Erica Cunningham

Erica Alicia Cunningham Rodríguez (born 25 March 1993) is a professional footballer player who plays as a defender for Saudi Women's Premier League club Eastern Flames FC. Born in the United States, she plays for the Nicaragua women's national team. Cunningham has previously played professionally in Europe for FF Lugano, Zurich and IFK Norrkoping. She is best known for her athleticism, physical strength on the ball, and abilities to use both feet.

Youth career
Cunningham played for Santa Rosa United before moving to the Santa Rosa Junior College where she won the state championship. She transferred to study at the University of San Francisco and represent San Francisco Dons women's soccer in the NCAA Division I.

Club career
Cunningham started her professional playing career with FF Lugano 1976 between 2017 and 2019 in the Swiss Women's Super League before transferring to rivals FC Zurich for the 2019/20 season. She played for Zurich in the 2019/20 UEFA Women's Champions League season.

On 13 July 2021, she was signed by Swedish Elitettan side, IFK Norrkoping.

On 28 January 2022, Cunningham was signed by Blackburn Rovers on a short-term contract ahead of the remainder of the 2021–22 FA Women's Championship season.

International career
Cunningham is eligible to play for either the United States, the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, Mexico or Nicaragua. She made her debut for the latter on 14 July 2024 as a second-half substitution in a 0–0 friendly home draw against Panama.

Personal life
Cunningham can speak Chinese. She is of Mexican, Irish, and Nicaraguan descent.