Casey Murphy‘s path to becoming one of the top goalkeepers in American soccer didn’t follow the usual domestic script.
Instead of heading straight into the NWSL after four standout years at Rutgers University, the Bridgewater Township, New Jersey native made an ambitious move to Europe, signing with Montpellier in France.
It was the kind of bold step rarely seen among young American players and it opened the door to the kind of high-level experience few her age had access to: European league play, new styles of training, and the pressure of Champions League competition.
And yet, despite the prestige and exposure, Murphy made the decision to return to the United States just two years later.
Murphy recently explained on The Women’s Game podcast with former USWNT midfielder Sam Mewis that it had everything to do with communication, personal growth, and the kind of self-coaching you don’t learn from textbooks or scouting reports.
“One of the things was communication,” Murphy said during the interview. “I was so used to communicating but with a back line that was all foreign. I still communicated but they didn’t understand me.”
For a position as reliant on verbal command as goalkeeper, that language gap proved a challenge. Murphy was absorbing instructions from coaches she couldn’t converse with directly.
“Having a coach for the first time that I couldn’t collaborate with after every rep or game review-It was more like I had to really learn to coach myself,” she admitted.
Being alone in her thoughts helped Murphy master the mental side of the game
Murphy‘s time in Montpellier turned into an unexpected crash course in mental resilience. With no easy outlet for in-the-moment feedback, she leaned into her instincts and developed new habits.
“It was an opportunity for me to really work through scenarios, think about things, and be curious about things on my own within my position,” she said.
Whether it was during water breaks, halftime, or in the solitude of post-game reflection, Murphy had to rely on her internal voice. The lack of direct, fluent instruction might have been frustrating at first, but in hindsight, it was foundational.
None of this is to say she didn’t receive support at Montpellier. In fact, Murphy described the experience as positive overall, citing the unique benefits of training in Europe and competing against some of the world’s best.
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