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Christen Press, Tobin Heath Getty Images
Celia BalfJul 8, 2025
C. Press
Angel City FC
NWSL
CULTURE
Lifestyle

'Contribute to the good in the world' - Former USWNT stars Christen Press and Tobin Heath ditch rigidity to embrace new life with their bundle of joy, adopted Doberman Bobbi

Press and Heath team up with PETA after adoption path helps them find their forever love, Bobbi

World Cup Champions Christen Press and Tobin Heath have a new trophy in their home: Their adopted puppy, Bobbi.

Press, a forward for Angel City in the NWSL, and Heath, a retired Olympic gold medalist for the U.S. women's national team, never thought they'd be at this phase of life; parenting a pup and feeling a level of joy so robust that winning a World Cup title, twice, hardly feels comparable.

Press has been with Angel City since 2021, and in 2022 faced a severe ACL-tear that required four surgeries to repair. The forward didn't return to play for 781 days, but eventually found her way back in August of 2024. To kick off the new year, she renewed her contract with Angel City through 2025.

Since being back with the Los Angeles club, Press has taken on a leadership role with the team, jokingly, known as young superstar Alyssa Thompson's mother. Heath, Press's partner, is retired from professional soccer, but has stayed close to the game working as an entrepreneur and also part of a FIFA technical study group around the Club World Cup.

In between podcast recordings, practices and study groups, Press and Heath still find themselves at their local farmer's market every weekend. One day, just a typical trip for some fresh produce and local goods ended up with the couple bringing home a new member to the family.

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    It all started at the farmer's market

    "She [Bobbi] was born on Jan. 1 and about eight weeks later, we saw her at the farmer's market," Press told INDIVISA.

    When Press and Heath go to the market, they are often on a mission. Heath is typically distracting Press from the dog litters - but on this particular day there were 10 Doberman Pinscher puppies. Whether it was the big batch of spinach that changed the couples mind or something else fresh that day, Press and Heath became puppy parents.

    It was an easy yes for Press, but Heath wasn't quite sure she was ready to be a dog mom yet. Fostering felt like a good compromise. So that day, they took on the admirable responsibility as foster parents.

    "I was very committed to being a good foster mother," Press said. "I was going to take her to all her adoption events and I didn't think I would keep Bob because, you know, I'm playing and I'm traveling a lot. But three days later there was a yoga adoption event. And I said, 'OK, Tobin, you're gonna have to take Bob all the way to Pasadena to this puppy yoga adoption event'.

    "And she was like, 'I am not taking my dog to get adopted.' And I was like, 'Oh, this is our dog, now.'"

    And, just like that, a PETA campaign was in the making. Press had worked with the organization before. It had been more than a decade ago, but the sentiment was the same.

    "I am a big believer that if you wake up and you're just a positive and energetic person that works on your healing and spreads good energy - you are contributing greatly to the world," she said. "And, right now, the world feels heavy and I think there's just so much fear and darkness right now. And I think the little ways that we can all contribute to the good in the world, they're really fulfilling. And I think adopting a pet is something that all of us should consider if we want to have animals in our home."

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    'We were thinking about the responsibility'

    Being a professional athlete has been all Press and Heath have really known. The are used to the grind, the strict scheduling and travel, but also rigor with almost everything they are involved in.

    "I think that before we had a dog, we were very happy being like one of the few people not attached to a pet. And I think we had a fear that we'd be the person who thought 'I have to leave early to go let my dog out.'

    "But, I think what we found was like we were thinking about the responsibility, but we weren't thinking about the joy."

    Press added, "As we transition into the next phase of life, it's been really beautiful for us to realize the joy. In making choices and making sacrifices to take care of something else. So I think that's the greatest gift that Bob has given us during the hecticness and the chaos of our lives, is like remembering that giving is so nourishing. And remembering to slow down and do the simple things like go on a walk and hang out at your house. Those little things make your your animal so happy."

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    'Live a life where she gets to be brave'

    Press has brought Bob around the team on many occasions, and is very much proud to have her meet all of her teammates. There are many prideful dog moms in the NWSL, and on Angel City alone they will have puppy pop-up events and even sell Angel City FC merch for pets.

    When asked what kind of parents Press and Heath are striving to be for Bob, Press answers thoughtfully, taking a pause.

    "We're in a high training zone to try to get Bob to be able to understand us in the best possible way," Press said. "All so that she can live a life that's like, totally free. And everywhere we go, she goes! We're traveling people. We've traveled the world our whole lives. We're not going to stop now.

    "And, you know, I hope that Bob gets to live a life where she gets to be brave, she gets to face her fears and she gets to experience new things. I hope her life feels like the vision of a dog running in a big and open field. That's what I want her life to be like."