Payton Elizabeth Linnehan (born March 25, 2001) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a forward for the Portland Thorns of the National Women's Soccer League. She was drafted by the Thorns 11th overall in the 2024 NWSL Draft after playing college soccer for the Penn State Nittany Lions.

Payton Linnehan
Linnehan with Penn State in 2019
Personal information
Full name Payton Elizabeth Linnehan
Date of birth (2001-03-25) March 25, 2001 (age 23)
Place of birth Milford, Massachusetts, U.S.
Height 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
Portland Thorns
Number 15
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2019–2023 Penn State Nittany Lions 90 (34)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2024– Portland Thorns 3 (1)
International career
2016 United States U15
2017–2018 United States U17
2022 United States U23
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of May 2, 2024

Early life

edit

Linnehan was raised in Douglas, Massachusetts, the daughter of Sheri and Sean Linnehan.[1] She started playing youth soccer when she was about five years old.[2] Linnehan played club soccer for FC Stars of Massachusetts starting at age 12.[2] She attended Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical High School, playing two years for the soccer team before choosing to focus on club soccer.[3][4]

College career

edit

Linnehan played for the Penn State Nittany Lions from 2019 to 2023. She recorded 34 goals and 24 assists in 90 games.[5] She was named the most outstanding offensive player of the 2019 Big Ten tournament after scoring the golden goal in the final.[6] She scored two hat tricks at Penn State: one in the first half of a 2021 match against La Salle[7] and another against Central Connecticut in the first round of the 2023 NCAA tournament.[8]

Professional career

edit

The Portland Thorns chose Linnehan with the 11th pick of the 2024 NWSL Draft.[9][10] She signed for a two-year contract with a mutual third-year option.[11] She scored 90 seconds into her first start for the Thorns on May 1, 2024, and added an assist to Sophia Smith five minutes later to help beat Bay FC 3–2.[12]

International career

edit

Linnehan played on the United States national under-15, under-17 and under-23 teams.[13] She won the Golden Boot of the 2016 CONCACAF Girls' U-15 Championship as the top scorer of the tournament.

Career statistics

edit
As of May 4, 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 2024 NWSL 4 1 4 1
Career total 4 1 0 0 0 0 4 1
  1. ^ Includes the NWSL Challenge Cup.
  2. ^ Includes NWSL Playoffs.

References

edit
  1. ^ Writer, Staff. "Payton Linnehan". The Worcester Telegram & Gazette. Retrieved April 6, 2024.
  2. ^ a b Garven, Rich. "Soccer: Valley Tech's Payton Linnehan with Team USA in Uruguay for U-17 Women's World Cup". The Worcester Telegram & Gazette. Retrieved April 6, 2024.
  3. ^ Brechter, Henry. "Top girls' soccer players faced with a tough call – The Boston Globe". BostonGlobe.com. Retrieved April 6, 2024.
  4. ^ Kyne, Chris. "Chris Kyne: North Middlesex girls' soccer preps for playoffs". The Worcester Telegram & Gazette. Retrieved April 6, 2024.
  5. ^ Vogt, Amanda (January 12, 2024). "Portland Thorns FC drafts women's soccer forward Payton Linnehan in NWSL Draft". The Daily Collegian. Retrieved April 6, 2024.
  6. ^ "Nittany Lions Win Big Ten Tournament Championship". Penn State Nittany Lions. November 10, 2019. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
  7. ^ "Linnehan's hat trick leads PSU to victory over La Salle". WTAJ - www.wtaj.com. August 23, 2021. Retrieved April 6, 2024.
  8. ^ Connington, Ashley (November 11, 2023). "Penn State Women's Soccer Dominates Central Connecticut State 7-0 In Opening Round Of NCAA Tournament". Onward State. Retrieved April 6, 2024.
  9. ^ Odom, Joel (January 13, 2024). "Portland Thorns select winger Payton Linnehan in NWSL draft". oregonlive. Retrieved April 6, 2024.
  10. ^ "Payton Linnehan PTFC". Portland Thorns FC.
  11. ^ "Portland Thorns FC sign 2024 first-round draft pick Payton Linnehan". Portland Thorns FC.
  12. ^ Hoffmann, Shane (May 2, 2024). "'That was just the start': Winger Payton Linnehan another example of Portland Thorns' embarrassment of riches". The Oregonian. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
  13. ^ Alenstein, Lyle (August 20, 2023). "Payton Linnehan destined for her best season as a part of Penn State women's soccer". The Daily Collegian. Retrieved April 6, 2024.
edit