Cleat Cute Summary, Characters and Themes

Cleat Cute by Meryl Wilsner is a sapphic sports romance that blends elite-level soccer with slow-burn chemistry, emotional growth, and queer joy. 

It follows rookie forward Phoebe Matthews and seasoned star Grace Henderson as they navigate the highs and lows of playing for the US Women’s National Team. Their relationship begins as awkward tension and flirtation, develops into friends-with-benefits, and ultimately becomes something deeper—if they can both stop running from vulnerability. With humor, heat, and heart, Cleat Cute isn’t just about soccer; it’s about learning to show up for yourself and others, even when it’s scary.

Summary

Phoebe Matthews is thrilled when she’s called up to the January training camp for the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team—a huge milestone for the vibrant, funny, and unfiltered rookie. 

She’s drafted by New Orleans Krewe and soon finds herself rubbing shoulders with the legends she grew up idolizing. Chief among them is Grace Henderson, a disciplined, all-business veteran who’s been the face of women’s soccer for years. 

Grace is also Phoebe’s childhood crush, though she’s determined to keep that to herself… mostly.

From the start, Grace is skeptical. Phoebe’s loud personality, viral fangirl videos, and flirtatious energy clash with Grace’s tightly controlled public image and intense professionalism. 

But beneath the eye rolls and icy glares is a spark neither of them can ignore. The two keep running into each other—on the pitch, off the pitch, even as unexpected roommates on their new team. 

What starts as friction becomes flirtation, and flirtation slowly morphs into something neither of them expected.

While Phoebe tries to prove herself in a high-pressure environment, Grace is facing challenges of her own. A nagging injury sidelines her, and with it, the identity she’s built around being the best. 

Watching Phoebe’s star rise stirs up jealousy and admiration in equal parts. As they grow closer—training together, bickering like teammates, and sharing late-night hookups—their dynamic becomes a confusing swirl of tenderness, tension, and unspoken feelings.

Grace, reluctant to admit her vulnerability, insists on keeping things casual. But Phoebe, increasingly aware that her feelings are more than physical, starts to struggle with the emotional limbo. 

Their relationship deepens despite themselves—through shared king cakes, jealousy-fueled diner visits, and post-game disasters. 

Phoebe wants to be taken seriously, not just as a player, but as someone Grace might truly care about. Grace, meanwhile, begins to question everything: her legacy, her image, and her ability to let anyone in.

As Phoebe earns her first national team cap and Grace watches from the sidelines, both are forced to confront what they really want—not just from soccer, but from each other. 

Phoebe’s growing maturity and Grace’s unraveling façade set the stage for emotional reckoning. Grace pulls away after a moment of vulnerability, fearing that opening up will cost her more than she’s willing to give. 

Phoebe, despite her heartbreak, doesn’t push—she chooses to be hopeful and kind, knowing love doesn’t always need urgency.

The final chapters bring clarity. Grace talks with her father, who encourages her to prioritize joy instead of duty. Slowly, she starts stepping away from the expectations that have boxed her in. 

She lets go of her captaincy, focuses on healing, and finally lets herself want something for herself—not for her country, not for her brand. She wants Phoebe.

In a quiet, grounding moment, Grace asks Phoebe out on a real date—not a casual hookup, not a late-night secret, but a genuine, emotional step forward. Phoebe says yes.

The epilogue reveals a joyful future: Grace and Phoebe are in a stable relationship. Phoebe is thriving as a player, while Grace finds freedom without the crushing spotlight. Their connection has deepened, built on trust, respect, and a lot of growth. Soccer brought them together, but love—messy, brave, and real—keeps them there.

Characters

Phoebe Matthews

Phoebe is a newly drafted soccer player with an infectious energy and a deep passion for the sport. She is introduced as an enthusiastic, vibrant, and somewhat naive rookie on the US Women’s National Soccer Team (USWNT).

Coming from Indiana, she brings a fresh perspective and a youthful optimism to the game. Throughout the novel, Phoebe’s journey is one of self-discovery, both on the soccer field and in her personal life.

Her flirtatious and carefree nature contrasts with the more reserved personalities around her, particularly Grace. She experiences growth as she navigates the complexities of professional soccer, her feelings for Grace, and her desire to be seen as more than just a rookie.

Phoebe’s journey also includes her overcoming personal setbacks, such as a disastrous red card during a game. She learns how to navigate the pressures of professional life.

Grace Henderson

Grace is a seasoned and highly accomplished player on the USWNT, a role model and a symbol of professionalism in the soccer world. At the start of the story, Grace is depicted as someone who is struggling with maintaining her elite status in the face of growing competition, especially from newcomers like Phoebe.

She is older, more experienced, and carries the weight of expectations, both professionally and personally. Grace’s internal conflict stems from her fear of vulnerability and the public perception of her as a perfect role model.

This manifests in her relationship with Phoebe, as she resists the growing attraction, afraid of losing control over her emotions. Over time, Grace is forced to confront her own insecurities and fears, including her career’s uncertain future due to injuries and the changing dynamics within the team.

Her emotional journey is about learning to let go of her carefully crafted persona and embracing a more authentic, vulnerable side of herself. Grace’s relationship with Phoebe challenges her to reconsider her life choices, both professionally and personally, and ultimately, she chooses to pursue happiness over the rigid expectations she once had.

Supporting Characters

While Phoebe and Grace are the main focus of the story, the supporting characters play crucial roles in their development. Characters like Dallas, Phoebe’s friend and coworker, serve as emotional sounding boards, offering Phoebe insight into her own feelings.

Meanwhile, Grace’s family, especially her father, plays an important role in encouraging her to embrace joy and personal growth. The dynamic between these secondary characters highlights the support systems that both Phoebe and Grace rely on as they face the emotional and professional challenges of their careers.

Themes

Fame vs. Authenticity

One of the central themes explored in Cleat Cute is the tension between fame and authenticity, especially through Grace’s internal struggles. As a star on the US Women’s National Soccer Team, Grace feels immense pressure to maintain a perfect public image, which often contrasts with her personal desires and emotions.

This conflict deepens as she becomes involved with Phoebe, a younger, more vibrant and unfiltered personality. While Grace is constantly conscious of her image and the expectations placed on her as a role model, Phoebe’s authenticity is both refreshing and a challenge to Grace’s carefully curated persona.

Grace grapples with this duality—her desire to maintain control over her public life while exploring a more honest and vulnerable connection with Phoebe. This theme not only impacts Grace’s professional life but also influences the nature of her relationship with Phoebe, where navigating between public expectations and private desires becomes a recurring issue.

Queer Romance and Slow-Burn Chemistry

The book beautifully delves into a slow-burn, queer romance between Grace and Phoebe, which evolves from playful flirtation to emotional intimacy. At the beginning, Grace’s resistance to acknowledging her feelings, combined with Phoebe’s playful and often flirtatious demeanor, creates a dynamic of mutual pining.

Both characters, though clearly attracted to each other, are at different points in their careers and personal lives, complicating the potential for a romantic relationship. Phoebe, being new to the professional scene, is open about her feelings, while Grace, with her more guarded nature and complicated emotional baggage, takes longer to admit hers.

This slow development of their romance allows for rich character growth and emotional exploration. The progression from casual flirtation to a committed relationship is filled with tension, vulnerability, and deepening trust, making their journey a captivating exploration of queer love.

Sports and Identity

Sports play a pivotal role in shaping the identities of both Phoebe and Grace. For Phoebe, soccer is her path to self-expression and success, and she is eager to prove herself at the highest level, despite her rookie status.

Her journey with the New Orleans Krewe and the USWNT represents a major milestone in her life, where she is learning to balance ambition with the realities of professional sports. Grace, on the other hand, has already achieved significant success and is struggling with her place in the sport.

As an aging player, she faces the physical limitations of her body, a recurring injury, and the anxiety of possibly losing her position on the team. This fear of obsolescence challenges Grace’s sense of self-worth, and she begins to question her identity beyond soccer.

Both women navigate their professional challenges, and soccer becomes a lens through which they explore their own desires, fears, and sense of belonging. The sport serves as both a backdrop and a mirror, reflecting their personal growth and the evolution of their relationship.

Vulnerability and Emotional Growth

A key theme in Cleat Cute is the characters’ journey toward emotional vulnerability. Both Grace and Phoebe have developed strong outer shells to protect themselves from their respective vulnerabilities, but as they grow closer, they are forced to confront their emotions.

For Phoebe, this means confronting her desire for a deeper connection with someone who is emotionally unavailable and learning that love is not just about physical attraction but also about mutual respect and emotional intimacy. For Grace, vulnerability is even more difficult—her success has been built on maintaining control, both on and off the field.

Throughout the story, Grace learns to let go of her fear of being judged and starts embracing the idea that it is okay to be emotionally open and not always in control. The book explores how vulnerability in both personal and professional aspects of life can lead to growth, healing, and ultimately, fulfillment.

Navigating Power Dynamics in Relationships

Another subtle yet powerful theme is the exploration of power dynamics, both in the professional world of sports and in the personal relationship between Grace and Phoebe. Early in the book, Grace holds more power due to her experience and status as a seasoned professional, while Phoebe is a newcomer trying to prove herself.

However, as the story progresses, this dynamic shifts, particularly when Phoebe starts to gain recognition and make a name for herself, threatening Grace’s position on the team. This shift is mirrored in their personal relationship, where both women navigate who holds emotional power at different times.

Grace’s initial reluctance to fully engage in the relationship and Phoebe’s more open expressions of affection create a push-and-pull dynamic, with both women learning to balance their personal desires with the realities of power in their evolving connection.

This theme also plays out in their professional lives, where Grace must come to terms with being sidelined due to injury, and Phoebe must figure out how to balance ambition with the pressures of competing at the highest level.