Today, University of Memphis Athletics broke ground on the future Liza Wellford Fletcher Stadium — a state-of-the-art facility for women’s and men’s soccer and track and field teams. Named after and dedicated to celebrating and honoring the life of Eliza Wellford Fletcher, the new stadium reflects her dedication and passion which will be passed on to future student-athletes and generations to come.
“We have amazing athletic facilities … there was one glaring hole in that statement, though, and today we start the process of filling that, of building a stadium that is deserved by our fantastic soccer programs that truly reflects what they’ve done over the years and their aspirations for the coming years, and so it is fantastic to finally get those facilities filled,” President Bill Hardgrave said. “And although we are excited about this new stadium, we recognize that the genesis of this project was a tragedy. And for Liza’s family, we appreciate you letting us use her name on this wonderful new facility.”
Wellford Fletcher was a Tiger and played for the UofM women’s soccer team under current UofM Women’s Soccer head coach Brooks Monaghan.
Rob Carter, UofM Board of Trustees Chairman, emphasized why this moment mattered more than just athletics. “Liza was a teacher. She spent her days with kindergartners. So much about her life ran through education, and it’s fitting that this project does that as well. More than 100 student athletes will train here, compete here, and grow here. Many of them will be the first in their families to earn a degree, and I’m sure some of them will teach as Liza did,” Carter said.
Donors contributed more than $8.3 million for the construction of the facility, which surpassed its goal in just two years through the Liza’s Light University of Memphis Soccer and Track Stadium Fund.
Senior Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Dr. Ed Scott, who is in his second year at Memphis, said, “What I’ve learned since coming to Memphis is this … I might have not known Liza, but she is an example of what Memphis stands for. When you have purpose and when you have people pulling together, there’s nothing we can’t do as a community.”
Monaghan shared a piece of a tribute he wrote to Liza four years ago after her tragic passing. “The first thing that comes to mind when I think of Liza is her smile. It might sound like a cliche, but she literally always had a smile on her face. She always looked at things as the glass being half full, not half empty. Her attitude was infectious.”
Monaghan said the program really took off when Liza joined the team. The Tigers won their first championship in 2007 when she was a sophomore. They now have 16 conference titles.
Dawn Graeter, Southern Security Federal Credit Union CEO and 901Women Board Member reflected on joining and being a part of the Liza’s Light Committee. She said, “Every single person that donated to Liza’s Light did not step up simply to make a transaction. People gave because of what Liza meant to our community, because they believe that young women that have followed in Liza’s footsteps and represent Memphis women’s soccer have earned a real place to compete, and because they too believe the light of Liza needs to continue to inspire this community.”
Graeter said supporting women’s sports is one of the highest return investments that a city can make in its young people highlighting that young women who play sports finish school, they lead teams and companies. “They come back and invest in the communities that invested in them,” she said.
Liza’s teammate Brittany Baldwin Streger (Memphis Women’s Soccer 2007-10) said, “Liza didn’t keep her light hidden. She carried it into classrooms full of kindergarteners, her neighborhood. She carried it into her friendships and her family. She carried it into every room she walked into in the city. People in Memphis who’ve never even seen her play a minute of soccer have still been impacted by her life. When I heard the amount of money that the community raised in honor of Liza, I was not surprised. That’s what Liza did. She drew people in, made them show up and made them believe in something greater than themselves.”
“This dream is becoming a reality because of the incredible generosity and support of this community, a community that has rallied around Liza, not only because of what she brought to this program, but because of the many lives she touched throughout this city. In the future, as you walk into the Liza Wellford Fletcher Stadium, my hope is that it brings a smile that lights up a room, just like Liza did,” Monaghan said.
Visit lizaslight.org to learn more about the Liza Wellford Fletcher Stadium.
About Liza’s Light University of Memphis Soccer and Track Stadium Fund
The Liza’s Light University of Memphis Soccer and Track Stadium Fund was established to honor the memory and legacy of Liza Wellford Fletcher, a former UofM soccer player, avid runner, beloved teacher and an inspiring figure in the Memphis community. This fund, organized and supported by close friends and family of the late Liza, is dedicated to building a state-of-the-art facility for the University of Memphis women’s and men’s soccer and track and field teams. Liza’s Light ensures that her passion, dedication and spirit continue to inspire and uplift future generations of student-athletes.
