With a background built for soccer success, Vanessa DiBernardo followed in father Angelo DiBernardo’s footsteps (former US men’s soccer player and 1984 Summer Olympian). What started with kicking a ball around in their family basement led to so much more, including the honor of pulling a red, white, a blue jersey over her head.

Growing up in Naperville, Illinois, DiBernardo started playing soccer at just 4 years old, with dreams of one day playing professionally. On the road to those dreams becoming reality, she has overcome obstacles & acquired a few accolades along the way.

Vanessa's early years really paved the way to her professional success, as she earned her title as ESPN Rise All-American Third Team, Beacon News Girls Soccer Player of the Year, and Chicago Sun-Times All-Area honors. Not to mention, she also helped carry her high school team to State Championship titles in 2007, 2008, and 2010.

And while committing to the University of Illinois, where her degree in Sports Management paired perfectly with her passion, DiBernardo used those collegiate years to capitalize on the opportunity of a lifetime: playing for the U-20 Women’s National Team and competing in a U-20 World Cup in Japan—as well as winning the World Cup in 2012.

Having played basketball, track, cross country, and soccer throughout her life, her team-oriented & sport-centric lifestyle led her to be challenged in ways that life outside soccer simply couldn't.

She was challenged to be a leader, to be a good teammate, to set personal goals, and then set out to reach them. But despite these challenges, her experience, training, talent, determination, and grit led her to the realization of her childhood ambition: signing with the Chicago Red Stars as a professional soccer player in 2014.