Zephyr player returns to the city that shaped her

SPOKANE, Wash. – Jodi Ülkekul signing with the Spokane Zephyr meant she would continue her professional career in the city she spent four years playing Division I soccer.

But her path to getting back to Spokane wasn’t a straight line.

Like any other competitive high school soccer player, Ülkekul just wanted a shot to play at the next level.

She lacked significant interest from bigger schools, but an opportunity to walk-on at Gonzaga was all she needed.

“I definitely was not one of the players they thought was going to be a significant contributor,” said Ülkekul.

But it wasn’t long until Ülkekul was named co-captain the spring of her sophomore season and became a key part of the group that laid the foundation for the future success of the Zags’ soccer program.

During her junior and senior season, she helped the program earn a 20-12-5 record across two seasons and that was just the beginning of the Bulldogs’ success. In 2023, the Zags’ won their first ever WCC title for the sport.

After hanging up her cleats as a bulldog in 2018, Ülkekul played overseas in Rome and Spain before finding her way onto the Seattle Reign’s roster. As a Sammamish native; it was a dream to play back on the west side.

But that dream was short-lived. Ülkekul suffered a season-ending injury just three weeks after signing in Seattle.

“[It was] like at the end of Cinderella and the prince was putting on the slipper for Cinderella and it just slipped out of his hands and shattered,” said Ülkekul.

Her dream, so close but so far. Ülkekul was faced with a torn ACL, several complications post-operation, and tasked with finding a new home to play professional soccer.

Not long after recovery, the pieces began to fall back into place. A strength coach from the Reign that helped Ülkekul with her rehab was making the move to the Zephyr.

“I called up Josh [McAllister] and I was like how do I, how do I make Spokane happen, like I gotta come. That’s where I’m going now, so how do I make this happen?”

A place that Ülkekul said was imperative and very formative for her career, is now home again.