The Minnesota Vixen welcome new talent this season, including five players from around the globe. Though their journey to the Vixen differs, these players share a common thread of resilience and passion. From overcoming cultural barriers and physical setbacks to sacrificing stability for the chance to play the game they love, their journeys are a testament to the growing reach of women’s football. Here’s a closer look at their journeys and what they hope to bring to the Vixen in 2025.
Johanna Vermoehlem – Running Back
A standout running back from Cologne, Germany, Johanna Vermoehlem has devoted herself to football for over a decade. Johanna found the sport by playing 5-on-5 football in her hometown in Germany as a linebacker. As she transitioned in 2019 to 11-on-11 football in Cologne, Johanna found herself on the other side of the ball as a running back. Through hard work and extra training, she was named to the German National Team in 2023, marking a turning point in her playing career.
“This sport has taught me so much about persistence and passion,” Johanna shared. Inspired by Vixen teammate Hannah Eckhardt, Johanna decided to take a leap of faith and follow her dream of playing football in the United States. Despite the challenges of leaving her previous job and navigating the logistics, Johanna is set to continue her journey with the Vixen.
This will be Johanna’s second season with the Vixen. When Johanna isn’t focused on football, she lifts weights, rides horseback, and practices yoga. As she prepares year two with the Vixen, Johanna is eager to bring the same energy and dedication she developed in Cologne. Johanna’s goal for the season is clear: help the Vixen chase a championship while making memories that will last a lifetime.
Michaela Ďurišková – Kicker, Defensive Back
Originally from Slovakia, Michaela Ďurišková discovered football after a simple suggestion from friends. Her curiosity blossomed into a deep passion for the game, ultimately landing her in Minnesota to help the Vixen chase a championship in 2025.
As someone with a background in sports like soccer and tennis, Michaela used football to elevate her physical and mental strength. “Football gave me so much that I decided it would be my priority,” Michaela said. That prioritization paid off when she met Vixen owners Laura and James Brown at last year’s WFA Europe Combine in the Netherlands. Michaela says she is “honored to be a part of one of the best women’s teams in the world.”
Michaela’s dedication to greatness is apparent in her off-season work. She has created and executed her own strength and conditioning program, and every day is a step toward improving from last year. Michaela shared that this is the most off-season training she’s ever done, reflecting the dedication she will bring this year with the Vixen.
Rae Jefferson
Rae Jefferson’s journey to the Vixen has been marked by perseverance and overcoming obstacles. She is a Texas native who has spent the last four years in Italy. While growing up in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, Jefferson discovered football playing monkey-in-the-middle in her neighborhood. Dreaming of playing with a helmet and pads sometimes felt out of reach for Rae as a girl. Nevertheless, years later, that dream came full circle when she played in her first tackle football game at the WFA Europe Combine.
Rae’s last four years in Italy were full of challenges. Simply finding the opportunity to play tackle football was difficult, but she played flag football locally. On top of that, Rae faced physical challenges. She underwent heart surgery in 2020 to replace her aortic valve. These hardships never allowed her determination to waver, saying, “That experience motivated me to drive an hour and a half to practice with the Italian teams.” Rae’s hardships have only shaped her resilience and prepared her for what’s ahead this upcoming season.
Now, with the Vixen, Rae is ready to contribute wherever she is needed – whether it be offense, defense, or special teams – and is focused on making an impact. Fans should know that Rae is bringing a burning passion that will quickly become evident by her teammates. “As a person, I’m just a kid having fun. I have been through a lot in my life, and I’m done wasting my time not following my passions. So, supporting others in their passions is something I love to do outside of football.”
Hannah Eckhardt
In the suburbs of Köln, Germany, about two hours west of Frankfurt, soccer trumps all other sports. As a lifelong athlete playing soccer and handball, Hannah Eckhardt was drawn to a different kind of football. Hannah’s wife, Judith, was playing football when they met in 2013, and she soon followed her wife into football when she joined a local rookie team in Köln in 2015, starting a new chapter in her life.
After joining in 2015, Hannah began to excel in the German Bundesliga leagues. It has been a journey up for her ever since. Like the NCAA, Hannah started playing at the D2 level, ultimately climbing to the D1 level for one season in 2019. However, Hannah’s frustrations with the German Football Federation and their lack of support for growth in Women’s athletics eventually pushed her to make a critical decision. Either quit or find opportunities to play beyond Germany. Hannah chose to climb the ladder, which has ultimately found her today with the Vixen.
To the Vixen, Hannah is not just a player; they’re also getting a leader. She aims to help the Vixen win the title, retire on top, and transition into coaching to continue growing the game she loves. But in the meantime, Hannah is fully embracing the change of joining a new team and moving to a new country, showing once again that stepping out of her comfort zone is where she thrives the most.
Britt Hennings
Britt Henning began her journey to the Vixen in 2011 when she joined the Braunschweig Lady Lions in Northern Germany. As a new member of the city and community, Britt was looking for a new sport or hobby and stumbled upon the Lady Lions through her University’s website. With no prior knowledge of football and its rules, she went to the first practice out of pure curiosity – now, nearly 14 years later, she is playing professionally in the States.
As Britt’s passion for football grew in Germany, she started to float around different teams, such as the Cologne Falconets, where she played with Vixen’s Johanna Vermoehlem and Hannah Eckhardt. Like other Vixen international players, Britt discovered the Vixen at the WFA Europe Combine. The Vixen’s competition level and structure helped convince Britt to move to the U.S. Britt shared, “In Germany, you can be happy if there are 20 people at practice to show up for most teams”—a stark contrast to her new Vixen roster of over 70 players.
Britt’s aspirations for this season are to take in as much as possible with her new environment and new teammates as they compete for a championship. Aside from football, Britt has played rugby and practices jiu-jitsu. While in Minnesota, Britt will stay with the family of her brother’s neighbor near Bremen, Germany– adding a unique layer to her new journey this year with the Vixen.
As the Vixen gear up to embark on their 2025 season, fans can look forward to seeing this new wave of talent hit the gridiron and help push the team closer to another championship in 2025.