MILWAUKEE — Many fans at the Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand would likely describe the experience as surreal. Watching some of the top athletes from around the world compete against each other on the world's biggest stage. One could imagine it would be dream-like.
Surreal is one of the first words Clint and Lindy McDaniel used to describe their experience. But the McDaniels aren't typical fans, they're also the parents of two of the women competing.
"At this moment it's just kind of surreal. You're sitting in the stands and it's kind of like one moment it's the World Cup and the next moment it's a soccer game again and everything seems normal," Clint said alongside his wife Lindy in their New Zealand hotel room.
Olivia and Chandler McDaniel are competing with the Philippines Women's National Team in the 2023 World Cup. They also happen to be former UW Milwaukee Panthers soccer players.
Olivia was a second-string goalkeeper for the Panthers from 2016-2019. Her sister Chandler joined her from 2018-2019 and was a starter for the team.
But they're soccer journey started years before that, as young girls in California. Their dad, Clint, was even their coach in those early years. He says they started playing around age five or six and were almost always playing on the same team.
TMJ4's Sarah McGrew asked Clint and Lindy if in those early years they ever thought they'd watch their daughters play in a World Cup. Lindy's answer was an honest "no."
"The girls really loved the sport, but there were a lot of ups and downs for both Chandler and Olivia," Lindy explained.
The McDaniels explained that Olivia often found herself fighting for playing time in the goal throughout high school and college, even though her first coach, her dad, always believed in her potential as a goalie.
And Chandler, they shared, was often fighting off injuries. During qualifying for the World Cup, Chandler suffered an ACL injury.
"With Chandler coming off an ACL and Livie really feeling like she was never going to play soccer again, I mean it's really a blessing. It's been a blessing," Lindy said.
Representing the Philippines
So how did Olivia and Chandler go from young girls coached by their dad playing on soccer fields across California to top-tier athletes representing the Philippines Women's National Team?
Their maternal grandparents came to the United States from the Philippines when they were young, passing on their dual citizenship to their daughter Lindy and ultimately their grandchildren.
"The Philippines is well known for exporting the best commodity that they have, which is their workforce. So there are Filipinos all over the world," Lindy said. "It's still 100% part of our culture."
Lindy's parents are also in New Zealand to cheer on their granddaughters. Lindy said it was beyond her own mom's wildest dreams.
"To look at my mom just crying that her granddaughters have achieved this. To all those Filipinos who have left their home country and built a life somewhere else, it kind of, it confirms that my mom leaving the country when she was 21 not knowing the language, my dad when he was 17 joining the U.S. Military, it speaks to them and it kind of make it worth it," Lindy shared.
The McDaniels also have a son, who they said is currently playing professionally for a club in the Philippines.
On the World's Stage
This is the Philippines' first time in the World Cup, for a women's or men's team. The McDaniels Credit former Women's National Team Coach Ernest Nierras for building up the team the last several years in order to make it to the world stage, and for giving their daughters the chance to compete at this level.
The Philippines made their world cup debut on the second day of the tournament against Switzerland. Switzerland came away with a 2-0 win in that match.
But in the second game of the group stage, the Philippine side came back with a stunning 1-0 upset over host country New Zealand, marking the country's first-ever World Cup win.
Lindy described her emotions watching that game as "frantic."
"You knew that New Zealand was going to push very, very hard. And honestly, that last [shot], where the ball hit the goal post, it was like hand of God. I can't even. I was like 'wow,'" Lindy recalled.
Olivia, in the goal, saw plenty of action in that game, making save after save. She ended up winning Player of the Match.
Next Generation
The 2023 Women's World Cup is expected to break viewership records, already outpacing the 2019 tournament, with thousands of young girls filling the stands and tuning in across the world.
The U.S. Women's National team is often credited with inspiring generations of young soccer players and athletes. With this being the Philippines' first trip to the World Cup, TMJ4's Sarah McGrew asked the McDaniels what it means that Olivia and Chandler could potentially have that same impact on young athletes in the Philippines and across the world.
"I think it means everything to them that they can be that for the Philippines, for the girls. And hopefully the sport does take off," Clint said. "When were in the Philippines last time, there's skyscrapers with their posters on the side of it."
Right now, Clint and Lindy are immersed in the joy of watching their daughters play a sport they love.
"They're five years old again and they're at the World Cup," Clint said of the dream come true.
"And then to be able to do this together is such a blessing," Lindy added.
The Philippines play their final group stage match on Sunday against Norway at 2 a.m. in Milwaukee. You can watch on Fox Sports 1.
A win for the Philippines against Norway would seal the team's spot in the Round of 16. The team could also advance with a tie, but only if Switzerland gets a win against New Zealand.
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