ABOUT US
Meet Your Leadership Team
Chase Mancia (she/her)
Committees: Community Engagement
Lavender League Roles: Player on Cosmic Cuties
Favorite Position/s: Midfield
As someone who grew up loving both playing and watching sports, I longed to play organized sports. Unfortunately, I was raised in a high-control group so my parents never allowed me to participate. Now as an adult, finding Lavender League has allowed me to fulfill that long-held hope of one day playing on a team. Even better that it's queer sports!
I bring years of experience in training, coaching, and project management. With those skills I can’t wait to provide strength training, injury prevention, and performance recovery resources to players so they can have more fun and worry less about getting hurt. I also love to empower people and hope to do that by continuously engaging with the community and meeting them where they are at.
On the weekends you can find me at a Thorns game, reading graphic novels, or juggling a myriad of unfinished household projects because, “how hard can that be?”
Katie Wong (she/her)
Committees: League Logistics
Lavender League Roles:
Captain & Player of Dandy Lions
Favorite Position/s: Defense
Grew up playing soccer and now currently coaching little kids for a local soccer club. I am passionate about expanding the game and mentoring our youth. I am in school for Mental Health Counseling specializing in addictions in hopes to work with adolescents and young adults.
Milo Baxa (they/them)
Committees: Budgets and Ops, Fundraising
Lavender League Roles: Player on U-Haulers
Favorite Position/s: Left forward
Growing up in Nebraska, I found my love for soccer and team sports early on. After coming out as transgender, I struggled to find belonging in the sports community. Through Lavender League, I aim to bridge that gap so LGBTQIA+ people can play sports and be their authentic selves. I bring 7 years of nonprofit fundraising experience and am currently pursuing a career in EMS and First Response. I hope to apply these skills to the league through fundraising, injury prevention and early intervention.
Stoakley (they/them)
Committee: Community Engagement
Lavender League Roles: Referee, sub
Favorite Position/s: Defense, outside wing
Can always have a convo about: Social justice, foraging, ceramics, travel, parenting, gender
When I moved to Portland in 2016, I decided to pursue all the activities I did in high school, only gayer. That meant queering my friend groups, my jazz and symphonic bands, and, of course, my soccer teams. After playing on queer and trans teams in leagues that were not specifically built around the transgender and non-binary community, having to work with league administrators to change rules, train refs, and still running into transphobia and an inability to keep our players safe, it was clear that we needed a league for us, by us. I was lucky enough to attend the very first meeting that would lead to the formation of Lavender League, and am so stoked to be part of building an inclusive, welcoming community where we take care of each other.
Amber (they/them)
Committee: Fundraising + Sponsorship, Community Engagement
Lavender League Roles: Player on One Kick Wonders
Favorite Position/s: Defense
I started playing soccer at the age of 6 and haven’t stopped since/ From waving at gophers and making daisy chain bracelets during games as kids, to eating pupusas on the sidelines and giving big group hugs after every win/loss in high school, soccer has always been more than just the sport for me; the game we love so much truly creates a home in which community cultivates and blossoms. There’s no better feeling than seeing your team become your family, and to hype them up for every pass, save, and goal. I feel so incredibly lucky to have found a league where I can fully belong as my authentic self, celebrate my newfound team/fam, and have the most fun playing soccer I’ve had since I was a kid. I join the board with enthusiasm to cheer on every player’s growth on the field, support league logistics/community engagement off the pitch, and build this community into future years.
Hales (they/them)
Committees: Community Engagement
Lavender League Roles: Player on The Gray Agenda
Favorite Position/s: Defense
My love for soccer bloomed while growing up in Idaho, playing throughout my childhood and adolescence. After moving to Oregon and subscribing to the Gay Agenda, I struggled to find belonging in queer community as an introverted person. Lavender League has offered myself and my peers a safe space to build community and play together. Connecting over this wholesome pastime has been healing and so helpful finding my place within the sports/PDX queer community. As a board member, I want to help others find their space in Lavender League: as a player, ref, or cheerleader. I hope to foster a culture where all feel welcome, and help uplift a safe environment for queer folks to have fun.
Lindsey Salzer (she/her)
Committees: Community Engagement mostly!
Lavender League Roles: U-Hauler player
Favorite Position/s: Defense or midfield!
I grew up playing soccer and love the game so much! After finding the Uhaulers team as an out adult, I realized just how important it is to have a queer soccer family, and how so many others were seeking the same family here in PDX. In Lavender League, I want to support all the queer soccer folks here in Portland, and give them a safe, fun, community-ran space to thrive and play. I bring 10+ years of SEO, digital marketing and social media experience and am currently an Audience and Commerce Director at a gaming and entertainment publisher. Plus, I love volunteering! I hope to apply my professional skills and people skills to the league through community engagement, outreach, marketing and more!
Moosh Vohs (they/them)
Committees: League Logistics
Lavender League Roles: Player Favorite Position/s: A little bit of everything!
I started playing soccer almost as early as I could walk. Soccer was life! Like many a queer teen, I began struggling with mental health issues (very much related to gender/sexual orientation) and stopped playing. For over a decade, I deeply missed the feeling of running around a field, authentic and care-free. Upon joining the U-Haulers, we discovered a shared vision for the queer/trans soccer league of our dreams.
Building Lavender League has been an experience like none other. This is our chance to heal as a community that has been pushed out of athletics. Together, we can reclaim joy! If you’ve also found this league, welcome to our family!
Anya Wilson (she/her)
Committees: League Logistics
Lavender League Roles: Player on U-Haulers
Favorite Position/s: Defense
Hi! I’m Anya. I’m so grateful to be a part of Lavender League. We're building an enduring space for queer sport and community in Portland and it feels really good. Renewing my soccer practice in adulthood has done so much for my well-being, and contributing to Lavender League's development has challenged me to learn and improve as a communicator and collaborator.
I have a varied background in farming, social work, workplace and community organizing, wine production, and emergency medicine which informs my work with the league. I love to nerd out about ecology, systems, politics, and food, and I'm always down to learn new things! Feel free to say hello if you see me around.
Hannah (she/her)
Committee: Fundraising + Sponsorship
Lavender League Roles: Player on Cosmic Cuties
Favorite Position/s: Midfield
Call me Hannah or call me Cheese! I love cats, staying up too late playing scrabble with my wife, and glitter. The dance floor is my true siren call. I’m a social worker who values community as a crucial component to our holistic health. I grew up playing a little of all the sports, loving the cheering and camaraderie the most. That special feeling of working together towards a shared goal, discovering pride in personal growth, festive game day snacks, and doling out high fives - Yes please! For the last 10 years I’ve skated roller derby with The Rose City Rollers holding roles with sponsorship, fundraising, and community partnership committees. My drive to join the LL board aims to support sustainability and continue making all this goodness accessible to our community.
Lyd (she/they)
Committee: Budget, Operations, and Governance
Lavender League Roles: Player on Cosmic Cuties
Favorite Position/s: Forward
Back in February 2024, I was looking for a way to connect with other queer people in my local community and get out of the house. Despite knowing absolutely no one and having not played soccer since middle school, I signed up to play in Lavender League's inaugural season! Lavender League's supportive, inclusive, and accepting community has allowed me to step out of my comfort zone, gain confidence in myself, and grow into the person I am today. As part of the Board, my personal mission is to continue expanding this amazing community in hopes that I can share this love and acceptance with as many people as possible. Oh, and play some soccer! Outside of LL, I enjoy hanging out with my three kids, collecting shiny things, and making new friends. Come say hi!
Rhi Fanning (they/them, transmasc)
Committee: League Logistics
Lavender League Roles: Player on Scissor Kickers
Favorite Position/s: Center defense/stopper
Sun/moon/rising: Aquarius/Aries/Pisces
My preferred spot on the field indicates a fair amount about my personality. I love to facilitate and ease communication between folks so they can understand the underlying needs to be met. I seek to provide support & security for those around me, both on and off the field. What I’ve loved most about being part of the Leadership Team in a queer & trans centric league is watching members improve week-to-week and strengthen connections with their teammates. It’s provided a sense of fulfillment I’ve never known before and I’m thrilled to continue to watch it grow.
Our mission is to build community, acceptance, and culture through soccer. Lavender League offers safe spaces to move, build, and socialize. We center queer women, non-binary and trans players. We embrace diversity and body-positivity.
Lavender League is a queer soccer league for people of all abilities, genders, races, shapes, and sizes. We are based in Portland, Oregon.
The idea for Lavender League was born out of two queer soccer teams, The Uhaulers and The Scissor Kickers! The Uhaulers first formed in Spring 2022 here in Portland. Quickly becoming much more than just a soccer team, The Uhaulers, to nobody’s surprise, quickly Uhaul’d to become fast friends and one big family; never looking back! After a season or two, Uhauler team player interest skyrocketed and The Scissor Kickers team was formed shortly after, (captain’d by Rosie!) Both teams are proud to be playing still today as part of Lavender League.
We hope you find your teams for life, too!
Please reach out with comments, questions, and suggestions at INFO@LAVENDERLEAGUEPDX.ORG
Photo credits: Pace Taylor (they/them)—on IG: @Pace_Taylor. Moosh Vohs (they/them)!
Logo designed by soccer star Marin Ricketson (she/they), who also helps lead @dykesoccerpdx!