12 Underrated NWSL Defenders and Where They Played Youth Club Soccer
Over the last few seasons, the talent in the pool of NWSL defenders has increased. Names like Naomi Girma, Tierna Davidson, and Emily Fox are just some of the few taking the league by storm.
Most clubs have a good mix of players and talent, but some defensive players get overlooked if they aren’t big household names. Each team depends greatly on their defensive line, and there are so many players that go above and beyond for their team. Here are 12 underrated NWSL defenders and where they played youth club soccer.
Allysha Chapman – Ajax United Eclipse
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Allysha Chapman, a defender for the Houston Dash, just celebrated 100 caps with the club. Before going pro, she played club soccer for Ajax United Eclipse. The Canadian defender also plays for the Canadian International team. Chapman is a solid and consistent presence in the defensive line for the Dash, starting eight out of the nine games she has played this season alone.
Ally Prisock – Legends FC
Sealed the deal for our W!@AllyPrisock is your @budweiserusa Player of the Match!#DTFO pic.twitter.com/B1uTYD7TU4
— Houston Dash (@HoustonDash) May 27, 2023
Fellow Houston Dash defender Ally Prisock is another consistent face on the roster for the team. Originally from California, she started off playing with the youth club Legends FC. Prisock started and played in every game for the Dash last season. She recently scored her first regular season goal, which was only her second career goal. She is signed on to stay with the club through the 2024 season.
Sarah Gorden – Eclipse Select Soccer Club
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Traded to Angel City FC at the start of the 2022 season, Sarah Gorden has finally had the opportunity to show her skills with her new club. She spent her first season with the team injured but is now back to playing full games. This season alone, Gorden has consistently received Player of the Match and Play of the Match accolades. Gorden, who played youth club soccer with Eclipse Select Soccer Club, was called up to the USWNT in 2019. Not only is she on our underrated NWSL defenders list, but she’s an overlooked USWNT call-up.
Ellie Jean – Oakwood Soccer Club
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Defender for Gotham FC, Ellie Jean, brings a load of experience to the team. She has played in the Champions League and was a huge star during her time playing collegiately at Penn State. At one point, she was ranked as the number two defensive player in the nation by TopDrawerSoccer. Jean played youth soccer with Oakwood Soccer Club for five years.
Izzy Rodriguez – Michigan Hawks
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Isabel Rodriguez was drafted by the KC Current back in 2021. Rodriguez played youth club soccer for the top club, the Michigan Hawks. While she hasn’t started every game this season, she has played in every game and is continuously earning more minutes played. She recently scored a very impressive first professional career goal in May, which will likely earn her some more play time after showcasing some extreme skill!
Sam Hiatt – Crossfire ECNL
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It’s hard to shine as a defender on the OL Reign in the company of veteran and international players like Lu Barnes, Sofia Huerta, and Alana Cook, but Sam Hiatt does it. Hiatt, who started playing with Crossfire ECNL, is in her third season with the Reign after being drafted in 2019. While she didn’t initially come out as a starter, she finished third overall on the team for successful passes. She just resigned to stay with the Reign through 2024, so we will see more of her!
Reyna Reyes – F.C. Dallas
With the 5th pick in the 2023 #NWSLDraft we’ve selected Reyna Reyes from the University of Alabama.
Welcome to Portland, Reyna! 🌹 #BAONPDX pic.twitter.com/IiXc3UVlSR
— Portland Thorns FC (@ThornsFC) January 12, 2023
NWSL and Portland Thorns rookie Reyna Reyes was the number five draft pick in the 2023 NWSL College Draft. She is already making a name for herself professionally, having just scored her first goal in their match against the San Diego Wave to tie the game. The Texas native played internationally for the Mexican Women’s National Team and got her start playing youth club soccer for F.C. Dallas.
Natalia Kiukka – Merilappi United
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Natalia Kiukka is captain of the Finland National Women’s Team and got her start playing youth club soccer with Merilappi United. The international player has been with the Portland Thorns since 2021 and has signed on to play with the club through the end of this season. She has made a great impact since joining the club, leading the team in tackles and interceptions.
Kylie Strom – Syracuse Surge Fury
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Kylie Strom is a unique defender for the Orlando Pride, bringing her experience from playing abroad with her to the team. Before being acquired by the Pride in 2021, she played for Sparta Prague and Atletico Madrid. Prior to playing collegiately and professionally, she played for the youth club Syracuse Surge Fury. Strom recently scored the game-winning goal in their home game against the Washington Spirit.
Mia Gyau – Bethesda Lions
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Defender for the San Diego Wave through the end of this season, Gyau got her club experience playing with the Bethesda Lions boys team. She signed on with the San Diego Wave in January 2022, and although she hasn’t had much play time, she has gained much experience playing with the U18 and U20 USYNT squads. Gyau made an impression during her NWSL debut, providing an assist that led to the winning goal in the Wave’s first-ever regular season win. Her comeback from an injury-filled collegiate experience to making it onto a professional squad is remarkable.
Kaleigh Riehl – Braddock Road Youth Club ’95 Elite
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Kaleigh Riehl, also a defender for the San Diego Wave, worked her way to starting every game this season. In her last season with the team, she recorded 79 clearances and 33 interceptions. Like several other players on this list, Riehl played collegiately for Penn State University. Before that, she played with the youth club Braddock Road Youth Club ’95 Elite. The center back is currently signed on to stay with the Wave through the 2024 season.
Amber Brooks – Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer
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Last but not least on our list of underrated NWSL defenders is Amber Brookers. Brooks, a defender for the Washington Spirit, clocked her 10,000th minute of play time last May during the 2022 season! The Spirit signed her after being waived by her former club, the OL Reign. Brooks has started four of the seven games this season for the Spirit, earning 11 clearances in the 443 minutes that she has played. While she played for several clubs, she spent the majority of her years playing club soccer with Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer.
As the NWSL season continues to heat up, keep an eye on these NWSL defenders to see how else they will continue to impact their teams!
Featured image via Getty Images
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