The BIG LIFE S5E6 | Two ACL Tears, One Incredible Comeback with Peyton Nakagawara

Conference play is here — and things are getting very real for Paige Thompson and Jaiden Rodriguez.

Paige and Jaiden recap a wild week that included a first loss, a 10-goal game, a red card, a lightning delay and USC's 2–2 battle with No. 1 Stanford. They talk about the shrinking margin for error as conference play begins, dealing with playing-time decisions and learning not to let a coach's choices change the way you see yourself as a player.

Then USC's Peyton Nakagawara joins the show with a comeback story that goes way beyond soccer.

Peyton arrived at USC after tearing her ACL during her senior year of high school. She worked her way back, played an entire spring season — and then tore her other ACL in the final minutes of the final spring game. Suddenly, another fall season was gone. Peyton opens up about the mental side of going through the same devastating injury twice, watching teammates play while she rehabbed and finding parts of herself outside of soccer along the way.

Now, more than two years later, Peyton is finally back on the field. In just her third game back, she started against Stanford — and scored.

She takes Paige and Jaiden inside that moment, what kept her going through two long rehabs and what she'd tell the young player who just tore her ACL and is wondering whether her soccer dream is over.

Her message? Take rehab one day at a time. Pour yourself into the work. Learn what the setback has to teach you. You can come back stronger.

Also in this episode: Paige finally finds the back of the net, Jaiden reflects on one of her best individual performances despite a tough team result, the girls set their goals for conference play, and they talk leadership, composure, confidence and what their teams need to improve next.

🎙️ The BIG LIFE is college soccer from the girls actually living it. Follow Paige + Jaiden as they take you inside the games, pressure, friendships, setbacks and everything else that comes with Division I soccer.