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Just as Elle turned to Zac, totally moved, she suddenly heard her voice echoing through the stadium. "The NFL is changing. The future is female. Get used to it," while the collage of the T-shirts was also shown on the big screen.

The crowd suddenly got loud and the players also clapped in Elle's direction. Only now did she understand what all the fans were chanting. "Elle, Elle, Elle" over and over again they all chanted her name together.

She fell around Zac's neck. "I...I...thank you" she couldn't find words. Everything around her was so overwhelming. Zac pulled her into her arms. "don't thank me. That was the team's idea" he explained smiling.

"You have a whole team and the fans on your side Elle. Make something of it" he added before letting go of Elle and winking at her. Elle smiled and brushed the tear from her face before turning to the crowd and clapping. She never expected so much support.

She then fought her way through the rows of players, pulling everyone into a hug as she thanked them. She had to restrain herself from hugging Joe for too long. "I'm so proud of you baby" he whispered to her before they quickly released each other and Elle went to Ja'Marr.

"You earned it" smiling Ja'Marr pulled her into his arms. "Even if I have to have a word with you" he grinned at her as Elle smirked. She knew exactly what it was all about.

By the time she was through with the players, the other ATs had arrived on the court as well. They too were wearing the Tshirts. "Suits me, doesn't it?" Nick asked, before Elle pulled him into a happy hug. "Never thought I'd see you on a Tshirt, Kiddo" he quipped as he hugged Elle tightly.

• •

The day was absolutely unbelievable. The Bengals won the game 32-13 and when Ja'Marr scored his touchdown, he did the griddy dance before running to the nearest camera and pulling up his jersey to show the tshirt he was still wearing underneath.

Elle would have loved to cuddle all the players, coaches and staff to death after the game, but unfortunately that wasn't possible. Nevertheless, she was pulled into the locker room by the players after the game.

Zac gave his speech and praised the players for the good performance and the deserved victory. "I have some game balls to give out today" he started and grinned to the crowd. Eli, Sam, Trey and Joe Mixon were thrown balls for their good performance, as well as Kevin who had played his 200th game today.

"I have one ball left and it's for a very special person. Committing to a cause is hard. What she has to listen to after all is disgusting. She's right, the future is female. That's why the last game ball today goes to Elle" Zac grinned at her as he tossed her the ball and everyone around her applauded and whistled.

Elle thanked him with a smile before being whisked away by the photographer for a half shoot with all sorts of players in the t-shirts with her face on them. She didn't have time to really talk to anyone.

No sooner was the photographer satisfied and Elle thought she finally had a brief moment to talk to Joe than PJ was suddenly at her side. "They're asking if you'll do an interview. What do you want me to say?" he asked. Elle grinned at him. "Let's do it."

She was on a high, all the support gave her a gritty push that she thought she could do anything. Even an interview, where this time she would answer questions. She had an entire NFL team and their fans behind her, who would dare say anything against her?

PJ accompanied her to the press room, from which Brian had just emerged, grinning. "Your turn now? Have fun" he winked at Elle before pushing past her. PJ, meanwhile, held the door open for her so Elle could enter the press room.

"you don't have to answer anything if you don't want to. If it gets to be too much for you, just give me a sign and I'll get you out of there, okay?" PJ murmured to Elle. She nodded and smiled gratefully at him before walking alone to the podium and settling into the chair.

"Who has questions?" PJ surveyed the reporters, a lot of whom immediately raised their hands, hoping PJ would take them up on it. Probably all of them would have similar questions anyway, Elle thought to herself as PJ called on someone and Elle immediately focused on the reporter with a polite smile.

"First of all, congratulations on your team's victory today, Elle" Elle smiled. "Thank you very much. That's very nice" she replied. "My question is whether you knew about the team's tshirt action" the reporter kept talking.

Elle smirked. "No, of course I didn't. I think the team wanted to show with this action that they are standing behind me and all this would not have been so emotional and meaningful if I had known before"

PJ called on the next person. Again, she was first congratulated on the win before the question was asked. "Do you think this whole thing today also played a role in the game? Did the players have the motivation to win the game for you today?"

"I think so, that today was a very special game for all of us. We felt a very special kind of cohesion today that was related to the tshirt action. I also think that motivated the players to win the game here today, but I wouldn't say they won it for me"

It went on to the next question. "Did you expect so much support especially from the fans? How does it feel to know that so many people are behind what you are fighting for?"

"No, I didn't expect it. I knew that the team was behind me, they showed me again and again during the week. Which of course was nothing compared to what they did today. It was unbelievable to see that the fans are also so behind the whole thing. I keep getting people writing to me saying they think what I'm doing is great, but to see so many people cheering, hearing my name screamed is...more than I ever expected. I'm thankful for every single person who is on my side because when I gave that press conference, I didn't think I would have so many supporters" Elle was still trying to put the incredible experience into words.

"You've already mentioned the press conference. You were very clear there about Bobby Mann and Dave Howard's comments about you. What is your opinion of their apology last night?"

Elle laughed out loud. "I'm not going to comment on that, except...I think those two realized for themselves what they did to themselves by doing that and that what they tried to sell as an apology yesterday only made them more ridiculous"

"What's going to happen now? What do you plan to do?"

"I'm going to fight for women to have the same opportunities in the NFL as men. It will be an uphill and long fight, but as it turned out today, I have enough people behind me to make sure I win this fight. I'm going to put together a team and try everything. I will not give up no matter how many men will try to make my life difficult. I am firmly convinced that something will change."

Thanks for all the support, appreciate it so much!!!!

Elle's first real interview!! Was she good?

WHO-DEY🧡