Knowing she is a registered nurse, many of her Chicago Force teammates often ask Brandy Hatcher for a sponge bath.
She just laughs and shakes her head at their good-natured request.
Hatcher played her second season for the Force in 2011, earning the Most Improved Player award, having played multiple positions, including cornerback, safety and running back.
"I really enjoy being on the Force since there aren't too many chances for that team experience as an adult," Hatcher said.
The 2011 Force season ended in the playoffs in Julyand Hatcher went on to graduate from Rush Medical University in August, and then passed her medical boards in September.
"I like my job, the skills it takes, the skills I have learned," she said. "There's an intrinsic reward to working with an older person and being able to find a vein on their arm," to draw blood, Hatcher said. "The job as a whole can be very rewarding, but also very frustrating.
"There's a lot of mis-communication in the medical workersand nurses often are in the middle and have to mediate, walk that fine line between a patient and a doctor."
Hatcher said her job often is "very stressful," and usually involves weeks with three 12-hour work days. She also, at times, works weekends, such as her job during Lollapalooza over the summer.
That's when she came across one of her most memorable patients, although not for favorable reasons. The drunk female ( who was screaming ) had to be restrained to a bed, and she even urinated on Hatcher's shoesbut then when her mom arrived on the scene, the female turned into an angel, Hatcher said, laughing.
Hatcher said many from her medical world have slowly learned of her tackle football tiesand they, naturally, are surprised.
"It's always fun to watch their reactions" when they learn she plays for the Force, she said. "They often just assume I play for in the Lingerie [ Football ] League."
THE STATS
Age: 25
Hometown: Lansing, Mich.
Lives in: Highland, Ind.
Relationship status: Dating a Chicago Force teammate for about two years
Hobbies: Reading and working out
Favorite Chicago restaurant: Lalo's
Favorite bar: Spin
Sporting past: Hatcher was a bowler and track-and-field athlete in high school. Her best game was 256 and she threw the discus.
Little-known fact: She won the Little Miss Michigan title, a beauty pageant that she entered at age 6.
Photos for Windy City Times by Ross Forman