Chloe Cathleen Ricketts (born May 23, 2007) is an American professional soccer player for the Washington Spirit of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). At the time of her signing in 2023, she was the youngest player to sign with an NWSL team.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Chloe Cathleen Ricketts[1] | ||
| Date of birth | May 23, 2007[2] | ||
| Place of birth | Dexter, Michigan, U.S.[2] | ||
| Height | 5 ft 1 in (1.55 m) | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Washington Spirit | ||
| Number | 39 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2017–2018 | Michigan Hawks Black | ||
| 2019 | Michigan Jaguars | ||
| 2020–2022 | Michigan Tigers Gold | ||
| 2022 | Michigan Jaguars | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2022 | AFC Ann Arbor[3] | 11 | (2) |
| 2023– | Washington Spirit | 17 | (1) |
| International career | |||
| 2022 | United States U15 | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of July 30, 2023 | |||
Club career
Early career
In 2017 and 2018, Ricketts won back-to-back state championships with the 2007 Michigan Hawks Black. Beginning in 2020, she played on a boys' team – the 2007 Michigan Tigers Gold – that won multiple state and regional championships, culminating with the under-15 US Youth Soccer National Championships in 2022.[4][5][6] She also played for the Michigan Jaguars academy of the Girls Academy.[7]
In January 2022, at age 14, Ricketts became the youngest player to join AFC Ann Arbor of the pre-professional USL W League.[4][8] In a game on May 7, 2022, still aged 14, she became the youngest goalscorer in USL W League history.[9]
Washington Spirit
Ricketts took part in preseason training with the Washington Spirit beginning in January 2023. On March 2, 2023, Ricketts signed a three-year deal (with an option for a fourth year) with the team at the age of 15 years and 283 days. The contract made her the youngest ever NWSL signee at the time, breaking the record set by Olivia Moultrie in 2021 (15 years and 286 days).[10] Ricketts's record was surpassed later in the month by Melanie Barcenas (15 years and 138 days).[11] Ricketts's signing was the first under the NWSL's recently introduced Under-18 Entry Mechanism, which resulted from the collective bargaining agreement signed between the NWSL and NWSL Players Association before the season,[12] and was preceded by an antitrust lawsuit brought in part by Moultrie that allowed her to play in the NWSL in 2019.[13]
Ricketts made her NWSL debut on April 15, 2023, as a 66th-minute substitute versus the North Carolina Courage, recording a shot attempt during stoppage time in a 2–1 win.[14][15]
Ricketts scored her first NWSL goal on July 28 when Ashley Hatch fed her a perfect through ball that Chloe tapped in with her left foot. The goal makes her the youngest goal scorer in NWSL league history at 16 years, 2 months, and 5 days, passing Portland's Olivia Moultrie.[16]
International career
Ricketts was called up to the United States under-15 team camp from March 21–28, 2022,[17] and under-16 team camp from October 23–30, 2022.[18]
Off the field
Endorsements
In March 2023, at age 15, Ricketts signed a multiyear endorsement deal with the sportswear company Adidas, becoming the youngest US female soccer player to do so.[19]
References
External links
- Chloe Ricketts at the National Women's Soccer League
- Chloe Ricketts at Washington Spirit
- Chloe Ricketts at Soccerway