Wikipedia

Olivia Moultrie

Olivia Lynn Moultrie (born September 17, 2005) is an American professional soccer player who plays as an attacking midfielder for the Portland Thorns of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). She is the youngest American women's soccer player to turn professional, at age 13 in 2019. In 2021, she filed a lawsuit against the NWSL that successfully removed the league's age limit and debuted for the Thorns that year at age 15.[4] She was called up to the United States national team in 2023.

Olivia Moultrie
Moultrie with the Portland Thorns in 2024
Personal information
Full name Olivia Lynn Moultrie[1]
Date of birth (2005-09-17) September 17, 2005 (age 19)[2]
Place of birth Santa Clarita, California[3]
Height 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)
Position(s) Attacking midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Portland Thorns
Number 13
Youth career
2017 Total Futbol Academy
2017–2019 Beach FC
2019–2021 Portland Thorns FC
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2021– Portland Thorns FC 45 (5)
International career‡
2018–2019 United States U15
2019 United States U16
2020 United States U17
2022– United States U20 5 (2)
2023– United States 5 (2)
Medal record
CONCACAF W Gold Cup
Winner 2024 United States
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of March 19, 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of October 27, 2024

Early life

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Moultrie was born in Santa Clarita, California to K.C. and Jessica Moultrie,[5][6] who both participated in college athletics,[7] and was raised in the Canyon Country district of Santa Clarita, California. Moultrie is also a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.[8] She started training in soccer when she was four years old. By fifth grade, she was homeschooled so that she could focus on soccer and became the first girl on a boys' club team to play in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy system.[9] At 11, she accepted a full scholarship offer to play soccer for the Tar Heels of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill when she reached college age (from the 2024 season), becoming the youngest girls' soccer player to publicly accept a college offer at the time.[9] Shortly after, she traveled to Europe to train.[7] Her family began planning a move to Lyon, France, so she could begin playing professionally as soon as possible; however, these plans were abandoned when the Portland Thorns FC signed her in 2019.[10] She moved from California to Wilsonville, Oregon where she now resides.[11]

Club career

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Portland Thorns

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In February 2019, Moultrie announced that she was turning professional, having signed a representation deal with the Wasserman Media Group. She signed with Nike to a multi-year endorsement arrangement, giving up her college eligibility in the process,[9] and joined the Portland Thorns FC academy.[12]

Although she trained with the Thorns' senior team[13] and appeared in exhibition matches, she had been prevented from signing a professional contract with the club, as the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) prohibited players under age 18, while FIFA, soccer's international governing body, generally prohibits minors from playing overseas.[14] She made her first appearance for the senior team in an exhibition match on March 27, 2019, against the United States under-23 team.[15][16]

On May 4, 2021, she filed an antitrust lawsuit against the NWSL in the United States District Court for the District of Oregon, alleging that the league, as the "only acquirer of talent in the market", violated the Sherman Antitrust Act with its age limit.[17] The suit asked for immediate action from the court by granting a temporary restraining order against the age rule so that Moultrie can play in regular-season games during the 2021 season.[18] On May 24, 2021, United States District Judge Karin Immergut granted a temporary restraining order, ordering the league to lift its age limit and allow Moultrie to compete for a roster spot on the Thorns, writing, the league had not "presented any compelling procompetitive reasons to justify this anticompetitive policy, nor have they shown that eliminating the Age Rule will cause any non-speculative injury to the NWSL."[19]

In June 2021, the league informed all member teams of a discovery process for Moultrie, ultimately awarding the rights to OL Reign,[20] who subsequently traded her to the Thorns for a third-round draft pick.[21] On June 30, 2021, Moultrie signed a three-year contract with the Thorns, becoming the youngest player to sign a contract with an NWSL team.[22]

Moultrie made her professional debut on July 3, 2021, coming on as an 83rd-minute substitute in a 2–0 win against Racing Louisville.[23] She made her first start and recorded her first assist on August 7 against Washington Spirit.[24]

On August 19, 2021, Moultrie scored her first professional goal, a 57th-minute direct free kick against Houston Dash, in the semifinal of the International Champions Cup.[25]

On June 12, 2022, Moultrie scored her first NWSL league goal becoming the youngest player to do so.[26][27]

On October 29, 2022, Moultrie came on as a substitute in the 2022 NWSL Championship game. The Thorns won the match earning Moultrie her first NWSL Championship.[28]

On February 13, 2024, it was announced that Moultrie agreed to a three-year contract extension with the Thorns, lasting through the 2026 season.[29]

International career

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On February 15, 2022, Moultrie was included in the U.S. under-20 squad for the 2022 CONCACAF Women's U-20 Championship.[30]

In October 2023, Moultrie was included in the US senior squad for the first time at the age of 18, for a double headed friendly fixture against Colombia.[31] She earned her first cap on December 2, 2023, against China PR. She earned her first start and recorded her first two goals on February 20, 2024, against the Dominican Republic in a group stage match of the 2024 CONCACAF W Gold Cup[32] becoming the third US women's soccer player to score two or more goals in a game at age 18 or younger after Mia Hamm and Cindy Parlow Cone.[33] She also earned Player of the Match honors.[34]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of March 19, 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup[a] Playoffs[b] Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Portland Thorns FC 2021 NWSL 9 0 0 0 0 0 9 0
2022 14 3 5 0 1 0 20 3
2023 21 2 6 0 1 0 28 2
2024 1 1 — — 1 1
Career total 45 5 11 0 2 0 58 5
  1. ^ Includes the NWSL Challenge Cup
  2. ^ Includes NWSL Playoffs

International

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As of match played October 27, 2024
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
United States 2023 2 0
2024 3 2
Total 5 2
Scores and results list United States's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Moultrie goal.
List of international goals scored by Olivia Moultrie
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition Ref.
1 February 20, 2024 Carson, California   Dominican Republic 1–0 5–0 2024 CONCACAF W Gold Cup [m 1]
2 3–0
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In 2019, shortly after turning pro, Moultrie had a small role in Nike's all-women "Dream Crazier" commercial that debuted during the 92nd Academy Awards broadcast and was narrated by Serena Williams.[9]

Honors

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Portland Thorns FC

United States

United States U20

Individual

References

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  1. ^ "Squad List, FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup Costa Rica 2022: USA" (PDF). FIFA. August 3, 2022. p. 16. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  2. ^ "Olivia Moultrie". oliviamoultriesoccer.com.
  3. ^ "Olivia Moultrie - Portland Thorns".
  4. ^ Diamond, Drew (August 5, 2024). "How young is too young? The ethical dilemma of child athletes in pro sports". Her Football Hub. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
  5. ^ McCann, Michael (June 30, 2021). "Teen Soccer Phenom Moultrie Signs With Portland After Court Case". Sportico. Retrieved November 10, 2021.
  6. ^ Ballard, Chris (May 29, 2019). "Project: Phenom". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
  7. ^ a b "Olivia Moultrie On Her Rapid Rise, Signing With Nike & Measuring Success". SoccerBible. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
  8. ^ "Latter-day Saint Soccer Pro Olivia Moultrie Featured in ESPN Article". Church News. April 24, 2024. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
  9. ^ a b c d Keh, Andrew (February 25, 2019). "A Soccer Pro at 13? Olivia Moultrie Will Give It a Try". The New York Times.
  10. ^ Goldberg, Jamie (February 25, 2019). "13-year-old phenom Olivia Moultrie to move to Portland to join Thorns developmental academy". The Oregonian. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
  11. ^ Bernstein, Maxine (May 28, 2021). "Portland Thorns make discovery claim for 15-year-old player Olivia Moultrie but National Women's Soccer League rejects it". The Oregonian. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
  12. ^ Bieler, Das. "13-year-old female soccer player turns pro and signs with Nike". Washington Post. Retrieved March 3, 2019.
  13. ^ Murray, Caitlin (April 29, 2019). "After turning pro, 13-year-old phenom Olivia Moultrie now stuck in soccer limbo". Yahoo Sports.
  14. ^ Tenorio, Paul (April 13, 2021). "Restrictions on 15-year-old Olivia Moultrie present antitrust problem for the NWSL". The Athletic.
  15. ^ "Journey and Accomplishments". OliviaMoultrieSoccer.com. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
  16. ^ "United States U23 vs. Portland Thorns – 28 March 2019". Soccerway. March 27, 2019. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
  17. ^ Tenorio, Paul (May 5, 2021). "Teen soccer phenom Olivia Moultrie sues NWSL for right to play in league". The Athletic.
  18. ^ Bernstein, Maxine (May 4, 2021). "15-year-old soccer phenom Olivia Moultrie sues for right to compete in National Women's Soccer League". The Oregonian.
  19. ^ Berstein, Maxine (May 24, 2021). "Judge rules 15-year-old Olivia Moultrie is eligible to sign contract with National Women's Soccer League". The Oregonian. Retrieved May 24, 2021.
  20. ^ Bernstein, Maxine (June 7, 2021). "Olivia Moultrie returns to court as a draft contract to play with Portland Thorns awaits league approval". The Oregonian. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
  21. ^ Gastelum, Andrew (June 6, 2021). "Report: Olivia Moultrie Set to Sign NWSL Contract, Will Play for Portland". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
  22. ^ Kyle, Garcia (June 30, 2021). "Olivia Moultrie officially signs with Thorns FC". SB Nation. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
  23. ^ Herrera, Sandra (July 3, 2021). "Teenager Olivia Moultrie becomes youngest player in NWSL history in regular-season debut for Portland Thorns". CBS Sports. Retrieved July 3, 2021.
  24. ^ Murray, Caitlin (August 7, 2021). "15-year-old Olivia Moultrie nets game-winning assist in first pro start as Portland Thorns beat Washington Spirit". The Oregonian. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
  25. ^ "Olivia Moultrie, 15, scores first pro goal as Portland Thorns advance to WICC final". Associated Press. August 19, 2021. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
  26. ^ "National Women's Soccer League Official Site | NWSL".
  27. ^ "16-Year-Old Olivia Moultrie Becomes Youngest Player in NWSL History to Score Goal". Bleacher Report.
  28. ^ "National Women's Soccer League Official Site | NWSL".
  29. ^ Oregonian/OregonLive, Geoffrey C. Arnold | The (February 13, 2024). "Portland Thorns, midfielder Olivia Moultrie agree to contract extension". oregonlive. Retrieved March 5, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  30. ^ "U.S. Under-20 WYNT Head Coach Tracey Kevins Names USA Roster For 2022 Concacaf Women's Under-20 Championship In The Dominican Republic". United States Soccer Federation. February 15, 2022. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
  31. ^ Hettesheimer, Cassidy (October 19, 2023). "NWSL groundbreaker Olivia Moultrie gets first shot at USWNT". Her Football Hub. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
  32. ^ "USWNT vs. Dominican Republic: Starting XI & Lineup Notes | 2024 Concacaf W Gold Cup".
  33. ^ Ramsay, George (February 21, 2024). "Teen phenom Olivia Moultrie scores a brace for US women in 5-0 rout of Dominican Republic". CNN. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
  34. ^ FC, Portland Thorns. "LIV-ing for the moment! Olivia Moultrie shines in W Gold Cup debut with USWNT". Portland Thorns FC. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
  35. ^ Snipes, Tyler (August 22, 2021). "The Portland Thorns are WICC Champions!". International Champions Cup.
  36. ^ Azzi, Alex (October 30, 2022). "Portland Thorns win 2022 NWSL Championship, MVP Smith scores game winner". On Her Turf. Retrieved November 1, 2022.
  37. ^ "Horan the hero as USA down Brazil to win W Gold Cup crown". CONCACAF.com. March 11, 2024. Retrieved March 11, 2024.
  38. ^ "2024 Shebelieves Cup final USWNT vs Canada result". U.S. Soccer. Retrieved April 9, 2024.
  39. ^ "USA Wins Concacaf Women's U-20 Championship With 2-0 Victory Over Mexico". US Soccer. March 12, 2022. Retrieved January 8, 2023.
  40. ^ "Naomi Girma Voted 2023 U.S. Soccer Female Player Of The Year; Olivia Moultrie Voted 2023 Chipotle U.S. Soccer Young Female Player Of The Year". U.S. Soccer. Retrieved January 11, 2024.

Match reports

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  1. ^ "U.S. Women's National Team Opens 2024 CONCACAF W Gold Cup With 5-0 Win Against Dominican Republic". U.S. Soccer. February 20, 2024.
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