now her goal is to "read as many books as I can." Apparently, the team used to swap books, but now that some players have gone digital, it's slowly turning the whole team onto ereaders. "Maybe I need to just get a Kindle," midfielder Ashley Sanchez said in the TikTok, "because we were, like, swapping, and now you have like this little, like, tablet, and I'm like, what am I supposed to do with that?"
At one point in the TikTok, Sofia Huerta also admitted that she isn't part of the Kindle crew but wants to be — "I have FOMO," she said — and TBH, we're feeling the same way.
@justwomenssports [5] The USWNT has a “Kindle crew” 📖 #uswnt [6] #booktok [7] #books [8] #woso [9] #worldcup [10]
♬ original sound - Just Women’s Sports [11]
The players are referring, of course, to the Amazon Kindle ereader. If you want to join the USWNT's Kindle Crew, now's actually the perfect time. For $100, you can get a 2022 Amazon Kindle [12] ($100), or you can score an Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Essential Bundle [13] ($168, originally $265) for nearly 40 percent off as an early Prime Day deal [14]. (Yes, Amazon Prime Day [15] is coming up next week!)
The other half of their recovery practice isn't quite so affordable to replicate. Hyperice Normatec Compression Boots [16] ($771) — those inflatable space boots you've probably seen on other athletes [17] and celebrities — are a bit more of a splurge. If you're invested, you can certainly grab a pair for yourself, cue up your Kindle, and take heart that you're recovering just like the best soccer players in the country.
We're with the TikToker who commented: "i would join the USWNT book club/ kindle crew in a heartbeat". If any players are reading this, know that we want in! We'll be here, patiently awaiting your book recs.
