LaBonta had never set foot down under before signing for Wanderers and had only played professionally in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) for Sky Blue FC and FC Kansas City prior this move.

The 24-year-old played a variety of sports growing up as a child including basketball, volleyball, softball, baseball, hockey and also practiced karate.

But it was not always easy for the midfielder, she does not feel ashamed of admitting she had a tough upbringing with father Mark and brother Kalaukoa.

LaBonta was raised in a Southern Californian single-parent household and had support from the government as her father was always a police officer with the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD).

“My father is the best man ever, on his own, he raised me and my brother,” LaBonta told FourFourTwo.

“His hours were different than any other parent’s because he wanted to be there to be able to pick us up from school and he kept us in sports.

“It was a strict upbringing, but it was great because it got us to where we are now.

“I played three sports at a time and he made sure our grades were great growing up, so I literally owe everything to him.”

LaBonta had no issues talking about her mother, as “it had been so long”, but feels she had grown stronger overcoming adversity.

“She (my mother) just hasn’t been part of our family for a while,” she admitted.

“We went our own way when we were a lot younger, so my dad was always the one who just stuck around and took care of us as little gremlins.

“It was always a struggle, especially being on a government paid paycheck for my dad and raising two kids.

“It was definitely humble beginnings. Even being in soccer now - it’s women’s sport, so we’re not making millions. But it definitely makes me appreciate the little things he did and the little things I have now.

“I’m a very strong personality so I don’t let much get to me personally.”

The American who is of Hawaiian, Norwegian and French descent said she was already getting told she had an exotic name.

LaBonta is currently living with the other foreigners in the squad and was keen to kick off the season in Newcastle on Sunday.

LaBonta training with Wanderers this week

She also has experience playing in America’s U23 national team, but never broke into the senior squad.

And she also said she was keen to watch the sports Australia has to offer.

“Me and my brother always played on the same team,” she said.

“I loved it because it developed me athletically, I can go throw, and I can kick. I loved it and that’s why I love watching every professional sport.

“My friends say ‘you’re more of a guy, than a girl’, but that’s how I was raised – with men.

“I just take it as a joke. My dad is old fashioned so I was raised with that, I don’t take any offence to it. Times are changing, so I can see how that can offend some people.”

LaBonta also said she only expected to play two years of football, but has just finished her third season and is eyeing a career in product design engineering in sport.

LaBonta will be playing as a central midfielder and will be re-united with former Sky Blue teammate Maruschka Waldus.

“We have training pretty early and I’ve seen kangaroos out in the, well I call it the countryside, but it’s not the country,” LaBonta joked.

“I’ve always wanted to travel to Australia because I’m such a beach girl.

“Everybody who has been here before has told me ‘you belong in Australia’, you need to go. You get to do what you love, you get to travel to a new continent and country.

“It’s been my goal for a couple of years now and when I finally got the opportunity to do so, I absolutely jumped on it.”