From Uncertainty to Opportunity: The Rise of RI Rogues FC
Photo by Jay Ruzicka
When RI Reds FC folded in 2017, Rhode Island's female soccer players faced an uncertain future. For many athletes, the disappearance of the state's lone semi-professional women's team meant there would no longer be a place to continue competing after college without leaving home.
Shannen Pelletier refused to accept that reality.
Rather than watching those opportunities disappear, she helped create RI Rogues FC—a club that has since become a destination for elite female athletes from across the Ocean State and beyond. Growing up, soccer provided opportunities that helped shape Pelletier's life.
“Growing up, my family did not come from money. Soccer gave me opportunities that helped shape me into the woman I am today, and for that I will always be grateful,” Pelletier told Rafter’s Collective. “My mom worked tirelessly to provide my sisters and I with opportunities to pursue our athletic dreams. I played for the RI Rays, ODP, and Bruno United—programs that required significant financial commitment. Through a combination of my mom working multiple jobs and receiving a partial scholarship, I was fortunate enough to continue playing and developing as an athlete.” Pelletier then went on to continue her playing career at Mitchell college.
Those experiences helped shape the athlete, coach, educator, and leader she would become. Her greatest contribution to Rhode Island soccer would come years later—not as a player, but as the founder of a club that now provides opportunities for dozens of female athletes across the state. Today, Pelletier is the driving force behind the RI Rogues FC, Rhode Island's women's semi-professional soccer club. The organization competes in the Women's Premier Soccer League (WPSL), but its mission transcends beyond the pitch. "This team belongs to Rhode Island," Pelletier said. "It exists to provide opportunities for female athletes to continue competing at a high level while representing the state they love."
Shannen Pelletier watches the Rogues practice. Photo by Jay Ruzicka.
After college, Pelletier joined RI Reds FC, a women's semi-professional soccer team based in Rhode Island, where she eventually served as team captain. When the organization folded, she found herself facing a difficult question.
What would happen to women's semi-professional soccer in Rhode Island?
She waited for someone else to step forward. Eventually, she realized no one was coming. "I had only two choices," Pelletier said. "Step up and build it myself, or accept that semi-professional women's soccer in Rhode Island was over."
She could not accept that.
Conversations with the Women's Premier Soccer League began almost immediately, and those discussions ultimately led to the creation of RI Rogues FC. The club completed its inaugural season in 2018.
Pelletier praises former Mitchell college coach Damian Houlden’s support in keeping the organization alive during its early seasons. "For the first four seasons, he donated his time, energy, knowledge, and leadership as our head coach," she said. "His willingness to volunteer and believe in the vision helped us establish a foundation that still benefits the club today."
And while fans get to experience the result of the hard work and dedication on game day, it’s the behind the scenes work that gets them there. Pelletier often jokes that she wears every hat within the organization, but the reality is not far from the truth. In addition to serving as founder and operator of the club, she works full-time as a Physical Education and Health teacher in Pawtucket.
For years, her schedule was relentless. She would spend the day teaching, coach with the New England Revolution organization until the evening, and then head to Providence College for late-night training sessions to coach the club soccer team in order to pay for the Rogues. "We did not have major financial backing," Pelletier said. "I knew this organization would only survive if someone was willing to put in the work."
And the work doesn’t end on game day. Before kickoff even happens Pelletier is unloading equipment, preparing the venue, coordinating with officials and opposing teams, overseeing league requirements, managing technology and livestream operations, and helping to create a professional experience for players and fans alike. And until two years ago, she was doing all of that while also captaining the team and playing a full 90 minutes. Eventually she realized this wasn’t sustainable and made the difficult decision to step away from playing. "As our roster grew stronger and players emerged who could better serve the team on the field, I knew it was time to be selfless and step aside as a player so I could focus on helping the organization grow," she said.
That selfless act helped the organization reach new heights. One of Pelletier's proudest moments came in 2023 when RI Rogues FC captured the East Conference Championship and advanced to the national Final Four in Oklahoma.
When the final whistle sounded, emotions overwhelmed her. "I had tears in my eyes—not because of the trophy, but because I knew how much work, sacrifice, and dedication had gone into reaching that moment," she said.
Rogues captures the East Conference Championship in 2023. Photo by Jay Ruzicka.
Yet despite the success, challenges remain. As a nonprofit organization, funding continues to be one of the club's biggest obstacles. Additional sponsorships and community support would allow the Rogues to expand outreach efforts, enhance the player experience, and create even more opportunities throughout Rhode Island.
Still, Pelletier remains focused on the mission that inspired the club's creation nearly a decade ago.
Had she chosen not to do anything in 2017, women's semi-professional soccer in Rhode Island may have disappeared entirely.
Instead, countless athletes have had the opportunity to continue their careers, compete at an elite level, represent their communities, and inspire the next generation of players. Every player who steps onto the field wearing a Rogues uniform represents a pathway that exists because someone refused to let it disappear.
For Pelletier, that has always been the point. "This club has never been about me," she said. "It has always been about creating opportunities for women to compete at a high level, inspiring the next generation of female athletes, and building something that will continue to serve our community for years to come."
Because one woman refused to accept the end of women's semi-professional soccer in Rhode Island, future generations of female athletes can continue to dream bigger, play longer, and know there is a place for them to belong.
Shannen Pelletier, owner of the RI Rogues FC. Photo by Jay Ruzicka.
To help support the organization and give future female athletes a place to showcase their skills on the pitch you can visit: https://riroguesfc.com/donations
The Rogues final game of the season will be played on Saturday June 27th against Albany Rush at 6:00pm at Roger Williams University in Bristol Rhode Island. Tickets can be purchased here: https://riroguesfc.com/tickets%26merch
Written by Jacqueline Bono