In a now-expired Instagram story, Portland Thorns goalkeeper Bella Bixby sat in her car and showed off her haircut while mouthing the iconic “Avatar: The Last Airbender” line “water tribe.” It was a reference to a popular meme from the show, in which Water Tribe member Sokka takes his leave in typical Sokka fashion, somehow utterly dorky and unintentionally cool at the same time. It wasn’t hard to see why she had drawn the comparison.
I spoke to Bella Bixby about that moment you realize you may have accidentally gotten Sokka’s haircut and undercut management (or lack thereof). More on that later this week #NWSL pic.twitter.com/g6FkYg1M8R
— Steph Yang | Horrible Soccer Goose (@thrace) April 1, 2023
Late last week, The Athletic gave Bixby a call and asked about her love for “The Last Airbender” and, of course, Portland Thorns’ red hot start to the 2023 NWSL season.
This interview has been lightly edited for clarity and length.
When did you realize, ‘oh, this haircut makes me look like Sokka?’
I got an undercut last summer and the hair on top has been longer….I finally got a bigger chop and you know, I’m done with the hairdresser, I love my hair and then the time comes where – this is the day before a game mind you – I have to put it up to play. And…
