Denise O'Sullivan finished her time on loan at Albion on Sunday having joined back in September.
The 26-year-old will now return to NWSL side North Carolina Courage after making nine WSL appearances for Albion.
Denise, how do you look back on the last four months playing for Brighton?
It has been a great experience playing for the club. From the first day I arrived everyone has made me feel so welcome. It is an ambitious club with high expectations but the most enjoyable part for me was meeting new people and making new friendships as well as enjoying a different playing experience.
How has the standard of the WSL compared to what you expected when you joined and is there anything which has surprised you?
It has been different for me in terms of playing style compared to what I have been used to. It's a very competitive league with a lot of very high-calibre players from all over the world. It's a fast-growing league with top teams playing at a high level and I can only see it continuing to improve and attract the best women’s players from Europe and further afield.
What have been the highlights during your spell with Brighton?
I'd pick out a couple of things. My debut against Manchester City away when we drew 0-0 and played really well and scoring in the FA Cup against Birmingham City. It's a shame we didn’t win that because it would have been brilliant to play in a semi-final. And, of course, just spending time with the girls. They are a great bunch.
Is the WSL an experience you would like to repeat sometime in the future?
Yes for sure. I have really enjoyed my time and will of course consider it an option in the future.
What do you think the team can achieve in the second half of the season?
We probably haven't got the points our performances deserve so far, so I hope that changes in the second half of the season and we climb up the table. We certainly deserve to and we have the quality in the squad.
You are going back to North Carolina Courage. What are the plans to re-start the season in America?
I will go back to America in mid-January to start pre-season 1st February. We will play a warm-up tournament in April and start the regular season in May. It will be great to go back and see my team-mates again after such a long time. Hopefully the weather will be a bit warmer although I have really enjoyed living in Brighton by the sea. It's a shame I haven't seen more of the countryside in Sussex because of all the Covid-19 restrictions but it's been great fun sharing a house with my Irish team-mates Megan (Connolly) and Rianna (Jarrett). We have a lot of laughs!
What will you miss most about playing for the club?
I will miss the girls the most. I will miss competing with them on the pitch but most off all being friends off the pitch. They are some of the best people I have met. I'll also miss the backroom staff who have been so helpful during my spell with the club. I'd especially like to thank Hope Powell, who gave me the opportunity to come and play in England. She is a fantastic coach as well as a fantastic person.
There is a close bond in the squad. I guess you have made many more friends in the last few months. Will you be keeping in touch?
Yeah of course, I have made so many new friends. I will definitely keep in touch and also follow the team for the rest of the season. I'd like to thank them for being such incredible people on and off the pitch. They made my time at the club so special and I hope our paths cross again in the future.