Aly Wagner
Encyclopedia
Alyson Kay "Aly" Wagner is a former American
soccer midfielder
who last played for Los Angeles Sol of Women's Professional Soccer
. She was a member of the United States women's national soccer team
. On January 24, 2010, Wagner announced her retirement from professional soccer.
in San Jose, California. She began playing with the U.S. Women's National Team in 1998, while still a freshman
at Santa Clara University
. In 2001, she led Santa Clara to the NCAA Women's Soccer Championship
, scoring the only goal in Santa Clara's 1-0 victory over perennial powerhouse North Carolina
. She was awarded the 2002 Hermann Trophy
as the top collegiate soccer player in the country and the Today's Top VIII Award
as a member of the Class of 2002.
's 2003 draft
, with the San Diego Spirit
trading three players for the rights to draft her. At the conclusion of the 2003 season, she was traded to the Boston Breakers
, shortly before the WUSA suspended operations. She finally got the opportunity to play for the Breakers in a June 19, 2004 exhibition match against the Washington Freedom
in Blaine, Minnesota
, as part of a coordinated effort to maintain public interest in the WUSA.
In 2009, she began playing midfielder for the Los Angeles Sol of Women's Professional Soccer
(WPS), successor to the failed WUSA.
On July 30, 2006, she became the 18th United States Women's National Team player to reach the mark of 100 caps
in a friendly match against Canada
; as of October 20, 2007, her total stands at 117.
Despite a double hernia operation early in 2008, she was selected for the US team to play at the 2008 Summer Olympics
, appearing as a reserve in one match.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
soccer midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
who last played for Los Angeles Sol of Women's Professional Soccer
Women's Professional Soccer
Women's Professional Soccer is the top level professional women's soccer league in the United States. It began play on March 29, 2009. The league was composed of seven teams for its first two seasons and fielded 6 teams for the 2011 season, with continued plans for future expansion...
. She was a member of the United States women's national soccer team
United States women's national soccer team
The United States women's national soccer team represents the United States in international soccer competition and is controlled by U.S. Soccer. The U.S. team won the first ever Women's World Cup in 1991, and has since been a superpower in women's soccer. It is currently ranked first in the world...
. On January 24, 2010, Wagner announced her retirement from professional soccer.
Amateur career
She attended Presentation High SchoolPresentation High School
Presentation High School is a private, Catholic, college preparatory school for girls established in 1962. It is owned and run by the Sisters of the Presentation, and operates within the Diocese of San Jose in California...
in San Jose, California. She began playing with the U.S. Women's National Team in 1998, while still a freshman
Freshman
A freshman or fresher is a first-year student in secondary school, high school, or college. The term first year can also be used as a noun, to describe the students themselves A freshman (US) or fresher (UK, India) (or sometimes fish, freshie, fresher; slang plural frosh or freshmeat) is a...
at Santa Clara University
Santa Clara University
Santa Clara University is a private, not-for-profit, Jesuit-affiliated university located in Santa Clara, California, United States. Chartered by the state of California and accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, it operates in collaboration with the Society of Jesus , whose...
. In 2001, she led Santa Clara to the NCAA Women's Soccer Championship
NCAA Women's Soccer Championship
NCAA Women's Soccer Championships are divided into three divisions. This article lists NCAA Women's soccer championships.-Division I:The NCAA began conducting a Women's Division I Soccer Championship tournament in 1982 with a 12-team tournament...
, scoring the only goal in Santa Clara's 1-0 victory over perennial powerhouse North Carolina
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
. She was awarded the 2002 Hermann Trophy
Hermann Trophy
The Hermann Trophy is awarded annually by the Missouri Athletic Club to the United States's top male and female college soccer players.-History:...
as the top collegiate soccer player in the country and the Today's Top VIII Award
Today's Top VIII Award
The Today's Top VIII Award is given each year by the National Collegiate Athletic Association to honor eight outstanding senior student-athletes of the preceding calendar year. From 1973 through 1985, this award was known as the Today's Top V Award or the Top Five Award and was given to honor five...
as a member of the Class of 2002.
Club career
She was the first player selected in the Women's United Soccer AssociationWomen's United Soccer Association
The Women's United Soccer Association, often abbreviated to the WUSA, was the world's first women's soccer league in which all the players were paid as professionals. Founded in February 2000, the league began its first season in April 2001 with eight teams in the United States...
's 2003 draft
Draft (sports)
A draft is a process used in the United States, Canada, Japan, Australia, Russia and the Philippines to allocate certain players to sports teams. In a draft, teams take turns selecting from a pool of eligible players...
, with the San Diego Spirit
San Diego Spirit
The San Diego Spirit was a professional soccer team that played in the Women's United Soccer Association. The team played at Torero Stadium on the campus of the University of San Diego in San Diego, California. The team began play in 2001...
trading three players for the rights to draft her. At the conclusion of the 2003 season, she was traded to the Boston Breakers
Boston Breakers (WUSA)
The Boston Breakers were a professional soccer team that played in the Women's United Soccer Association. The team played at Nickerson Field on the campus of Boston University in Boston, Massachusetts. The team held a "name the team" contest that Laura DeDonato of Easton Massachusetts won with the...
, shortly before the WUSA suspended operations. She finally got the opportunity to play for the Breakers in a June 19, 2004 exhibition match against the Washington Freedom
Washington Freedom
The Washington Freedom was an American professional soccer club based in the Washington, D.C. suburb of Germantown, Maryland that participated in Women's Professional Soccer. The Freedom was originally founded in 2001 as a member of the defunct Women's United Soccer Association. Since 2004, the...
in Blaine, Minnesota
Blaine, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 44,942 people, 15,898 households, and 12,177 families residing in the city. The population density is 1,330 people per square mile . There are 16,169 housing units at an average density of 477.6 per square mile...
, as part of a coordinated effort to maintain public interest in the WUSA.
In 2009, she began playing midfielder for the Los Angeles Sol of Women's Professional Soccer
Women's Professional Soccer
Women's Professional Soccer is the top level professional women's soccer league in the United States. It began play on March 29, 2009. The league was composed of seven teams for its first two seasons and fielded 6 teams for the 2011 season, with continued plans for future expansion...
(WPS), successor to the failed WUSA.
International career
In 2004, she was selected for the United States Women's Soccer team at the Athens Olympics; in four matches she made six assists and scored six goals, helping the U.S. to a gold medal.On July 30, 2006, she became the 18th United States Women's National Team player to reach the mark of 100 caps
Cap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
in a friendly match against Canada
Canada women's national soccer team
The Canada women's national soccer team is overseen by the Canadian Soccer Association. The team reached its all-time high of 6th in the March 2011 rankings. The team reached international prominence finishing in 4th place at the FIFA Women's World Cup 2003, losing to their archrival American team...
; as of October 20, 2007, her total stands at 117.
Despite a double hernia operation early in 2008, she was selected for the US team to play at the 2008 Summer Olympics
2008 Summer Olympics
The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...
, appearing as a reserve in one match.