PHOENIX � Phoenix Rising FC midfielder Jamison Ping’s journey to signing his first professional contract took 16 years and 11 months. His signing was announced on Feb. 28 � signifying Ping’s leap from the small town of Winona, Minnesota, to playing professional soccer in one of the country’s biggest cities.
On Ping’s 17th birthday, he was welcomed with a gift. Ping knew his family would be in the Valley, but they were unaware of what was to come. Ping would be granted his first opportunity to appear in the Rising’s starting lineup in their game against Rhode Island on March 22.
kAmxE H2D 2 DA64:2= >@>6?E 7@C !:?8[ @?6 E92E 96 925 366? H2:E:?8 7@C 9:D H9@=6 =:76] !:?8 ;@:?65 E96 #:D:?8 24256>J 2D 2? 24256>J A=2J6C :? a_a_ H96? 96 H2D `a] }@H 2D 2 `f\J62C\@=5 AC@76DD:@?2= A=2J:?8 :? E96 7:CDE E62>[ E96 D64@?5\6G6C 24256>J 8C25F2E6 :? #:D:?8 9:DE@CJ[ !:?8 :D 6286C E@ >2<6 9:D >2C< 2D 96 5:5 :? 9:D 24256>J 52JD]k^Am
kAm“xE’D 2 5:776C6?E 82>6[â€� !:?8 D2:5] “x 766= =:<6 x’G6 252AE65 AC6EEJ H6==[ ;FDE 92G6 E@ <66A 8C@H:?8 :? H92E x 5@]â€k^Am
kAm%96 #:D:?8’D 24256>J D6EFA @776CD J@F?8 A=2J6CD[ 3@E9 3@JD 2?5 8:C=D[ @AA@CEF?:E:6D E@ A=2J D@446C 7@C :ED G2C:@FD J@FE9 E62>D] %96 24256>J 4C62E6D A2E9H2JD E@ E96 ?6IE =6G6= 7@C E96D6 A=2J6CD � H96E96C E92E 36 :? 4@==686 @C 7@C 2 AC@76DD:@?2= E62>]k^Am
kAmp4256>J D62D@?D =2DE 2C@F?5 `_ >@?E9D] $@ H9:=6 E96 @77D62D@? :D D9@CE[ <:5D 2C6 @776C65 2>A=6 @AA@CEF?:EJ E@ AC:@C:E:K6 E96:C 56G6=@A>6?E DFCC@F?565 3J E2=6?E65 4@2496D 2?5 A=2J6CD]k^Am
kAm%96 #:D:?8 A=2J :? E96 &${ r92>A:@?D9:A 2?5 D:E 7@FCE9 :? E96 (6DE6C? r@?76C6?46 27E6C `b =628F6 82>6D] u:CDE\J62C 4@249 !2\|@5@F z29 92D 366? 4=62C 23@FE 9:D G:D:@? E@ FD6 E96 24256>J 2D 2 C6D@FC46 7@C E96 4=F3]k^Am
kAm“xE’D >2DD:G6[â€� z29 D2:5] “x? 6G6CJ E@A 4=F3[ E96 32D6 :D E96 24256>J] u@C E96 @G6C2== 8C@HE9 @7 E96 4=F3[ :E’D :>A@CE2?E E92E A6@A=6 AFE E:>6 2?5 677@CE :?E@ E96:C 24256>J]â€k^Am
kAmz29 92D 366? 252>2?E 23@FE 7:6=5:?8 A=2J6CD H9@ 2C6 56D6CG:?8 @7 @AA@CEF?:E:6D � C682C5=6DD @7 286 @C 6IA6C:6?46] %92E A9:=@D@A9J D9@H65 :? E96:C b\` H:? 282:?DE ~C2?86 r@F?EJ $r @? yF?6 f H96? `e\J62C\@=5 7@CH2C5 rJCFD z@H2== 3642>6 E96 J@F?86DE DE2CE6C :? #:D:?8 9:DE@CJ]k^Am
kAm“x E9:?< 96 H2D G6CJ 8@@5[â€� z29 D2:5] “x7 J@F’C6 @=5 6?@F89[ J@F’C6 8@@5 6?@F89]â€k^Am
kAm%96 5:C64E@C @7 E96 #:D:?8’D E@A 24256>J AC@8C2>[ |{$ }6IE[ :D p?5J r92A>2? � 2 7@C>6C 24256>J A=2J6C 9:>D6=7 7@C (2E7@C5 ur :? t?8=2?5] w6 2=D@ 4@2496D E96 &?56C\`f 2?5 &?56C\`h E62>D] %96 #:D:?8 92G6 366? 2 A2CE @7 |{$ }6IE D:?46 :ED DE2CE :? $6AE6>36C a_a_]k^Am
kAm%96 |{$ :D E96 E@A AC@76DD:@?2= D@446C =628F6 :? E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D] |{$ }6IE @776CD E96 36DE 56G6=@A>6?E2= A=2E7@C> 7@C E96 #:D:?8’D J@F?8 A=2J6CD 2D E96J 4@>A6E6 2=@?8D:56 @E96C 9:89\=6G6= 4@>A6E:E:@?]k^Am
kAm“xE’D 366? G6CJ C6H2C5:?8[â€� r92A>2? D2:5] â€�(6 92G6 6DE23=:D965 @FCD6=G6D :? E96 $@FE9H6DE C68:@? 2D @?6 @7 E96 E@A E62>D] xE’D 2 8C62E AC@8C2> H:E9 2 5:C64E A2E9H2J E@ @FC AC@76DD:@?2= E62>]â€k^Am
kAm%96 #:D:?8 92G6 :?G@=G65 D6G6C2= 24256>J A=2J6CD 7C@> |{$ }6IE[ =:<6 z@H2==[ :? E96 7:CDE E62> E9:D D62D@?] tG6? >@C6 92G6 366? :?G@=G65 :? E96:C EC2:?:?8 D6DD:@?D] %9@D6 A=2J6CD 92G6 H@C<65 H:E9 r92A>2? 2?5 2C6 4@>A=:>6?E2CJ @7 9:D 23:=:EJ E@ 3C:?8 @FE E96:C 36DE]k^Am
kAm“x’G6 <?@H? p?5J 7@C 2 H9:=6 ?@H[â€� !:?8 D2:5] “w6’D 2 8C62E 8FJ[ DFAA@CE:G6 2?5 96=A65 >6 :? >@>6?ED x ?66565 :E]â€k^Am
kAmu@CH2C5 +249 s2 $:=G2 :D @?6 @7 7:G6 24256>J A=2J6CD H9@ D:8?65 &${ 24256>J 4@?EC24ED :? |2C49 � 2==@H:?8 9:> E@ C6>2:? 6=:8:3=6 7@C E96 24256>J[ EC2:? H:E9 E96 7:CDE E62> 2?5 >2:?E2:? 4@==686 6=:8:3:=:EJ] s2 $:=G2 D2:5 r92A>2? 92D 366? 2 G2=F23=6 7:8FC6 :? 9:D 56G6=@A>6?E E@ E9:D A@:?E]k^Am
kAm“x 42>6 E@ 9:> 23@FE EH@ E@ E9C66 J62CD 28@ ?@E A=2J:?8 8@@5 2?5 =24<:?8 4@?7:56?46[â€� s2 $:=G2 D2:5] “w6 C62==J ;FDE E@@< >6 F?56C 9:D H:?8 2?5 ECFDE65 >6]â€k^Am
kAms2 $:=G2[ `f[ D2:5 2== @7 E96 24256>J 4@2496D ECJ E@ AFD9 A=2J6CD D@ E96J 2C6 AC6A2C65 7@C A@E6?E:2= @AA@CEF?:E:6D H:E9 E96 7:CDE E62>] r92A>2? D2:5 E96 4=F3’D AC:@C:EJ 92D 366? E@ 3C:?8 :? 8@@5 A6@A=6 H9@ H:== C6AC6D6?E E96>D6=G6D[ E96:C 72>:=:6D 2?5 E96 #:D:?8 2E E96 9:896DE =6G6=]k^Am
kAmâ€�%96 A=2J6CD 56D6CG6 2== E96 4C65:E[â€� r92A>2? D2:5] â€�(6’C6 ECJ:?8 E@ 4C62E6 2? 6?G:C@?>6?E 7@C E96> E@ 36 492==6?865[ 2?5 9@A67F==J[ =:G6 @FE D@>6 @7 E96:C 5C62>D @7 A=2J:?8 4@==68:2E6=J @C AC@76DD:@?2==J 2E E96 D2>6 E:>6]â€k^Am
kAm(9:=6 r92A>2? 4C65:ED E96 4=F3 7@C 2==@H:?8 z29 E@ 8:G6 J@F?8 A=2J6CD 2 492?46 E@ 56G6=@A H:E9 E96 7:CDE E62>[ 96 2AAC64:2E6D z29’D 36=:67 :? E96 24256>J]k^Am
kAm“xE’D 366? C67C6D9:?8[â€� r92A>2? D2:5] â€�(6 92G6 FA E@ `_ A=2J6CD EC2:?:?8 H:E9 E96 7:CDE E62> 6G6CJ D:?8=6 52J] %96:C :?G@=G6>6?E :D 2== 5@H? E@ 9:>]â€k^Am
kAmr92A>2? D2:5 2 9:89 DE2?52C5 :D D6E 62C=J @? :? E96 24256>J DE286D 36EH66? E96 A=2J6CD 2?5 E96:C A2C6?ED � 2==@H:?8 E96 A=2J6CD E@ 36 AC6A2C65 :7 E96J 2C6 42==65 FA@? E@ ;@:? E96 7:CDE E62>] xE 92D ?@E @?=J =65 E@ :?G@=G6>6?E :? E96 7:CDE E62> EC2:?:?8 D6DD:@?D H96C6 :?E6?D:EJ :D 9:89[ 3FE A=2J6CD 92G6 6G6? 366? 277@C565 @AA@CEF?:E:6D E@ 762EFC6 :? 82>6D]k^Am
kAm!:?8[ s2 $:=G2 2?5 @E96C 24256>J E2=6?E 762EFC65 D:8?:7:42?E=J 7@C E96 #:D:?8 5FC:?8 E96 AC6D62D@?] {:<6 s2 $:=G2[ !:?8 H2D @?46 @? 2 &${ p4256>J 4@?EC24E 27E6C D:8?:?8 9:D :? yF=J a_ac] !:?8 D2:5 96 92D 925 E@ 252AE E@ E96 :?4C62D65 A9JD:42=:EJ 2?5 A246 3FE :E :D ;FDE A2CE @7 E96 =62C?:?8 4FCG6 7@C 9:> 3642FD6[ 2D 96 D2JD[ “D@446C :D D@446C]â€k^Am
kAmxE :D D276 E@ D2J z29 92D 2AAC64:2E65 E96 `f\J62C\@=5’D 677@CED]k^Am
kAm“y2>@ :D 8C@H:?8[â€� z29 D2:5] “{6E’D ?@E 7@C86E 96’D DE:== 2 J@F?8 A=2J6C F?56CDE2?5:?8 E96 ?F2?46D @7 36:?8 2 AC@76DD:@?2= 7@@E32==6C] (6 2C6 G6CJ 92AAJ H:E9 H96C6 96 :D]â€k^Am
kAm!:?8 92D 762EFC65 :? D6G6? 82>6D 7@C E96 #:D:?8 E9:D D62D@?[ :?4=F5:?8 EH@ DE2CED] w6 4C65:ED 9:D 4@2496D 2?5 E62>>2E6D :? E96 24256>J 7@C 96=A:?8 9:> AC6A2C6 7@C E96 492==6?86D 96 92D 72465 H:E9 E96 7:CDE E62>] (96E96C :E :D :? EC2:?:?8 @C 2E 9@>6[ !:?8 D2:5 96 C68F=2C=J =@@<D 7@C H2JD E@ D6A2C2E6 9:>D6=7 7C@> 9:D 4@>A6E:E:@?]k^Am
kAms2 $:=G2[ H9@ :D 4FCC6?E=J :?;FC65[ 92D J6E E@ A=2J 2?J 7:CDE E62> >:?FE6D 3FE @?6 @7 E96 A=2J6CD H9@ D:8?65 2? 24256>J 4@?EC24E 2=@?8D:56 9:>[ 5676?56C qC2IE@? |@?E8@>6CJ[ 92D 762EFC65 A=6?EJ] |@?E8@>6CJ 92D DE2CE65 `_ 82>6D 7@C E96 #:D:?8 E9:D D62D@?] z29 56D4C:365 |@?E8@>6CJ 2D 2? �23D@=FE6 >@56=� 7@C E96 24256>J 2?5 D@>6@?6 E96 E62> ECFDED]k^Am
kAms2 $:=G2 4C65:ED E96 24256>J 7@C :ED 565:42E:@? E@ AC6A2C:?8 A=2J6CD :? E96:C EC2?D:E:@? E@ E96 7:CDE E62>]k^Am
kAmâ€�%96J W24256>J 4@2496DX C62==J H2?E E@ AFD9 J@F 7@CH2C5 D@ E92E J@F’C6 AC6A2C65 7@C E9:D[â€� s2 $:=G2 D2:5] â€�(6 A=2J D:>:=2C DEJ=6D 2D E96 7:CDE E62> D@ :E’D 62DJ E@ 4@>6 7C@> E96 24256>J]â€k^Am
kAms2 $:=G2 D2:5 z29 �56>2?5D 2 =@E� 3FE E92E :D 6I24E=J H92E 96 :D 27E6C :? 2 4@249] w6 D2:5 z29 2=D@ EC62ED E96 24256>J A=2J6CD E96 D2>6 2D E96 7:CDE E62> A=2J6CD H9:49 D6ED C62=:DE:4 6IA64E2E:@?D 7@C H92E :D E@ 4@>6 :? E96:C 42C66CD]k^Am
kAm%96 #:D:?8 92G6 D9@H42D65 2 565:42E:@? E@ EC62E:?8 J@FE9 56G6=@A>6?E 2D 2 AC:@C:EJ] !:?8’D >6DD286 E@ E96 J@F?8 A=2J6CD C:D:?8 E9C@F89 E96 C2?<D :D D:>A=6 � H@C< 92C5]k^Am
kAmâ€�%96 J@FE9 :D G6CJ :>A@CE2?E[â€� z29 D2:5] â€�(6 92G6 2 3F?49 @7 24256>J A=2J6CD E92E H6 36=:6G6 :?] w@A67F==J H6 42? 4C62E6 A2E9H2JD 7@C E96> ?@H 2?5 :? E96 7FEFC6]â€k^Am
