Later today, on the other side of the world, the US Women’s National Team will kick off in the Women’s World Cup in Auckland. Once every four years, the women’s team inspires us precisely because it’s not really about the soccer. It’s about equal pay. Representation. Teamwork.

And in the case of striker Alyssa Thompson, it’s about potential.

Watching Thompson can feel sometimes like watching the future. At only 18, she’s the youngest player on the team, graduating from high school just a month-and-a-half ago (although she missed the ceremony because her professional team, Angel City FC, had a road game). Thompson is sure to be one of the tournament’s breakout players and a constant fixture in the red, white, and blue’s lineup for years to come. She also happens to be the star of one of my favorite stories of the past year. So, before you watch Thompson play tonight at 9 p.m. EST, it seems like just as good a time as any to sit back, rewind, and recall a night to remember forever.

In January, right as Thompson was coming back from winter break, Angel City FC traded for the first overall pick to select Thompson in the NWSL Draft. Thompson is from Los Angeles, and so she was able to join the team while finishing her senior year of high school. She wouldn’t make it for everything her classmates did, but, as she told ESPN in an interview shortly after being drafted, "I am still 18 years old. I still want the same things as what an 18-year-old would want. Like being at senior night. And going to prom.”

When the reporter told her that Angel City had a game scheduled for the night of prom, Thompson froze.

“I don’t want to think about it,” she said.

Indeed, Angel City had a match scheduled against the Washington Spirit, and Thompson was in the starting XI. She had to be there. While her friends were dreaming of corsages and after parties, Thompson would have nothing but corner kicks and shin guards on her mind.

Yet unbeknownst to Thompson, her Angel City teammates had other ideas. The morning of the match, at training, Thompson was surprised by a series of “promposals.” Training cones, accented with rose petals, were arranged to spell out “prom”. They decorated cars with the question. Everybody got in on the fun.

Then, when the team showed up at the stadium, they all wore prom dresses. Forward Sydney Leroux wore a sparkly blue dress, and her son came as her date, rocking a matching tux. Veteran attacker Jasmyne Spencer wore her actual dress from her high school prom. There were sashes, decorations, bouquets…the whole thing. In the stands, two young girls held up signs. “Alyssa 4 Prom Queen,” said one. “Alyssa, this is so much better than prom,” said the other.

“We tried to make [Thompson] comfortable, rally around her,” said Angel City midfielder Dani Weatherholt. “We wanted to make the day special for her.”

Before the first kick, per tradition, the starting XI took a pregame photo. Instead of the classic two rows of game faces, on this day, Angel City got in a line, hands on each other’s waists, getting the perfect prom picture.

Thompson stood right in the middle, flashing a big awkward smile.

A perfect prom night after all.