NWSL Star Trades Pitch for Cocktail Shaker in Idaho

Chicago Stars midfielder Bea Franklin balanced martinis as a cocktail waitress in a Rocky Mountain ski town, not for money but for a life beyond soccer.

K. Franklin

player

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Who

Bea Franklin

What

Cocktail waitress

Where

Pioneer Saloon, Ketchum, Idaho

Team

Chicago Stars

League

NWSL

What happened. Bea Franklin, a midfielder for the Chicago Stars, worked as a cocktail waitress at the Pioneer Saloon in Ketchum, Idaho. She took the job not out of financial need but to pursue interests outside of soccer.

Five years ago, NWSL stars packed Amazon boxes or drove for DoorDash to make ends meet.
A new CBA has opened doors for off-field pursuits aligned with players' passions.
Franklin balanced martinis while wearing cowgirl boots at the Pioneer Saloon.

The new CBA allows NWSL players to explore side hustles without financial pressure, marking a shift from the league's earlier days.

In this story

K. Franklin

Chicago Fire