The Top 6 Outside Backs in the NWSL
No team is truly complete without a solid defense. We know how important a strong center-back is, but what about the defense on the wings? Outside backs are the ones who shut down dangerous crosses and solve problems before they happen. These players have to work the ball up while always being aware of what might be lurking in the shadows of the box. Outside back is no easy position to take up; here are a few women who are doing it the best in the NWSL.
Kelley O’Hara
A longtime member of the USWNT, O’Hara is deadly on the backline. While she is a powerful striker, having won the Hermann Trophy at Stanford, O’Hara has played every position but goal.
During her time with Blue Sky FC, O’Hara could have been found at right-back, wing, central mid, or forward. Currently, both for her club and the UWSNT, O’Hara can be found protecting the backline.
Crystal Dunn
Like O’Hara, Crystal Dunn started as a forward but rose to fame as a defender for the USWNT. O’Hara and Dunn also share the Hermann Trophy, which Dunn won in 2012 at North Carolina.
Dunn made a few appearances on the USWNT roster before becoming a big name, but she didn’t truly stick until she switched positions. Despite being a stellar offensive player, Dunn knew that her best shot at the main roster was to follow then-coach Jill Ellis’s advice and drop back to outside defense. Dunn brings a different style to her defensive game thanks to her time as a striker and midfielder.
She now regularly plays outside back for the USWNT and switches between midfield and defense for the Portland Thorns.
Tierna Davidson
Tierna Davidson has only been in the league for two years now, but there has been a buzz around her name since the get-go. Davidson started with the Red Stars in 2019 after forgoing her final year at Stanford. In 2018, Davidson played for both the USWNT and the U-20 chapter, the same year she was named U.S. Soccer Young Female Player of the Year.
Since then, she has seen more and more time with the senior USWNT roster, especially in the last year. She made her debut World Cup appearance in 2019 against France and started four out of five matches in the 2021 Olympics, including the Bronze medal match. However, Davidson is still so young in the league, and we know she has a brilliant career ahead of her.
Meghan Klingenberg
Meghan Klingenberg is one of the cornerstone outside backs of women’s soccer. Much like the other names on this list, Kling is an incredibly versatile player. During her time at the University of North Carolina, she would go wherever needed, playing offense, midfield, and defense.
She was on the USWNT as a member of the U-16 team in 2004 and played for the U-17, U-19, and U-23 teams until being called up to the senior team in 2011. Kling is an aggressive defensive player, which she credits to her time training taekwondo.
Currently crushing it with the Portland Thorns, Kling has played internationally with Tyreso in Sweden, was a member of three WPS teams before the league dissolved, and played for the Houston Dash.
Ali Krieger
Another seasoned veteran, Ali Krieger, is a beast as an outside back. Krieger has only played for two teams in the NWSL, her current club, the Orlando Pride, and the Washington Spirit. Her club credits include two international teams, FFC Frankfurt of Germany and Tyreso of Sweden, and a season with the now-dissolved Washington Freedom.
Krieger was a member of the USWNT squad during their 2015 FIFA World Cup appearance, where she was instrumental in helping the team set the record for scoreless opponents—540 minutes. She appeared in three World Cups and one Olympic Games.
Emily Sonnett
Emily Sonnett is the last on our list of the top outside backs in the NWSL. She was part of the NWSL Shield winning team in 2016 and helped bring the Thorns the championship the very next year. For two consecutive years after that, she was named to the Best XI and Second XI of the NWSL.
During her collegiate career, Sonnett earned Defensive Player of the Year, ESPNW Soccer Player of the Year, College Cup Most Outstanding Defensive Player, and many more. Sonnett has also been showing up for the USWNT since 2016. She competed in several SheBelieves Cups, one FIFA World Cup and was recently a part of the bronze medal-winning USWNT team at the 2021 Olympics.
Featured image via @chicagoredstars on Instagram
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