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American soccer player (born 1997) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Samantha Keala Staab (born March 28, 1997) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a center back for the Chicago Red Stars of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). She was drafted by the Washington Spirit in 2019 after playing collegiately for the Clemson Tigers.
_148.jpg) Staab with the Chicago Red Stars in 2024 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Samantha Keala Staab[1] | ||
| Date of birth | March 28, 1997 | ||
| Place of birth | San Diego, California, United States | ||
| Height | 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m) | ||
| Position(s) | Center back | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Chicago Red Stars | ||
| Number | 3 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| DMCV Sharks | |||
| College career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2015–2018 | Clemson Tigers | 80 | (5) |
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2019–2023 | Washington Spirit | 93 | (4) |
| 2019–2020 | → Western Sydney Wanderers (loan) | 12 | (2) |
| 2024– | Chicago Red Stars | 16 | (1) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2018 | United States U23 | 2 | (0) |
| 2024– | United States | 2 | (0) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of July 26, 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of June 4, 2024 | |||
Staab debuted for the United States national team in 2024.
Staab was raised in San Diego, California. She is part Hawaiian through one grandmother.[2] She played club soccer for the DMCV Sharks in her childhood.[3] She attended Scripps Ranch High School, where she played varsity soccer all four years and captained the team in her last two years.[4]
Staab attended Clemson University, where she played for the Tigers women's soccer team from 2015 to 2018.[4] She was selected for the ACC All-Freshman team in 2015 after starting all 20 games in her first season.[5] After making the All-ACC second team in each of the next two years, she was selected to the All-ACC first team in her senior season.[6] At the time of her graduation, her 33 career assists were tied for 4th-most in school history.[7]
Staab was drafted 4th overall in the first round of the 2019 NWSL College Draft by the Washington Spirit.[6] In April, she was signed to the Spirit's senior roster in advance of the 2019 NWSL season.[8] Staab made her professional debut on April 13, 2019, against Sky Blue FC, scoring a 59th-minute goal en route to a 2–0 season-opening win for the Spirit.[9] Staab went on to appear in every minute of the Spirit's season, becoming the second-ever NWSL player to play every minute of her rookie season. She was considered one of the league's top defenders, earning a spot on the NWSL Team of the Month for May and June, and was one of three nominees for NWSL Rookie of the Year.[10][11][12] In 2020, she played every minute of the Spirit's season.[13] In the NWSL Challenge Cup she converted a header off a set piece in the 77th minute against the Portland Thorns, scoring the Spirit's lone goal in the team's 1–1 tie.[14] In 2022, Staab played every minute of the Spirit's season.[15]
On April 29, 2023, Staab made her 73rd consecutive regular season start in the NWSL, breaking a record held by Amber Brooks.[16] As of October 20, 2023, Staab has played every minute of 90 consecutive matches, completing three iron woman seasons.[17] She was nominated for NWSL Defender of the Year in the 2023 season.[18]
Staab was signed in advance of the 2019–20 W-League season by the Western Sydney Wanderers. Staab made her debut for the Wanderers on November 14, 2019.[19]
She was traded to the Chicago Red Stars on January 12, 2024, the day of the 2024 NWSL Draft, for the third pick of the draft.[20]
On July 25, 2024, Staab was placed on the season-ending injury list after tearing her Achilles tendon during a match against NJ/NY Gotham FC on July 20.[21]
Staab attended training camp with the United States under-19 team in January 2016.[22] Staab was first selected for the United States under-23 team in March 2018 for the 2018 Thorns Spring Invitational.[23] She was called up again for the 2018 Nordic Tournament, where she was the only non-professional player selected for the U.S. roster.[24] She started all three games, and scored the game-winning goal for the United States in the final match, ensuring a first-place result in the tournament.[25]
Staab received her first senior national team call-up in May 2024, making her debut as a 61st-minute substitute in a friendly against South Korea on June 1.[26][27]
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2024 | 2 | 0 |
| Total | 2 | 0 | |
Individual
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