Chloe Ricketts
Personal information
Full name Chloe Cathleen Ricketts[1]
Date of birth (2007-05-23) 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

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.

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

  1. ↑ "This is Chloe Ricketts – #39 Soccer/Futsal". Archived from the original on June 21, 2023. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
  2. 1 2 "Chloe Ricketts". Washington Spirit. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
  3. ↑ "AFC Ann Arbor - 2022 Regular Season - Player Statistics". USL W League. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  4. 1 2 "'Best player in the world': AFC Ann Arbor soccer teen has lofty career goals". MLive Media Group. May 23, 2022. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  5. ↑ "Chloe Ricketts Past and Present Teams". chloericketts.com. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  6. ↑ "2022 National Championships: Finals Recap". United States Youth Soccer Association. July 24, 2022. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  7. ↑ Clark, Travis (March 3, 2023). "Ricketts Signs with Washington Spirit". TopDrawerSoccer.com. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  8. ↑ Makuch, Ryan (January 11, 2022). "Chloe Ricketts Becomes Youngest Player to Join AFC Ann Arbor at 14". AFC Ann Arbor. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  9. ↑ "USL W League Fans' Choice Goal of the Week – Week 1+2". USL W League. May 18, 2022. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  10. ↑ Jackson, Wilton (March 3, 2023). "Spirit Sign Youngest Player in NWSL History, 15-Year-Old Chloe Ricketts". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
  11. ↑ "Melanie Barcenas youngest player ever to sign with NWSL team". Associated Press. March 21, 2023. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
  12. ↑ Caron, Emily; McCann, Michael (February 1, 2022). "NWSL labor deal clears path for young talent, pay increases". Sportico. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  13. ↑ Greenberg, Doug (March 7, 2023). "Chloe Ricketts, 15, Becomes Youngest Signed Player in NWSL History". Front Office Sports. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
  14. ↑ Wickliffe, Greg (April 17, 2023). "Michigan teen soccer star Chloe Ricketts nearly scores in NWSL debut with Washington Spirit". mlive.com. Retrieved April 24, 2023.
  15. ↑ "Spirit win, 2-1, unbeaten through three games for second time in franchise history". Washington Spirit. April 15, 2023. Retrieved April 24, 2023.
  16. ↑ "Recap: Spirit prevails, 4-2, in comeback victory versus Gotham FC". Washington Spirit. July 29, 2023. Retrieved July 29, 2023.
  17. ↑ "U.S. under-15 women's youth national team will bring 36 players to March training camp in Chula Vista, Calif" (Press release). United States Soccer Federation. March 14, 2022. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  18. ↑ "U.S. under-16 women's youth national team set to gather at Nike Headquarters in Portland, Oregon" (Press release). United States Soccer Federation. October 18, 2022. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  19. ↑ Johncox, Cassidy (March 29, 2023). "Dexter teen becomes youngest professional female soccer player to sign with adidas". clickondetroit.com. WDIV-TV. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
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