Which Professional Players Wear IDA Sports Cleats?
Courtney Brown — NWSL player and announced IDA ambassador
Courtney Brown is one of the clearest documented examples. On June 9, 2025, IDA Sports announced Brown as a brand ambassador and confirmed she had already worked on its professional player testing initiative. IDA said Brown committed to wearing its footwear as her cleat choice.
Brown was with the Washington Spirit when the announcement appeared. IDA’s more recent homepage features her under Utah Royals. This distinction matters: the original announcement confirms her relationship with the brand, while the current brand page supplies more recent team context. Neither source establishes that she wore the same exact boot in every subsequent match.
Sam Angel (formerly Sam Cary) — NWSL defender and IDA athlete
Sam Angel, previously known as Sam Cary Angel, is explicitly introduced by IDA as an athlete. In its interview with the NWSL defender, published October 6, 2025, IDA welcomed her to its squad and discussed her return to U.S. professional soccer with the Chicago Stars.
The interview also supplies unusually specific footwear evidence: Angel discussed her preference for light-colored IDA Helia cleats and mentioned the white Helias and Helia Phoenix design. These are her stated preferences at the time of the interview, not proof that every match-day pair or current model is unchanged.
Kaylie Collins — featured IDA soccer athlete
Kaylie Collins appears in IDA’s “Play Like the Pros” and “Endorsed by the Pros” promotional sections, labeled with the Washington Spirit. IDA has also described Collins among the professional players on its growing athlete roster. That supports an IDA athlete association, rather than relying on an unidentified social-media photograph.
For current club details or a specific boot colorway, check a more recent player or manufacturer update before stating either as a present-day fact.
Laurel Ansbrow — Boston Legacy
Laurel Ansbrow is featured on IDA Sports’ current homepage in its “The Pros Play in IDA” section, alongside the Boston Legacy name. That is direct manufacturer evidence connecting the player to the footwear brand.
IDA’s homepage does not specify which exact cleat model Ansbrow wears in every competition, so the reliable claim is the athlete feature and association—not an invented SKU or permanent match-day equipment agreement.
Aaliyah Schinaman — Philippines women’s national team
Aaliyah Schinaman is another player named in IDA’s current “The Pros Play in IDA” feature, with the Philippines women’s national team. This adds an international-team dimension to the brand’s soccer presence.
Some older IDA pages spell her surname differently. For this article, we follow the spelling on IDA’s current homepage rather than repeating inconsistent older promotional text.
Ava Seelenfreund and Kayla Gonçalves — European club soccer
IDA’s Play in Full Color athlete feature identifies Ava Seelenfreund with Torreense Feminino and Kayla Gonçalves with Wexford FC. The page presents them among athletes endorsing or wearing IDA footwear.
These club references describe what IDA published on that campaign page; transfers and footwear arrangements can change. They are useful, sourced examples of the brand’s international reach, but should not be treated as a permanent roster database.
The NWSL Players Who Helped Test IDA Cleats
IDA did more than feature professionals in advertisements. In a November 2024 account of its pro player testing initiative, the manufacturer publicly named ten NWSL players involved in fit research and product development:
- Makenna Morris — Washington Spirit at the time of the announcement.
- Summer Yates — Orlando Pride.
- Courtney Brown — Washington Spirit.
- Kerry Abello — Orlando Pride.
- Heather Stainbrook — Washington Spirit.
- Lena Silano — Washington Spirit.
- Kenna Caldwell — Orlando Pride.
- Waniya Hudson — Washington Spirit, then on loan at Dallas Trinity FC.
- Claire Winter — Orlando Pride, then on loan at Lexington SC.
- Jenna Bike — Chicago Stars.
These are the teams IDA listed in 2024, not verified 2026 rosters. The program involved foot measurements, fit feedback, product development, and wear testing. It is evidence that IDA’s footwear was being tested with professionals. It is not evidence that all ten athletes subsequently signed exclusive endorsement agreements or wear IDA in every league match.
The distinction makes the story stronger, not weaker. Players contributed direct feedback on comfort, traction, arches, forefoot fit, and how the boot behaves under professional training demands. Women athletes were part of the design process, rather than simply appearing in advertising after the product was finished.
Why Do Professional Soccer Players Choose Women-Specific Cleats?
Soccer cleats are traditionally shaped around a last—the form used to build the shoe. A smaller size of a men’s model may fit some women very well, but it does not automatically address every difference in foot proportions or personal preferences.
IDA designs footwear for female athletes and discusses fit characteristics such as a roomier forefoot relative to the heel, support, and soleplate design. As IDA explains in its own company story, founder Laura Youngson began questioning why the women on her soccer team were struggling with boots developed around other customers’ needs.
Professional participation adds useful feedback because elite players repeatedly sprint, stop, accelerate, plant, and change direction. Still, the presence of professional athletes does not mean IDA Sports cleats will be the best fit for every girl or woman. The right model must suit the individual’s foot, playing surface, and preferences.
For a practical explanation of cleat construction and sizing, read our IDA Sports cleats fit guide and women’s-specific cleat buying guide.
Which IDA Sports Cleat Should You Try?
Start with surface and fit, not the name of the professional wearing the boot. The Helia family includes models positioned for different levels of play, while the brand also offers turf footwear designed for shorter artificial surfaces.
- Natural grass: Look for the manufacturer-approved firm-ground (FG) option that matches field conditions.
- Compatible artificial grass: Check whether the exact model is designated FG/AG; do not assume every outdoor boot is appropriate for every synthetic field.
- Shorter turf: Consider a turf-specific outsole where the facility recommends turf shoes.
- Sizing: Measure both feet and follow the size guidance for the specific model, not a different Helia tier.
- Comfort: Check heel security, forefoot pressure, toe room, and whether the boot creates rubbing during controlled movement.
A young player does not need a professional’s exact cleat to benefit from better options. A secure, comfortable boot appropriate for the field is a smarter starting point than chasing a celebrity endorsement or an expensive model by default.
Players in Boise, Meridian, Nampa, and surrounding Treasure Valley communities can also explore AMH Goods’ local guidance on women’s soccer cleats that fit. AMH Goods serves customers nationwide and offers select IDA footwear locally through Elite International Soccer Training in Nampa, as described on our About AMH Goods page.
What Do IDA’s Professional Partnerships Mean for Women’s Soccer?
The athlete names matter because they show where equipment development is headed. IDA has publicly documented collaborations with NWSL players and a broader professional athlete community. In April 2025, it also announced a footwear partnership with the USL Players Association, offering interested USL Super League players access to its Rise Elite cleats.
A partnership that gives players access to footwear is not identical to a guarantee that every player wears it. What matters is the expanded opportunity to evaluate products created with women in mind, including through professional feedback.
Frequently Asked Questions About IDA Sports Cleats
Which NWSL players are confirmed IDA athletes?
Courtney Brown was formally announced as an IDA brand ambassador in 2025. Sam Angel was explicitly welcomed as an IDA athlete in the manufacturer’s 2025 interview. Kaylie Collins and Laurel Ansbrow also appear in IDA’s professional-athlete features. Team affiliations reflect the dates of the cited sources and may change.
Did all ten NWSL testers sign with IDA Sports?
The public 2024 announcement confirms participation in professional footwear testing and development. It does not confirm that all ten players entered ongoing endorsement agreements. Courtney Brown later received a separate ambassador announcement.
Do international players wear IDA Sports cleats?
Yes. IDA’s own athlete features name Aaliyah Schinaman of the Philippines women’s national team and European club players Ava Seelenfreund and Kayla Gonçalves. Specific club affiliations and cleat models should be rechecked when a new season begins.
What IDA cleats does Sam Angel wear?
In her October 2025 IDA interview, Angel talked about wearing and liking light-colored IDA Helia cleats, including white Helias and the Helia Phoenix colorway. That is a documented player preference at that time, not a guarantee of her current match-day footwear.
Where can I learn more about IDA cleat fit?
Begin with AMH Goods’ guide to IDA Sports cleats and fit, then compare the exact model’s size chart and field-surface designation. If practical, try cleats on with your usual match socks before committing to a size.
The Takeaway: IDA Is Already Part of the Professional Game
IDA Sports cleats are not merely a concept for future professional soccer. IDA has named ambassadors, featured international players, and a documented NWSL product-testing program. The clearest examples include Courtney Brown and Sam Angel, while IDA’s public athlete pages add Kaylie Collins, Laurel Ansbrow, Aaliyah Schinaman, Ava Seelenfreund, and Kayla Gonçalves.
For players and parents, the bigger value is choice. Use those professional examples as a reason to explore women-specific footwear, then let fit, surface, and comfort decide which pair belongs in your soccer bag.
