Claire Falknor's first week with the Dash has been a breath of fresh air.
The Ohio native and University of Florida graduate spent her first professional season playing in Germany. Hopeful of beginning a successful career outside of the United States, Falknor skipped the NWSL draft and signed with Bayern Munich.
"I wanted something different," Falknor said Friday after the Dash's final training session of the first week. "I wanted to play new players. I wanted something that would get me outside my comfort zone. I learned a lot. I was very vulnerable there."
Without a firm grasp on the culture and language, Falknor said she struggled because she had to depend on others for almost everything.