Life & Work with Grace Thao of Playa Vista

Today we’d like to introduce you to Grace Thao.

Hi Grace, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I started playing soccer when I was seven years old. My earlier years were spent growing up in San Diego and later in Orange County. My parents used to take me to watch pro games and college games. It wasn’t just soccer. My dad used to take me to watch Kobe Bryant and the Lakers. Kobe’s the one who showed what type of mentality it takes to keep progressing, if you’re striving for greatness. I loved watching the artists on the pitch, Ronaldinho, Zizzou, Neymar & Messi. It was a dream being able to attend Barcelona vs. LA Galaxy at the Rose Bowl in 2015.

Early on, my goal was to play D1 in the PAC-12. My parents explained how much work it would take, but also told me that if I truly wanted it, they would support me every step of the way. From that point on, I fully committed myself to the process.

My parents drove me all over SoCal for training and competition. I competed in top leagues for club and in the Trinity League in high school. I also played futsal, which helped me stay technically sharp. Futsal is played at a faster pace, so it forced me to make quicker decisions within the game. I believe the combination of it all, is what led to me earning a scholarship to play Division I soccer at the University of Colorado, which was at the time, part of the Pac-12. During my time at CU, I got called up to the Philippines National team camp, but was not released to attend because camps were being held during the collegiate Season. It would remain that way for the duration of my time there, so I had to make a tough choice. I transferred to another P4 school. I just didn’t want to feel limited in not being able to participate in something I worked really hard to earn. Due to family circumstances, I decided to return to SoCal and am currently a student-athlete at LMU.

I have been fortunate enough to be involved with the U.S. Youth National Team system, attending USYNT camps. I also played on the U.S. Youth Futsal National Team, competing in Montreal and Portugal. As I’ve grown older, I’ve had opportunities to represent my parents’ heritage internationally with the Philippines, Thailand, and Taiwan. I really want to be thoughtful with making such an important decision before committing to a country. Most recently, I visited Thailand after being called into a National team camp, which was held about 2hrs (driving) outside of Bangkok. Looking back on all the places soccer and futsal have taken me, I realize these are things you don’t plan for, but I’m grateful to have been fortunate enough to have had these amazing moments along my journey so far.

As I approach the end of my college career, I am focused on graduating and helping my team to compete for a conference championship and qualify for the NCAA Tournament. My team reached the tournament during my freshman year at Colorado, and I’m determined to make it back with my current team.

Looking ahead, my next chapter will be playing professionally—whether in the United States or abroad—with the ultimate goal of competing in the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2031.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The road was not always smooth. During club soccer, my stature was not always embraced. I was shorter than most kids, and I remember coaches always addressing me as “little Gracie”. I’ve had coaches say I “need to take fewer touches on the ball, dribble less, don’t try to be fancy with the ball.” I heard all of this before I was 10.

I knew who I was as a player, way before I heard all that. I knew I was a creative player, I liked to play free, and I loved using skill moves on the pitch. You can imagine how it felt hearing all that growing up. It’s like telling a painter the only colors to use are black and white. I was fortunate enough to have people around me who supported me and the type of player I am. It was important not to change.

Achieving a goal is one thing; maintaining it is something else. So I made it to a D1 P4. Now comes the work of staying game fit, keeping technically sound, and embracing the work ethic at the next level. Before arriving at CU for my freshman year, I moved to Colorado early, enrolled in SAQ sessions, and played in a summer league, all to be prepared for playing at that altitude. Once the season started, I did additional practices every day with the Assistant Coach. Even with all this, nothing is guaranteed, and that’s one of the biggest obstacles- for me, the required consistency with training, weights, and healthy habits has been the minimum needed – mentality is everything.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
College Athlete / Aspiring Professional Soccer Player.
I’d say what I’m most proud of is not having paid attention to the noise and doubters. My journey so far has not been typical. I can’t let someone else’s opinion of me count more than my opinion of me. I’ve worked hard, stayed focused, and my family has made sacrifices to help me get to where I want to go. Remembering all that keeps me grounded.

As a player, what seems to set me apart is my technical ability and vision on the pitch. Growing up, I remember other parents and coaches always saying, “It looks like the ball is glued to your foot!” I just try to work on the things that are in my control. I would love to be able to play professionally in an environment that allows me to contribute to playing freely and creatively.

I get to keep it fun and work on technical stuff while playing streetball with VBFC when I’m able to. It’s an incredible environment, and occasionally, there are pick-up games or events at the Nike LA center. I also recently had the opportunity to play in the inaugural exhibition match with the SD Sockers W team. It was so much fun! Growing up, I attended arena soccer games as well; it was definitely a full circle moment.

So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
While in college, I’ve been fortunate to have done some collabs with some amazing brands. Most recently, I was tapped to do something on social media with Adidas to promote FIFA WC 2026. The NIL platform has been solid for me. The best way to reach out about collaborating is via Instagram.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: gracethao24
• Twitter: gracethao24

Image Credits
LMU photo courtesy of LMU athletics
CU photo courtesy of CU Boulder athletics
VBFC photo courtesy of Venice Beach Football Club
SD Sockers W photo courtesy of MASL SD Sockers photography