Gisele Thompson

Gisele Olivia Thompson (born December 2, 2005) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a defender for Angel City FC of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). She has represented the United States on the under-20 and under-17 national teams.

Thompson is one of the first high school athletes to have a name, image, and likeness deal with Nike, as is her older sister, Alyssa Thompson. Although she committed to play for Stanford after high school, Thompson instead announced in December 2023 that she had signed with Angel City FC four days prior to turning 18.

Early life
In 2013, Thompson's parents registered her and her sister Alyssa in the Total Futbol Academy (TFA) when Thompson was 8 years old so that they could compete on boys' teams. In 2015, they were transferred to club Real So Cal of the Elite Clubs National League and they competed there until the COVID-19 pandemic halted sporting events. The two sisters then joined the Santa Clarita Blue Heat in the second-division United Women's Soccer league as the only high school students in the league. In early 2023, Thompson began training with NWSL team Angel City FC, who had drafted Alyssa as the number one pick in the 2023 NWSL Draft.

Angel City FC, 2024–
On December 7, 2023, Angel City FC announced that they had signed Thompson to a 3-year professional contract. NWSL rules allowed ACFC to sign Thompson directly, rather than through the entry draft, because she was under the age of 18 at the time. Her deal runs through the 2025 season, with an option to extend through 2026. Thompson made her professional debut for Angel City in her hometown of Los Angeles on March 17, 2024, coming on as a substitute for her older sister in a NWSL match against Bay FC.

After missing a few games due to a minor ankle injury, Thompson started her first match for Angel City on May 18, 2024, in an away match against Washington Spirit which ended as a 4–2 defeat. As she was named to the starting XI alongside her sister, it marked the first time in NWSL history that two sisters were named to the to the starting lineup for the same team.

International career
Thompson represented the United States on the U-17 women's national team at the 2022 FIFA U-17 World Cup and the 2022 CONCACAF Women's U-17 Championship. She also played on the under-20 national team at the 2023 CONCACAF Women's U-20 Championship, where they won gold. In the semifinals, she received a red card after she fouled to prevent a clear chance at goal.

In February 2024, Thompson received her first call up to the senior team as a non-rostered player to train with the team ahead of the 2024 CONCACAF W Gold Cup. Thompson went straight from training with the senior team in Los Angeles to train with the U-20 team for a set of friendlies against Colombia in Bogota.

Personal life
Thompson was born in Los Angeles on December 2, 2005, 13 months after her sister Alyssa Thompson, to Karen and Mario Thompson. They are of African-American, Filipino and Peruvian descent.

Thompson runs track at Harvard-Westlake School.

Endorsements
In 2022, Thompson and her sister Alyssa signed a name, image, and likeness (NIL) deal with Nike at ages 16 and 17, respectively. They were the first high school athletes to sign an NIL deal with Nike.

Both sisters are also sponsored by Stifel.

Television and film
Gisele appeared alongside her sister Alyssa as cameos in the Netflix film Family Switch.

Honors
United States U17
 * CONCACAF Women's U-17 Championship: 2022

United States U19
 * Pan American Games Bronze Medal: 2023

United States U20
 * CONCACAF Women's U-20 Championship: 2023