Gaby Guillen was on an MVC Championship team (WBR Archives)
Gaby Guillen’s soccer journey is full of many memorable mile markers, both in her college career at Creighton and with the national team in Costa Rica. As a sophomore at CU, she helped the Bluejays win the 2010 MVC Tournament in Omaha, earning the program’s only NCAA Tournament bid over the last two decades. With Costa Rica, she was part of her home country’s first-ever appearance in the senior FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2015, the U-20 Women’s World Cup in 2010, and the U-17 Women’s World Cup in 2008.
It’s the latter that has Guillen taking a stroll down memory lane these days. It took place in New Zealand, which is where the former Bluejay right back and her Costa Rican teammates will be playing their Group Stage matches over the next three weeks at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Guillen was named to the final roster on July 6, and the team arrived in New Zealand three days later to begin their final preparations.
“When they announced that the Women’s World Cup was going to be in New Zealand this year, the first thing that came to mind was that first U-17 World Cup in 2008,” Guillen said. “I was just a kid.”
Guillen was 16 years old at the time of that U-17 tournament. At 23, she was still in the early stages of her professional career when she helped Costa Rica qualify for its first World Cup at the senior level in 2015. She got her name in the books when she subbed on near the end of their first match against Spain as Costa Rica earned a point with a 1-1 draw at Olympic Stadium in Montreal, Canada.
“I remember that day perfectly,” she said. “We knew from all the process training sessions and camps what we were putting on the line and how important [the match] was. I remember just being one more fan on the bench for my teammates and supporting them. When I was asked to come in just to play for one or two minutes, I was excited. Very, very excited. Even if it was just for one or two minutes, I knew I had a big a responsibility to do well and honor my country.”
Guillen and CRWNT failed in its bid for a second consecutive appearance in 2019, so the weight of qualifying this year isn’t something she is taking for granted.
“It has been eight years since we went to Canada in 2015,” the 31-year-old said. “We had a rough time in the qualifiers for France in 2019, so it’s like a dream come true to be at another World Cup. It’s been the life opportunity that I’ve been looking forward to ending my career at the highest level.
Guillen is heading to the World Cup. (WBR Archives)
“I am a more mature player right now. I see the game differently. But I’m still delighted about the opportunity that I’ve been given. In 2021, I wasn’t a regular on the national team. I regained a spot for friendlies in 2022. It’s been a journey that has required a lot of effort and a lot of sacrifices, but I’m happy. This time is a little different because I was a lot younger [in 2015] and it was our first World Cup ever, so the sensations were different. But both of them are so meaningful for my life and my career.”
The cap she earned that day back in June 2015 was not only a first for her and her home country, but also a first for Creighton. Despite its rich soccer history, Guillen is still the only Bluejay ever, man or woman, to play in a World Cup match. All these years later, she was a little taken aback by the outpouring of support from Creighton fans when Costa Rica announced that she had made the final roster for this summer’s event.
“I’m honored to still be in the books for Creighton and to have been a part of Creighton history, and I am honored to represent Costa Rica on the highest stage and at the highest level,” Guillen said. “I am still grateful that I graduated 10 years ago exactly from Creighton, and I am still grateful for the opportunity that the coaches and the program gave me. It’s been a fun journey.
“I didn’t think that people still remembered me, so I’m very grateful for that. I really appreciate it and all the good vibes and positive thoughts. It is amazing because a long time has passed by. I haven’t really visited Omaha for all these years. I haven’t had the chance because of futbol and because of work. I was surprised in a good way to see all the positive vibes and good thoughts that [Creighton fans] sent.”
2023 has already been a special one to look back on for Guillen, both personally and professionally. She married her wife, Andrea, in April, and recently celebrated their 10-year anniversary as a couple. She signed a two-year extension with her club team Liga Deportiva Alajuelense. And now she is a few days away from putting the “CR” over her chest to once again represent her country.
On the grandest stage the sport has to offer.
In New Zealand, the place where her journey taking Costa Rica women’s soccer to unprecedented heights all began.
“I didn’t know if I was going to make the roster for this World Cup, so I am honestly grateful to life and to futbol for all the opportunities that I’ve been given throughout my whole career and my whole life,” Guillen said. “I am enjoying myself with big responsibility because we have to do well, but I am savoring every detail at camp and just enjoying it fully as much as I can.
“This may be or may not be my last World Cup. It most likely is, and it’s like a full circle moment that is difficult to accomplish, so I’m very proud of it. Only three other current teammates and myself went to that U-17 World Cup [in New Zealand] so we are very happy that our careers are possibly going to end up where they started.”
Costa Rica begins play in Group C against Spain at 2:30 a.m. (CT) on Friday, July 21. They will face Japan in their second match at 12:00 a.m. (CT) on Wednesday, July 26, and conclude group play at 2:00 a.m. (CT) on Monday, July 31 against Zambia. Each match will be broadcast live on FS1. The top two teams from each group will advance to the Knockout Stage that gets underway on August 5.