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by | Mar 29, 2018 | Tellima

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Riley Francis Jackson (born December 2, 2005) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for the North Carolina Courage of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) and the United States women's national under-20 team. She was named the national Gatorade Player of the Year in 2022. She signed with the Courage at the age of 17 in 2023.

Early life

Jackson grew up in Roswell, Georgia.[2] She played ten years of club soccer for Roswell Soccer Club, a team coached by her father.[2] She then joined Concorde Fire of the Elite Clubs National League (ECNL), where she played up an age group.[2] She was named the ECNL's Southeast Conference Player of the Year in 2020–21, and after helping the Fire win the national club title, she was named the national ECNL Player of the Year in 2021–22.[3][4]

Jackson played high school soccer for Blessed Trinity Catholic High School in Roswell, recording 36 goals and 48 assists over her career.[5] In her sophomore year in 2021–22, she scored 14 goals and had 18 assists and was named the national Gatorade Player of the Year.[6]

Club career

Jackson was signed by the North Carolina Courage in July 2023 at age 17, via the NWSL's Under-18 Entry Mechanism, with her contract guaranteed through the 2025 season with an option for an additional year.[7][8] She had previously verbally committed to Duke University and instead finished high school online.[9][10] She did not appear in a game in the 2023 season.[11]

Jackson made her professional debut as a 90th-minute substitute in the first game of the 2024 season against the Houston Dash on March 16.[12] She made her first start in her 12th appearance on June 23 in a home win over the Chicago Red Stars.[13] She scored her first professional goal on July 26, shooting from outside the box to tie the game against Racing Louisville FC in the 91st minute in the 2024 NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup group stage.[14]

International career

Jackson got her first call up to a youth national team training camp with the under-15 team in October 2019.[2] She trained again with the team in March 2020 at a camp run by her future Courage coach Sean Nahas.[9][15] When youth soccer returned from its COVID-19 pandemic hiatus, Jackson traveled abroad for the first time to play for the national under-17 team at the 2022 CONCACAF Women's U-17 Championship in the Dominican Republic.[2] She co-captained the team to win the tournament, scoring two goals and making three assists, and was awarded the Golden Ball as the tournament's best player.[4] She recorded two assists at the 2022 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup, where the United States fell in the quarterfinals on penalties.[4] She played friendlies for the under-20 team before being selected to the roster for the 2024 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup.[16][17]

References

  1. ^ a b "Riley Francis Jackson". National Women's Soccer League. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e "The Life of Riley". United States Soccer Federation. April 26, 2022. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
  3. ^ "ECNL announces 20/21 Players of the Year". Elite Clubs National League. September 1, 2021. Retrieved March 9, 2024 – via TopDrawerSoccer.com.
    "ECNL Girls 2021-22 Postseason Awards". Elite Clubs National League. August 26, 2022. Retrieved March 9, 2024 – via TopDrawerSoccer.com.
  4. ^ a b c "Making the Case: Riley Jackson for Chipotle U.S. Soccer Young Female Player of the Year". United States Soccer Federation. December 17, 2022. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
  5. ^ "North Carolina Courage sign 17-year-old midfielder Riley Jackson". The Equalizer. July 28, 2023. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
  6. ^ Singer, Trent (June 30, 2022). "Riley Jackson Surprised with Gatorade National Girls Soccer POY Honors". Just Women's Sports. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
  7. ^ "Courage sign 17-year-old USYNT star midfielder Riley Jackson". North Carolina Courage. July 28, 2023. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
  8. ^ Abramson, Evan (February 8, 2024). "N.C. Courage rookie Riley Jackson looks to lead next generation of women's soccer stars". Spectrum News 1 North Carolina. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
  9. ^ a b Hricik, Madison (July 28, 2023). "NC Courage signs one of top teenagers in US, former Duke commit, to pro soccer contract". The News & Observer. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
  10. ^ Levenson, Sophie (May 14, 2024). "'The most wonderful time in women's soccer': NC Courage and the NWSL are making the women's game boom". Duke Chronicle. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
  11. ^ "Riley Jackson". North Carolina Courage. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
  12. ^ "Recap: Courage smash Dash on opening night". North Carolina Courage. March 16, 2024. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  13. ^ "Recap: Courage beat Red Stars 3–1 Sunday". North Carolina Courage. June 23, 2024. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
  14. ^ "Recap: Courage win in pens again after Jackson's equalizer". North Carolina Courage. July 26, 2024. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
  15. ^ "U15 GNT to hold first training camp of 2020". United States Soccer Federation. March 2, 2020. Retrieved March 9, 2024 – via TopDrawerSoccer.com.
  16. ^ "Ally Sentnor Scores as U.S. U-20 Women's Youth National Team Defeats Colombia, 1–0, in Bogotá to Sweep Two-Game Series Against 2024 FIFA U-20 WWC Hosts". United States Soccer Federation. February 28, 2024. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
  17. ^ "U.S. U-20 WYNT Head Coach Tracey Kevins Names 21-Player Roster for 2024 FIFA Under-20 Women's World Cup in Colombia". United States Soccer Federation. August 8, 2024. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
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