Tierna Davidson

Tierna Lillis Davidson (born September 19, 1998) is an American professional soccer player for NJ/NY Gotham FC of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), the highest division of women's professional soccer in the United States, and the United States national team.

In Davidson's freshman year in 2016 she started all 21 games for the Cardinal, and was named to the Pac-12 All Freshman team and the All-Pac-12 Second Team.

In 2017, Davidson was named Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year.

She was a key part of the Stanford team that won the 2017 NCAA Division I Women's Soccer Tournament and was named the 2017 College Cup Most Outstanding Defensive Player.

In 2018 Davidson only appeared in 3 games for Stanford as she suffered a fractured ankle on September 9 against North Carolina.

In November 2018, the National Women's Soccer League changed their rules for the NWSL College Draft to allow for players to enter the draft before they had exhausted their college eligibility.

Davidson was selected 1st overall at the draft by the Chicago Red Stars, she was the second consecutive Cardinal to be selected 1st overall after Andi Sullivan was the 1st overall pick in 2018.

In 2018 Davidson played for the senior USWNT and the U-20 WNT.

She received her first senior cap for the United States on January 21, 2018 in a friendly against Denmark.

After the match she joined the U-20 squad in Trinidad & Tobago for the 2018 CONCACAF U-20 Championship.

Davidson scored the tying goal in the Championship game against Mexico, but the United States would lose on penalty kicks.

Davidson was not part to the final roster for the 2018 FIFA U-20 World Cup as she has continued to receive call-ups for the senior USWNT.

On July 18 she was named to the USWNT roster for the 2018 Tournament of Nations.

Davidson scored her 1st international goal on August 31, 2018 against Chile.

Davidson was not part of the 2018 CONCACAF Championship due to a fractured ankle injury while playing for Stanford.

In December, Davidson was named 2018 U.S. Soccer Young Female Player of the Year.

She was drafted first overall by the Chicago Red Stars in the 2019 NWSL College Draft after playing three years at Stanford.

Davidson intended to become an astronaut, before actively pursuing professional soccer.

This would be her final appearance for Stanford as she declared for the 2019 NWSL College Draft, forgoing her final year of college eligibility.

This allowed Davidson to declare for the 2019 NWSL College Draft after only playing three years at Stanford.

On March 11, 2019 Davidson signed a contract with the Red Stars.

Davidson was injured in March 2022, suffering an ACL injury, missing the remainder of the 2022 NWSL season.

Upon becoming an unrestricted free agent, Davidson signed a three year contract with Gotham FC on January 2, 2024 to play through 2026.

After recovering from injury, Davidson returned to the USWNT in January 2019 and was named to the roster for the 2019 SheBelieves Cup in February.

In May 2019, Davidson was named to the final 23-player squad for the 2019 FIFA World Cup, the youngest player on the roster.

In June 2021, Davidson was named to the 18-player squad for the 2020 Summer Olympics held in Tokyo.

Davidson was not included on the USWNT's 2023 FIFA World Cup roster.

In February 2024, Davidson was named to the USWNT's CONCACAF W Gold Cup pre-tournament camp and roster.

She started in the USWNT's match against Argentina and Colombia.

Davidson is openly lesbian and proposed to her partner in March 2023.

Stanford Cardinal

United States

Individual