Tullis-Joyce's remarkable rise to USWNT and Man United No. 1 - ESPN

MANCHESTER — For most professional soccer players, the summer break offers the opportunity to jet off to glitzy locations like Ibiza or Dubai to rest and recharge ahead of the new season. But for Manchester United goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce, 29, however, this year's offseason was all about expanding her horizons.

«I spent some time with an amazing researcher called Dr. Rosa Vásquez Espinoza,» Tullis-Joyce tells ESPN. «She studies stingless bees, and pairs indigenous knowledge with scientific knowledge, so I got to shadow her in the Amazon rainforest which was just incredible. It was a blast, but I was definitely ready to come back to my teammates again and get back down to work.»

It is that constant hunger to better herself — combined with impressive technical ability — that has made the goalkeeper a real fan favorite at United. Having joined the club from NWSL side Seattle Reign in 2023, Tullis-Joyce has made the transition from Mary Earps' deputy to undisputed No. 1 look seamless, with her performances at club level earning her regular call-ups to the United States women's national team.

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This past season, Tullis-Joyce started every Women's Super League game for United and won the Golden Glove award (joint with Chelsea's Hannah Hampton) as Marc Skinner's side finished third. Having deservedly earned her place in the 2025 PFA Team of the Year, Tullis-Joyce helped United clinch qualification for the UEFA Women's Champions League league phase, under its new format, for their first time in the main draw and is part of the joint-best