Where The New Wave of the USWNT Played Youth Club Soccer
Currently playing in the Gold Cup international tournament, the United States Women’s National team has added top-tier talent. These players are coming in relatively young, and many are making their initial tournament debut this month. Let’s look at what youth clubs the newest members of the USWNT played for growing up.
Korbin Albert – Eclipse
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Korbin Albert made her debut with the USWNT near the end of 2023. She has made three appearances with the team and is a current Paris Saint Germain player. Growing up, Albert played a majority of her youth soccer games with Eclipse Select Soccer Club from 2014 to 2021. This club is based in Chicago, Illinois, and in her last year with the team, July 2021, the team won the ENCL National Championship.
Olivia Moultrie – Beach FC
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Olivia Moultrie is also a newer player of the USWNT who has also made three appearances and has already scored two goals. Moultrie grew up playing with a youth boys’ club soccer team. She was the first girl to play for a USDA boys’ team. Before moving to Oregon, Moultrie also played with girls two years older than her for Beach FC Girls DA. Moultrie has expressed immense gratitude for her time at Beach and the coaching environment under coach Jeff Joyner.
Jaedyn Shaw – FC Dallas and Solar
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Jaedyn Shaw, a Texas native, has played six games and has scored an astonishing four goals with the USWNT. Growing up, Shaw played youth soccer for FC Dallas and Solar Soccer Club. Before going pro with the San Diego Wave, Shaw won a championship with her Solar Soccer Club ECNL team.
Alyssa Thompson – LAFC Socal
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Alyssa Thompson became an addition to the USWNT last year and played with them in this past World Cup. Throughout her club years, Thompson played with a youth boys team and was the first girl to play for a boys’ MLS next team. Before that, Thompson was an addition to her LAFC Socal team (formerly known as Real Socal). She played for the team until she was nine years old when she decided to begin training with boys.
Sam Coffey – Match-Fit Academy and New York Soccer Club
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Sam Coffey began her senior USWNT career in 2022 but began shining for the team in 2023 and 2024. A New York native, Coffey played for Match-Fit Academy and New York Soccer Club, where she was a five-time “Region 1 Team” honoree and All-American honoree. She then continued her soccer career at Penn State, playing from 2019 to 2021 before signing up for the Portland Thorns.
Jenna Nighswonger – Slammers FC
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Jenna Nighswonger debuted for the USWNT in December of 2023. Before that, she played at various USYNT levels for the Southern California club Slammers FC. After playing collegiately at Florida State and winning a national championship, Nighswonger was selected fourth in the 2023 NWSL Draft to Gotham FC. Although she primarily played as an attacker in her college years, she’s been shifted to outside back for both club and country.
Featured image via Getty Images
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