By Jinseong Kim
AFC Ann Arbor have added a player to a rich players-turned-pro list earlier this month, as Tatiana Mason signed her first professional contract with a Israeli National Women’s League side Bnot Netanya FC. Mason has joined the Israeli second tier side and currently is undergoing pre-season training.
Mason makes AFCAA history as she becomes the first women’s player to earn a professional contract following her time spent with The Mighty Oak. She also joins fellow 2022 AFCAA alumni Jackson Kasanzu (USL Championship, San Diego Loyal) and Jared Mazzola (USL League One, Greenville Triumph) as the third member of the club from this season to sign their first professional contract.
Joining the Mighty Oak in 2019 and becoming a member of the inaugural women’s team, Mason has always been a key member in AFCAA women’s attack. In the 2022 season, Mason logged the most appearances of any women’s player, and the second-most out of all women and men combined, recording 941 minutes of playtime and notching one goal and two assists. She is the only women’s player to spend 900+ minutes on the pitch.
The attacking midfielder couldn’t hide her excitement in describing the first moment she was reached out to by the Israeli side. Mason would say, “I was pretty excited when I first received an offer from Bnot Netanya. Playing professional soccer has been a dream of mine since I was a kid, so getting the offer was really fulfilling.”
Apart from her USLW career, Mason played her college football at Ball State University. She built a notable career with the NCAA D1 side, being selected three times for All-MAC second team. Reflecting on her pre-professional career, Mason said, “I’ve known that I wanted to play pro since I was a little girl. That’s always been the goal. All the work I’ve put in for college and USLW was also to prepare me for the next level.”
It is Mason’s first time playing overseas. When she was asked how she is adjusting herself to a new environment, Mason answered, “I’ve really been enjoying Israel. The country is a beautiful place with a rich history for many religions and groups of people. It’s been an eye opening experience to get to know my teammates and their stories. Learning Hebrew and Arabic has been challenging, but fun. I look forward to immersing myself in the cultures and learning as much as I can.”
Mason also thanked the Mighty Oak fans for all the dedication. “I would like to give a shout-out to the AFCAA fans! The support and love from the Main Street Hooligans and all other fans is unmatched. Our success is your success.”
The entire AFC Ann Arbor family wishes Tatiana well and hopes for her to have an exciting and productive first year in her professional career!
About AFC Ann Arbor
Association Football Club Ann Arbor (AFC Ann Arbor) was founded in 2014 and competes in USL2 (men’s) and USLW (women’s) national amateur leagues. We are a community-based club, focused on equity, justice, and anti-racism. We consider all of our stakeholders, including supporters, players, staff, and ownership to be part of the #AFCAAFamily. Come On You Mighty Oak!