Malia Zillman & Kayla Budish — Rally Madison FC. College Athletes. Real Talk.
Confidence. Pre-game rituals. Belonging. Going pro. This is what being in the #SheBelongs Collective means.
Malia Zillman is 17 years old, signed to University of Michigan, and Rally Madison FC’s starting goalkeeper. Kayla Budish is a 5th year Purdue captain with a real shot at going pro. Together they gave our players one of the most honest, funny, and genuinely useful Huddle conversations we’ve had yet.
They talked about confidence — where it actually comes from and why one good practice isn’t enough. They broke down game day routines that couldn’t be more opposite and somehow both work. They got real about what the jump from high school to college actually feels like. And they answered questions from players in the room and online who wanted to know how you claim your spot when you’re not sure you belong.
Some of what they said our players will carry for a long time:
- “Being happy is also being confident.”
- “You never want your anxiety at 100. That’s no longer yourself.”
- “Nobody cares what you did in high school. It’s a new chapter.”
- “If you can see it and you can dream it — it’s possible.”
That last one hit different coming from Kayla, who two years ago wasn’t even thinking about going pro.
Thank you Malia and Kayla for showing up in Madison and giving our girls exactly what they needed to hear.
This time we had players from Madison in the room — and players joining virtually from around the country.
The #SheBelongs Huddle series connects players directly with elite athletes, coaches, and leaders who share honest conversations about soccer, leadership, confidence, belonging, and life beyond the game.
Because soccer is never just soccer.
It’s community.
It’s growth.
It’s courage.
It’s finding your place in the world.
