Jasmyne ‘Jas’ Spencer is a pioneer, and a busy one at that.

The charismatic, hard-working, adaptable forward has been a stalwart in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) since its initial campaign in 2013, scoring 15 goals with five clubs[1]. She is expected to play a key role in 2022 with her sixth team, the expansion Angel City FC in Los Angeles. Somehow Spencer has also found the time to launch and manage Jas It Up, a purpose-driven, sustainable apparel company. And as EcoAthletes’ newest Champion, she is excited to engage her fans, fellow players, and customers to join her in the #ClimateComeback.

Spencer’s road to a career as a pro soccer/eco-preneur/EcoAthletes Champion triple threat began in Bayshore, Long Island. She knew at a young age that the journey would not be an easy one.

“I followed my two older brothers by basically growing up on the soccer pitch,” Spencer recalled. “They took part in the Olympic Development Program but had to deal with racism — there were very few African-American kids — and politics. My dad did not want me to go through that, so I played for town teams and flew under the radar. There wasn’t a professional avenue for women then so I thought I’d play in college and that would be that.”

She became an All-American at the University of Maryland in 2011. Even though the professional opportunities were very limited, Spencer was not ready to give the game up. 

“I was drafted by Philadelphia of the Women’s Professional Soccer, a predecessor of NWSL, in 2012 but the league folded before I got to play,” noted Spencer. “So, I headed home to try figure things out. After playing in a semi-pro league on Long Island, I went to Denmark. Going abroad was the only way to make a living for a woman soccer player. I ended up playing at first division Brønby. We made it to the European Champions League, getting to the round of 16, which was amazing.”

While Spencer had a lifelong love of nature — she had wanted to be a marine biologist — it wasn’t until she was in Denmark that she had a sustainability awakening.

“Caring for the environment was so immersed in the culture everywhere I went in Scandinavia,” Spencer observed. “Conservation, the use of geothermal power, especially in Iceland, and great public transportation. I rode my bike everywhere and so did the fans.”

 Despite having loved her time in Europe, Spencer decided to come home in 2013 when the newly formed NWSL held its inaugural draft. She has delivered at every stop thanks to her energetic, positive, attacking style.

“The quality of play in the league is so good, so cutthroat,” she asserted. “To be able to survive, you have to be good, and you have to give it your all every game, every season. I love the challenge!”

Spencer has also loved the challenge of being a sustainable fashion entrepreneur, launching Jas It Up while she was with the Orlando Pride in 2016. 

“I always loved fashion as a simple, relatable form of self-expression,” she said. “I wanted to build a brand that would tie together fashion, performance and the causes I cared about. And it was a fun way to share my story. We started with headbands with a funky design. I started slowly, making them to order myself before finding manufacturers in Orlando. When I tore my ACL in 2019, my first major injury, I had the time to think about how we could grow. Expanding into streetwear and activewear made a lot of sense to me so we added t-shirts, sweatshirts and hoodies.”

While the environment has been core to Jas It Up’s DNA since the get-go, Spencer found it difficult to source environmentally friendly materials at first.

“It took a while, but I finally found two women who had sustainable manufacturing backgrounds and were knowledgeable about sustainable materials,” remembered Spencer. “They made our products out of recycled nylon, bamboo, organic cotton, and recycled polyester made from recycled plastic bottles. Eventually, we switched to third party, sustainable manufacturers in Colorado whose factories run on renewable electricity.”

With sustainable manufacturing process in place, Spencer was ready to move forward with Jas It Up’s new line, ‘Gone By 2050’.

“The line’s focus is about how climate change has devastated and will continue to devastate coastal communities,” Spencer related. “Super storms like Katrina, Harvey and Sandy, which devastated Long Island, brought this all home to me. That’s why proceeds from ‘Gone by 2050’ are going to provide relief for natural disaster survivors. Our message is: Now is the time to act on climate.”

Becoming an EcoAthletes Champion is a logical next step for Spencer: “I love the idea of being a part of a global community of athletes who share ideas on how to best use our platforms for equitable climate solutions. My climate journey is just beginning. EcoAthletes and my fellow Champions will help accelerate my progress.”

[1] Spencer has played in Washington, Buffalo, Orlando, Tacoma and Houston

You can follow Jasmyne on Instagram and Twitter. You can also follow Jas It Up on Instagram