Lynn Williams
Williams in 2023
Personal information
Full name Lynn Raenie Williams[1]
Date of birth (1993-05-21) May 21, 1993
Place of birth Fresno, California, United States
Height 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
 NJ/NY Gotham FC
Number 10
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2011–2014 Pepperdine Waves 78 (39)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015–2016 Western New York Flash 36 (15)
2017–2021 North Carolina Courage 81 (42)
2019–2020 → Western Sydney Wanderers (loan) 5 (4)
2021–2022 → Melbourne Victory (loan) 4 (3)
2022 Kansas City Current 0 (0)
2023– NJ/NY Gotham FC 20 (8)
International career‡
2013–2015 United States U23
2016– United States 59 (17)
Medal record
Olympic Games
Bronze medal – third place2020 TokyoTeam
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of November 12, 2023
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of December 5, 2023

Lynn Raenie Williams (born May 21, 1993) is an American professional soccer player who plays for NJ/NY Gotham FC[2] in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) and the United States national team. She previously played for the Kansas City Current, Western New York Flash in NWSL and Western Sydney Wanderers and Melbourne Victory in the Australian A-League Women.

Early life

Born in Fresno, California to Christine and David Williams, Lynn attended Bullard High School where she played on the varsity team and earned all-league and all-area honors all four years.[3] Williams set the school record in scoring with 117 career goals (for boys or girls) and finished her high school career with 47 assists.[3] As a senior in 2011, she was named to the ESPN RISE All-American third team[3] and scored 50 goals. The same year, she helped the team to win county and section titles and was the runner-up at the regional final.[3] She was also named Player of the Year by the Fresno Bee.[4]

Pepperdine Waves, 2011–2014

Williams attended Pepperdine University from 2011 to 2014 where she played for the Waves.[3] During her freshman season, she started in all 20 games and finished third on the team with six goals and led the Waves with eight assists. Her 20 points ranked second on the team.[3] She was named West Coast Conference (WCC) Freshman of the Year and earned Soccer America Freshman All-American first team, NSCAA All-West Region second team, All-WCC second team and WCC All-Freshman team honors.[3] Williams set a new school record of five consecutive games with a point and tied for second with two multi-assist games.[3]

As a sophomore in 2012, Williams led the Waves ranked third on the team and sixth in the league in goals (8) and points (19). She led the WCC in shots (97) and shots per game (4.6) for the second consecutive season.[3] She scored her first collegiate hat trick on October 23. Her season performance earned her NSCAA All-West Region and All-WCC first team and All-WCC first team honors.[3] In 2013, Williams started the first 15 games of the season and posted 11 goals and 3 assists (25 points) before missing the last few games due to injury. She ranked first in the WCC for goals per game (0.73, also third in the school's history), tied for second in game-winning goals and third in points per game (1.67, also fourth in the school's history). She set a school single-game record for shots with 14 on September 22.[3] Williams earned NSCAA All-West Region first team and All-WCC first team honors and was named the National Player of the Week by the NSCAA and CollegeSoccer360.com after scoring the game-winning goal against Wright State in August and then netting two goals and an assist against Texas A&M in early September.[3] She was also named WCC Player of the Week.[3]

Williams led the Waves with 14 goals and 10 assists in 22 starts during her senior season. Her performance helped lift the team to the third Sweet 16 appearance in the program's history.[3] She was a finalist for the Hermann Trophy, was named first-team All-American by the NSCAA and Soccer America as well as All-WCC first team for the third straight year.[3] Her 14 goals ranked third in the WCC and tied for second highest in the school's history. Her 38 points also ranked second in the school's history.[3] Williams set a new school record for shots with 130 and ranked first in the WCC.[3] She was named WCC Player of the Week three times and Top Drawer Soccer National Player of the Week after scoring two game-winning goals.[3]

Club career

Western New York Flash, 2015–2016

Williams was selected sixth overall by the Western New York Flash during the 2015 NWSL College Draft.[5][6] She made her debut for the club during the team's season opener against the Seattle Reign FC on April 12, 2015.[7] In her 17 appearances during the season, Williams scored four goals.[8] The Flash finished in seventh place with a 6–9–5 record.[9]

Williams was one of the breakout stars of the 2016 NWSL season. She scored 11 goals which was tied with Houston Dash forward Kealia Ohai for most in the league. Williams was awarded the Golden Boot as she had more assists then Ohai.[10] Williams was named 2016 NWSL Most Valuable Players and was in the 2016 NWSL Best XI. In the NWSL Playoffs Williams scored two goals in extra time as the Flash upset the Portland Thorns in the semi-final and advanced to the Championship Game.[11] In the 2016 NWSL Championship Game Williams scored a game tying header in the last minute of extra time to force the game to penalties. Williams converted her penalty as the Flash went on to defeat the Washington Spirit.[12]

North Carolina Courage, 2017–2021

It was announced on January 9, 2017, that the Western New York Flash was officially sold to new ownership, moved to North Carolina,[13] and rebranded as the North Carolina Courage. Williams scored 9 goals for North Carolina in 2017 and was named to the Team of the Month for April. North Carolina won the Shield in 2017 but lost to the Portland Thorns in the NWSL Championship Game.[14]

Williams had a very successful 2018 season. She scored 14 goals, which was tied for second best in the league. She was named Player of the Week twice as was named to the NWSL Second XI. North Carolina won its second straight NWSL Shield and Williams was named a finalist for NWSL Most Valuable Player.[15] She played every minute of North Carolina's playoff games in 2018 as the Courage won the 2018 NWSL Championship by defeating the Portland Thorns 3–0 in the final.[16]

Loan to Western Sydney Wanderers

In October 2019, Williams travelled to Australia to join W-League club Western Sydney Wanderers on loan.[17] In February 2020, she terminated her contract early to focus on her international career.[18]

Loan to Melbourne Victory

In December 2021, Williams returned to Australia, signing with Melbourne Victory as a guest player on a month-long loan.[19][20] Her loan ended on January 13, 2022.[21]

Kansas City Current, 2022

On Monday January 10, Williams was traded to the Kansas City Current from the North Carolina Courage for $200,000 in allocation money, the rights to goalkeeper Katelyn Rowland and a 1st round pick in the 2023 NWSL Draft.[22] This reunites Williams with former Courage teammates Sam Mewis, Kristen Hamilton, and Hailie Mace.

Williams was injured on March 18, 2022, suffering a right leg injury, missing the remainder of the 2022 NWSL season.[23]

Gotham FC, 2023–

On Thursday January 12, 2023, during the NWSL Draft, Williams was traded by the Kansas City Current to Gotham FC in exchange for the 2nd pick overall pick.[2]

International career

Williams during a match against Sweden, November 2019

After a breakout 2016 NWSL season Williams received her first call-up to the United States women's national team in October 2016 for a pair of friendlies against Switzerland.[24] She earned her first cap on October 19. Williams entered as a substitute at the beginning of the second half and scored the fastest debut goal in team history as she scored 49 seconds after entering the game. Her record was broken four days later when Kealia Ohai scored 48 seconds after entering the game.[25]

In 2017 Williams was named to the roster for the 2017 SheBelieves Cup, where she scored the game-winning goal in a 1–0 win for the U.S. over Germany. Her goal was the only one the U.S. scored in the tournament as they finished in last place.[26] Williams was called up for the 2017 Tournament of Nations.[27]

In 2018 Williams was named to the roster for the 2018 SheBelieves Cup, where the U.S. WNT won the tournament for the second time.[28] Williams played in the team's first four games of the year including all three SheBelieves Cup games, but soon fell off the national team radar. She received a call-up for a pair of friendlies against Mexico in April 2018, but didn't play in either game.[29] Williams was on the 35 player provisional roster for the 2018 CONCACAF Women's Championship but wasn't named to the final 20 player roster.[30]

In late 2019, after incoming head coach Vlatko Andonovski took over for a retiring Jill Ellis, Williams was again called up to the national team. She played in both of the team's November friendlies against Sweden and Costa Rica, marking her first caps in 20 months. In her first five games back with the team, including the CONCACAF Olympic qualifying tournament, Williams tallied five goals and five assists.

On June 23, 2021, Williams was included on the roster for the United States at the 2020 Summer Olympics.[31]

Personal life

Williams met her fiancé, Marley Biyendolo, at Pepperdine.[32][33]

Williams and Sam Mewis host a podcast about women's soccer, Snacks, produced by Just Women's Sports.[34]

Television and film

Williams appeared in a Netflix documentary series, which follows the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team as they compete in the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup. The docuseries premiered in the fall of 2023.[35]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played November 12, 2023
Club Season League Cup[lower-alpha 1] Playoffs[lower-alpha 2] Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Western New York Flash 2015 NWSL 174———174
2016 1911—23—2114
North Carolina Courage 2017 219—20—239
2018 2114—20—2314
2019 2212—20—2412
2020 —53—4[lower-alpha 3]396
2021 1773010—217
Western Sydney Wanderers FC

(loan)

 2019–20 A-League 54—00—54
Melbourne Victory FC

(loan)

 2021–22 43—00—43
Kansas City Current 2022 NWSL 001000—10
NJ/NY Gotham FC 2023 177223 1—159
Career total 143711151244317083
  1. ↑ Includes the NWSL Challenge Cup
  2. ↑ Includes NWSL Playoffs and A-League Finals series
  3. ↑ NWSL Fall Series

International

As of match played December 5, 2023
National teamYearAppsGoals
United States
201641
2017113
201840
201922
202083
2021165
202220
2023123
Total5917
Scores and results list United States's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Williams goal.
List of international goals scored by Lynn Williams
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition Ref.
1 October 19, 2016 Sandy, Utah  Switzerland 1–0 4–0 Friendly [m 1]
2 March 1, 2017 Chester, Pennsylvania  Germany 1–0 1–0 2017 SheBelieves Cup [m 2]
3 September 19, 2017 Cincinnati, Ohio  New Zealand 4–0 5–0 Friendly [m 3]
4 October 22, 2017 Cary, North Carolina  South Korea 5–0 6–0 Friendly [m 4]
5 November 10, 2019 Jacksonville, Florida  Costa Rica 3–0 6–0 Friendly [m 5]
6 5–0
7 January 28, 2020 Houston, Texas  Haiti 2–0 4–0 2020 CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying [m 6]
8 January 31, 2020 Houston, Texas  Panama 2–0 8–0 2020 CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying [m 7]
9 February 9, 2020 Carson, California  Canada 1–0 3–0 2020 CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying [m 8]
10 January 22, 2021 Orlando, Florida  Colombia 4–0 6–0 Friendly [m 9]
11 June 16, 2021 Austin, Texas  Nigeria 2–0 2–0 Friendly
12 July 30, 2021 Yokohama, Japan  Netherlands 2–1
2–2 (a.e.t.)
(4–2 p)
 2020 Summer Olympics
13 September 16, 2021 Cleveland, Ohio  Paraguay 4–0 9–0 Friendly [m 10]
14 October 26, 2021 Saint Paul, Minnesota  South Korea 6–0 6–0 Friendly [m 11]
15 January 18, 2023 Wellington, New Zealand  New Zealand 4–0 4–0 Friendly [m 12]
16 September 21, 2023 Cincinnati, Ohio  South Africa 1–0 3–0 Friendly [m 13]
17 3–0

Honors and awards

Western New York Flash

North Carolina Courage

NJ/NY Gotham FC

United States

Individual

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Women's Olympic Football Tournament Tokyo 2020 – Squad List: USA" (PDF). FIFA. August 5, 2021. p. 11. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 9, 2021. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
  2. 1 2 Tannenwald, Jonathan. "Gotham FC trades for Lynn Williams; Alyssa Thompson goes No. 1 at the NWSL draft". Inquirer. Retrieved January 13, 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 "Lynn Williams". Pepperdine University. Archived from the original on August 4, 2018. Retrieved October 3, 2016.
  4. ↑ Giannandrea, Nick (April 30, 2011). "2011 Girls Soccer All-Star Team". The Fresno Bee. Retrieved October 3, 2016.
  5. ↑ "WNY Flash adds six players at NWSL College Draft". Buffalo News. January 16, 2015. Archived from the original on October 3, 2016. Retrieved October 3, 2016.
  6. ↑ "Morgan Brian No. 1 pick by Houston Dash in NWSL draft". ESPN. January 16, 2015. Retrieved October 3, 2016.
  7. ↑ "Flash Fall to Seattle 5–1 in Opener". Western New York Flash. April 12, 2015. Retrieved October 3, 2016.
  8. 1 2 3 4 "Lynn Williams". Soccer Way. Retrieved October 3, 2016.
  9. ↑ "2015 NWSL". Soccer Way. Retrieved October 3, 2016.
  10. ↑ "WNY Flash forward Lynn Williams wins 2016 NWSL Golden Boot". September 26, 2016. Archived from the original on October 3, 2016. Retrieved September 23, 2018.
  11. ↑ "Flash beat Thorns FC, 4–3, in extra time". October 2, 2016. Retrieved September 23, 2018.
  12. ↑ "Western New York Flash win 2016 NWSL Championship". October 9, 2016. Retrieved September 23, 2018.
  13. ↑ "North Carolina Courage joining NWSL signals long-term ambition for young league | FOX Sports". FOX Sports. January 10, 2017. Retrieved January 10, 2017.
  14. ↑ "Lynn Williams". Retrieved September 23, 2018.
  15. ↑ "NWSL Awards – 2018 NWSL MVP Finalists". Retrieved September 23, 2018.
  16. ↑ "Courage cap off record-setting season with NWSL Championship win". September 22, 2018. Retrieved September 23, 2018.
  17. ↑ "Meet Kerr's biggest rival: Wanderers poach three massive NWSL champions". The Women's Game. October 29, 2019.
  18. ↑ Radbourne-Pugh, Lucas (February 16, 2020). "Williams terminates Wanderers contract". The Women's Game.
  19. ↑ "Lynn Williams to Join Melbourne Victory FC of the Australian A-League on Loan". North Carolina Courage. December 4, 2021.
  20. ↑ "Melbourne Victory signs US Women's National Team forward Lynn Williams". Melbourne Victory. December 5, 2021.
  21. ↑ "Team News: Round 7 (W)". Melbourne Victory. January 13, 2022. USWNT striker Lynn Williams has completed her loan and returned to the U.S, creating an opportunity up front.
  22. ↑ "Lynn Williams Traded to Kansas City Current". January 10, 2022.
  23. ↑ "USWNT's Williams, Davidson suffer major injuries". ESPN.com. March 29, 2022.
  24. ↑ "ELLIS NAMES 24 PLAYERS FOR USA MATCHES VS. SWITZERLAND". October 6, 2016. Retrieved September 23, 2018.
  25. ↑ "Lynn Williams Scores Fastest Debut Goal (49 Seconds!) In U.S. Women's Soccer History". October 19, 2016. Archived from the original on February 1, 2017. Retrieved September 23, 2018.
  26. ↑ "WILLIAMS GOAL STEERS USA TO 1–0 WIN VS. GERMANY IN 2017 SHEBELIEVES CUP OPENER". March 1, 2017. Retrieved September 23, 2018.
  27. ↑ "ELLIS NAMES ROSTER FOR 2017 TOURNAMENT OF NATIONS". July 20, 2017. Retrieved September 23, 2018.
  28. ↑ "ELLIS NAMES 23-PLAYER ROSTER FOR 2018 SHEBELIEVES CUP". February 23, 2018. Retrieved September 23, 2018.
  29. ↑ "Jill Ellis Releases 22-Player Roster Ahead of USWNT Friendly Vs Mexico". March 21, 2018. Retrieved September 23, 2018.
  30. ↑ "Provisional USA roster for World Cup qualifying released". September 10, 2018. Retrieved September 23, 2018.
  31. ↑ "VLATKO ANDONOVSKI NAMES 2020 U.S. OLYMPIC WOMEN'S SOCCER TEAM". United States Soccer. June 23, 2021.
  32. ↑ "Lynn Williams". SPORTING CHIC. November 6, 2016.
  33. ↑ "Lynn Williams". Just Women's Sports.
  34. ↑ Yang, Steph (May 29, 2023). "Sam Mewis and Lynn Williams drop 'Snacks 2.0': Same friendship, more insight, no hugs". The Athletic. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  35. ↑ "Netflix Will Shoot the US Women's Soccer Team's Upcoming World Cup Journey". Netflix Tudum. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
  36. ↑ "NWSL Championship highlights: Gotham FC crowned champions as Rapinoe, Krieger end careers". USA Today. November 11, 2023. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
  37. ↑ "WNT WINS 2018 SHEBELIEVES CUP WITH 1–0 VICTORY VS. ENGLAND". March 7, 2018. Retrieved March 8, 2018.
  38. ↑ "USA Wins 2020 SheBelieves Cup With 3–1 Victory vs. Japan". U.S. Soccer. March 11, 2020.
  39. ↑ "U.S. Women's National Team Rolls to Title at 2021 SheBelieves Cup, Presented by Visa, With Dominant 6–0 Victory Against Argentina". U.S. Soccer. February 25, 2021.
  40. ↑ "U.S. Women's National Team Defeats Iceland 5–0 to Win Third Consecutive and Fifth Overall SheBelieves Cup Title, Presented by Visa". U.S. Soccer. February 23, 2022.
  41. ↑ Herrera, Sandra (February 22, 2023). "USWNT vs. Brazil score: USA win SheBelieves Cup with Alex Morgan and Mallory Swanson dominating in attack". CBS Sports. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
  42. ↑ "U.S. WNT Rolls to 7–0 Victory Against Russia in Boca Raton, Fla". United States Soccer Federation. February 8, 2014. Archived from the original on February 22, 2014. Retrieved February 9, 2014.
  43. ↑ "National Women's Soccer League Official Site | NWSL". www.nwslsoccer.com. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  44. ↑ "National Women's Soccer League Official Site | NWSL". www.nwslsoccer.com. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  45. ↑ "NWSL Announces Winners of 2023 Mastercard Best XI Awards". November 6, 2023. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  46. ↑ "National Women's Soccer League Official Site | NWSL". www.nwslsoccer.com. Retrieved December 31, 2023.

Match reports

  1. ↑ "Second Half Fireworks Send New-Look USA to 4–0 Rout of Switzerland". U.S.Soccer. Retrieved December 13, 2017.
  2. ↑ "Williams Goal Steers USA to 1–0 Win vs. Germany in 2017 SheBelieves Cup Opener". U.S.Soccer. Retrieved December 13, 2017.
  3. ↑ "WNT Defeats New Zealand 5–0 in Front of Record Crowd in Cincinnati". U.S. Soccer. Retrieved December 13, 2017.
  4. ↑ "WNT Puts on a Show in 6–0 Defeat of Korea Republic in Cary, NC". U.S. Soccer. Retrieved December 13, 2017.
  5. ↑ "USWNT Puts A Bow On Historic 2019 With 6–0 Win Vs. Costa Rica". U.S. Soccer. November 10, 2019.
  6. ↑ "USWNT Defeats Haiti 4–0 to Win Opening Match of 2020 Concacaf Women's Olympic Qualifying". U.S. Soccer. January 28, 2020.
  7. ↑ "USWNT Defeats Panama 8–0 to Advance to Semifinal Round of 2020 CONCACAF Women's Olympic Qualifying". U.S. Soccer. January 31, 2020.
  8. ↑ "U.S. Women's National Team Wins 2020 CONCACAF Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament with 3–0 Victory Over Canada". U.S. Soccer. February 9, 2020.
  9. ↑ "Megan Rapinoe Bags a Brace as U.S. Women's National Team Tops Colombia 6–0 to Close Out Two-Game Set in Orlando". U.S. Soccer. January 22, 2021.
  10. ↑ "Carli Lloyd Nets Record-tying Five Goals as U.S. Women's National Team Tops Paraguay 9–0". U.S. Soccer. September 16, 2021.
  11. ↑ "Legendary Forward Carli Lloyd Plays Final International Match as U.S. Women's National Team Roll Over Korea Republic 6–0". U.S. Soccer. October 26, 2021.
  12. ↑ "U.S. Women's National Team Opens 2023 With 4–0 Win Against FIFA Women's World Cup Co-Host New Zealand in Wellington". U.S. Soccer. January 18, 2023.
  13. ↑ "Brace from Lynn Williams and Goal from Trinity Rodman Lead USWNT to 3-0 Win Against South Africa in Julie Ertz's Farewell Match". U.S. Soccer. September 21, 2023.

Further reading

  • Grainey, Timothy (2012), Beyond Bend It Like Beckham: The Global Phenomenon of Women's Soccer, University of Nebraska Press, ISBN 0803240368
  • Lisi, Clemente A. (2010), The U.S. Women's Soccer Team: An American Success Story, Scarecrow Press, ISBN 0810874164
  • Murray, Caitlin (2019), The National Team: The Inside Story of the Women Who Changed Soccer , Abrams, ISBN 168335527X
  • Schultz, Jaime (2014), Qualifying Times: Points of Change in U.S. Women's Sport, University of Illinois Press, ISBN 0252095960
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