Taylor Smith (soccer)

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Taylor Smith
Personal information
Full name Taylor Nicole Smith[1]
Date of birth (1993-12-01) December 1, 1993 (age 30)
Place of birth Fort Worth, Texas, United States
Height 5 ft 3 in (1.60 m)
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
 NJ/NY Gotham FC
Number 20
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2012–2015 UCLA Bruins 87 (27)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2016 Western New York Flash 20 (2)
2017 North Carolina Courage 26 (0)
2018 Washington Spirit 23 (0)
2018 → Newcastle Jets (loan) 6 (0)
2019–2020 OL Reign 3 (0)
2021–2022 North Carolina Courage 17 (0)
2022– NJ/NY Gotham FC 22 (3)
2024 → Brighton & Hove Albion (loan) 0 (0)
International career‡
2010 United States U17
2011 United States U20
2014–2016 United States U23
2017– United States 10 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of February 4, 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of March 7, 2018

Taylor Nicole Smith (born December 1, 1993) is an American soccer player who plays as a defender for NJ/NY Gotham FC of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL).[2] She also played for the United States national team at both senior and youth levels. Smith helped lead the UCLA Bruins women's soccer team to its first-ever national title in 2013.

Early life[edit]

Born and raised in Fort Worth, Texas, Smith attended Fort Worth Country Day School where she captained the varsity soccer team for three years.[1] She also played field hockey and ran track and field.[1] Smith earned conference honors in both soccer and track. She was ranked as the eighth top national college recruit by Top Drawer Soccer and ESPN. Top Drawer Soccer ranked her as the top recruit in the state of Texas and she was twice named Youth All-American by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA).[1] The Fort Worth Star-Telegram named Smith to their Super Team twice.[1]

Smith played club soccer for Solar Chelsea. She helped the LA Blues win the USL W-League title in 2014.[1]

UCLA Bruins, 2012–2015[edit]

Smith attended UCLA where she played for the Bruins from 2012 to 2015.[1] During her freshman season, she played in all 23 games, starting 17. Her three goals ranked eighth in the Pac-12 Conference and 20 points ranked tenth in points. Smith was named to the Pac-12 All-Freshman Team Top Drawer Soccer All-Freshman Team.[1] During her sophomore season, her 8 goals ranked second on the team. Her 11 assists and 26 points both ranked third in the Pac-12.[1] Smith started in 25 of the 26 games in which she played. During the NCAA Division 1 quarterfinals, she scored the game-winning golden goal in double overtime to lift the team past North Carolina and into the semifinals. Her three goals during the tournament helped the team clinch its first NCAA Division 1 College Cup title.[3][4] Smith was named to the All-Pac-12 first team.[1] During her junior season, Smith started in all 24 games. Her nine goals scored and four game-winning goals tied for second on the team. Her 23 points ranked third on the team and eighth in the conference.[1] As a senior, she co-captained the team and was named to the MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List.[1][5]

Club career[edit]

Taylor Smith with the North Carolina Courage in 2017
Playing in a friendly for the national team in 2017

Western New York Flash/North Carolina Courage, 2016–2017[edit]

Smith was named to the Western New York Flash opening day roster for the 2016 NWSL season.[6] She made twenty appearances for the club and scored two goals.[7] The team's fourth-place finish during the regular season with a 9–6–5 record secured the team a berth to the playoffs.[8] After defeating the Portland Thorns FC 4–3 in extra time during the semifinal,[9] the Flash faced the Washington Spirit in the final and won the game in a penalty kick shootout after finishing 2–2 in extra time.[10] Three months after the win, the Western New York Flash was sold to the ownership group of North Carolina FC and moved to Cary, North Carolina where they became the North Carolina Courage.[11]

Washington Spirit, 2018[edit]

In January 2018, Smith was traded to the Washington Spirit along with teammate Ashley Hatch in exchange for Crystal Dunn's rights.[12] Prior to the start of the season, Smith was added to the allocated player list by U.S. Soccer.[13] She appeared in 23 games for Washington in the 2018 season.

Loan to Newcastle Jets, 2018[edit]

In October 2018, after the conclusion NWSL season, Smith signed with the Newcastle Jets on loan for the 2018–19 W-League season.[14] She became a key player in her first several appearances, earning the team's Player of the Month honors in November. In mid-December, Smith suffered an ACL tear in the 86th minute against Perth Glory after having registered two assists to fellow on-loan American, Katie Stengel.[15]

Reign FC, 2019–2020[edit]

On March 22, 2019, Reign FC announced that they had signed Smith through the discovery process for former allocated players. Due to the injury she suffered in the W-League, Smith is not expected to play during the 2019 NWSL season.[16]

North Carolina Courage, 2021–2022[edit]

On December 7, 2020, Smith was acquired by North Carolina Courage in a trade for Ally Watt.[17] She parted ways with the club on June 21, 2022.[18]

NJ/NY Gotham FC, 2022–[edit]

On June 24, 2022, NJ/NY Gotham FC signed Smith off waivers.[2]

Loan to Brighton & Hove Albion, 2024[edit]

On January 31, 2023, Smith signed for Brighton & Hove Albion on loan for the remainder of the season.[19][20]

International career[edit]

In January 2017, Smith was called into training camp for the United States women's national soccer team for the first time by head coach Jill Ellis.[21] She earned her first cap for the team on July 27 when she started in the right back defender position during a match in Seattle against Australia at the 2017 Tournament of Nations.[22][23]

Smith was named to the U.S. roster for the 2018 SheBelieves Cup, she started two games as the United States won the tournament for the second time.[24]

Personal life[edit]

Smith came out publicly as a lesbian in 2017.[25]

Career statistics[edit]

Club[edit]

As of February 11, 2024.[26]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup[a] Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Western New York Flash 2016 NWSL 20 2 — — 20 2
North Carolina Courage 2017 NWSL 26 0 — — 26 0
Washington Spirit 2018 NWSL 23 0 — — 23 0
Newcastle Jets (loan) 2018-19 W-League 6 0 — — 6 0
OL Reign 2020 NWSL 3 0 — 4 0 7 0
North Carolina Courage 2021 NWSL 13 0 — 1 0 14 0
2022 4 0 — 8 2 12 2
Total 17 0 — 9 2 26 2
NJ/NY Gotham FC 2022 NWSL 14 2 — 0 0 14 2
2023 8 1 — 5 0 13 1
Total 22 3 — 5 0 27 3
Brighton & Hove Albion (loan) 2023–24 WSL 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Career total 117 5 0 0 18 2 135 7
  1. ^ Includes the NWSL Challenge Cup

Honors[edit]

UCLA Bruins

Western New York Flash

North Carolina Courage

NJ/NY Gotham FC

United States

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Taylor Smith". UCLA. Retrieved July 30, 2017.
  2. ^ a b FC, Gotham (June 24, 2022). "NJ/NY Gotham FC Adds Defender Taylor Smith". NJ/NY Gotham FC.
  3. ^ "Golden goal by Taylor Smith gives UCLA 1–0 win, its first against UNC". NCAA. Retrieved July 30, 2017.
  4. ^ "UCLA wins NCAA women's soccer title in overtime". USA Today. December 8, 2013. Retrieved July 30, 2017.
  5. ^ Karp, Justin (August 6, 2015). "MAC Hermann Award watch list includes six Pac-12 soccer players". Pac 12 Conference. Retrieved July 30, 2017.
  6. ^ "Nine Bruins on Opening Day Rosters". uclabruins.com.
  7. ^ "T. Smith". Soccer Way. Retrieved July 30, 2017.
  8. ^ "2016 NWSL". Soccer Way. Retrieved July 30, 2017.
  9. ^ Yang, Stephanie (October 2, 2016). "WNY Flash stun Portland Thorns 4–3 in extra time". Excelle Sports. Archived from the original on July 30, 2017. Retrieved July 30, 2017.
  10. ^ "Watch: Western New York Flash win NWSL title in PKs after clutch Williams goal". Sports Illustrated. October 10, 2016. Retrieved July 30, 2017.
  11. ^ Goldberg, Jamie (January 9, 2017). "Western New York Flash officially moving to Cary, North Carolina". The Oregonian. Retrieved July 30, 2017.
  12. ^ "Washington Spirit acquires U.S. internationals Taylor Smith, Ashley Hatch from North Carolina Courage". washingtonspirit.com. January 16, 2018. Retrieved January 16, 2018.
  13. ^ "NWSL Announces 2018 Allocated Players". February 15, 2018. Retrieved March 22, 2019.
  14. ^ Jacob Windon (October 5, 2018). "Newcastle sign American defender". w-league.com.au. Retrieved October 6, 2018.
  15. ^ Jacob Windon (December 17, 2018). "Newcastle Jets confirm Smith injury blow". w-league.com.au. Retrieved December 28, 2018.
  16. ^ "DEFENDER TAYLOR SMITH SIGNED BY REIGN FC". March 22, 2019. Retrieved March 22, 2019.
  17. ^ Birkedal, Morgan. "Courage Also Acquire Rights to English International Jodie Taylor". nccourage.com. Archived from the original on January 10, 2022. Retrieved June 19, 2021.
  18. ^ "Taylor Smith, Courage Mutually Agree to Part Ways".
  19. ^ "Smith joins Albion on loan". Brighton & Hove Albion. February 1, 2024. Retrieved February 1, 2024.
  20. ^ "Brighton sign Taylor Smith on loan from Gotham FC". BBC Sport. February 1, 2024. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
  21. ^ Yang, Stephanie (January 4, 2017). "Jill Ellis calls in 29 players for first USWNT camp of 2017". SB Nation. Retrieved July 30, 2017.
  22. ^ "Building Towards 2019". U.S. Soccer. Retrieved July 30, 2017.
  23. ^ "U.S. WNT SECOND-HALF EFFORT COMES UP SHORT AS AUSTRALIA SECURES 1–0 WIN". U.S. Soccer. July 27, 2017. Retrieved July 30, 2017.
  24. ^ "ELLIS NAMES 23-PLAYER ROSTER FOR 2018 SHEBELIEVES CUP". March 1, 2018. Retrieved November 23, 2018.
  25. ^ "Taylor Smith describes her coming out". August 14, 2017.
  26. ^ "Taylor Smith player profile". Soccerway. Retrieved February 4, 2024.
  27. ^ "NWSL Championship highlights: Gotham FC crowned champions as Rapinoe, Krieger end careers". USA Today. November 11, 2023. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
  28. ^ "WNT WINS 2018 SHEBELIEVES CUP WITH 1–0 VICTORY VS. ENGLAND". March 7, 2018. Retrieved March 8, 2018.

External links[edit]

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