Naomi Girma’s Journey to Being a Star Defensive Player
There are plenty of talented young players making a splash on the NWSL and the USWNT, but few names are as prominent as Naomi Girma.
Girma, only 21 years old, was the first overall 2022 NWSL Draft pick. She will join the star-studded roster of new San Diego Wave FC alongside veteran defender Abby Dahlkemper and star forward Alex Morgan.
So, how did Girma cinch her spot as the most coveted player in the NWSL draft this year? Here, we’ll explore all about Naomi Girma and how she became the No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 NWSL Draft.
Club and College Days
Girma fell in love with the game at a young age. She played for several club teams prior to her collegiate career, notably CV Crossfire, De Anza Force, and CA Thorns Academy.
She committed to Standford as a freshman in 2018. Girma made an impact as soon as her first year on the team. She started 22 games, with two goals and four assists.
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Captaining the Stanford team her sophomore year, Girma lead her squad to an NCAA championship trophy. As a sophomore, Girma started all 25 games at center back and was a MAC Hermann Trophy Semifinalist.
She took a redshirt season due to injury her junior year, only to come back better than ever for her senior year, where she started all 20 matches and scored four goals.
The senior center back was the Pac-12 Defender of the Year as well as the Scholar-Athlete of the Year in 2021, adding to her long list of first-team accolades.
Professional Experience
In 2021, Girma decided to declare for the 2022 NWSL draft rather than continue her collegiate eligibility. She was the first overall pick, praised for her technical ability and game knowledge, going to the new San Diego Wave FC team.
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“I think there are so many amazing players in the draft this year and in the league already who I can learn from and just continue to develop with,” she told reporters, according to LAG Confidential.
U.S. Women’s National Team
Girma is not unfamiliar with the international stage. She has a long history with U.S. Women’s National Team Youth circuit. She played on the U-17, U-19, and U-20 teams, with impressive statistics to back up her time there.
Her first national team full call-up was on November 27, 2019.
Girma was voted the U.S. Soccer Young Female Player of the Year in 2020. Currently, she has 26 appearances with the U.S. National Team. Most recently, she attended the USWNT’s January camp and was in contention for the 2022 SheBelieves Cup roster.
Personal Life
The San Jose, California native, majored in Symbolic Systems at Stanford. She is the daughter of Ethiopian immigrants. She was introduced to soccer through Maleda Soccer and credited her support system for her continued success.
“None of my success in soccer would’ve been possible without the community around me,” Girma said in a Go Stanford article.
We can’t wait to see what comes next for Naomi Girma as she continues to push the boundaries of success in our soccer community!
Featured image via Getty Images
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