10 Asian Pacific American Players’ Careers You Need To Follow
May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month! So many countries are represented under the AAPI label, meaning all the more to celebrate!
API representation in the NWSL is growing slowly but surely, especially with the addition of international players such as Jun Endo and Yuki Nagasato, to name a few. Their success brings more attention to the Asian Pacific American players who are making a big splash in the league, and rightfully so! Here are ten Asian Pacific American players to keep your eyes on.
Alyssa Thompson
Thompson is a rookie in the NWSL this year and playing for Angel City FC. Originally committed to Stanford for the 2023 season, Thompson opted for the draft instead and went first overall. Thompson already has points behind her name, netting her first goal just five minutes in to her professional debut.
A more recent addition to the USWNT, Thompson was called up last year and now holds the title of youngest-ever member of the squad. She is an incredibly promising talent and will no doubt bring so much to the league and to the sport.
Ryanne Brown
Brown is another fresh face in the NWSL. A defender in her sophomore year with the league Brown is currently on loan from OL Reign to the Danish Nordsjælland. Brown is a graduate of Wake Forest, where she is credited with several game-winning goals and helped see her team to the NCAA Tournament.
Soccer runs in the family for Brown, her brother is also a soccer player, and her cousin is Sarina Bolden of the Philippines International team.
Caprice Dydasco
Gotham FC traded Caprice Dydasco to the Houston Dash at the end of last season. The Hawaiian-born defender has become a staple in their backline, playing in every game this season. She was the first AAPI player to win the NWSL Defender of the Year Award in 2021 and was named to the 2021 NWSL Best XI. Let’s see if she will have a repeat this season!
Ali Riley
If you don’t know the name Ali Riley, you may have been living under a rock. The defender for Angel City FC has played in four World Cups and captained the New Zealand Women’s National Team.
Previously with the Orlando Pride, Riley has spent much of her career playing at some of the best women’s clubs in the world, including Chelsea and Bayern Munich. Her experience will hopefully help the team turn around their season.
Ally Watt
Recently transferred to Orlando Pride after a rocky ride with OL Reign, Ally Watt finally has a chance to show her skills. The forward with Filipino roots was playing for the NC Courage in 2020 when she tore her ACL. She spent the last two seasons in recovery and was transferred during that time.
Watt is back on the field now as a fresh attacker for the Pride. We’ll have a chance to see what the sixth overall draft pick from the 2020 NWSL Draft will do this season.
Sam Hiatt
Another Filipino-American player who was unable to play during her first season in the NWSL, Sam Hiatt, was sidelined while recovering from an injury. She signed with the OL Reign in 2020 but didn’t play her first full season until 2021. The defender has started all nine games so far this season, so I see her popularity continuing to grow.
Lo’eau Labonta
Lo Labonta (aka Lo Momma) is a common face with the KC Current. The midfielder played with the club when they were known as the FC Kansas City and is now signed to stay on through 2024. Her experience is something that the team can rely on and will definitely use to their benefit. She has started eight games this season, so continue to look for her leadership on the field.
Chardonnay Curran
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Chardonnay Curran is in her second season with the KC Current. The native from Hawaii was instrumental when she played for Oregon, where she held the record for most matches played. Curran was selected in the second round of the 2022 NWSL Draft as number 17 overall. She has started twice already this season, so look out for her fresh energy in the Current’s midfield.
Makamae Gomera-Stevens
The former Washington State Cougar started her NWSL career with the Houston Dash back in 2020. Gomera-Stevens clocked over 400 minutes of playtime and started four times in her rookie season. However, on July 8, 2022, she suffered an ACL tear and was placed on the season-ending injury list. She’s still in rehabilitation, but we can’t wait to see her back on the pitch!
Yuka Nicole Momiki
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Momiki, who plays for the Japanese National Team, was born in the U.S. but grew up playing in Japan. In 2020, she signed with the OL Reign and played in the 2021 Challenge Cup before going on loan to Linköpings FC in July. The OL Reign permanently transferred Momiki to the Swedish club in December 2021, but her American citizenship could possibly bring her back to the NWSL!
We can look forward to seeing all that these players will do this season!
Featured image via Getty Images
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