Jenna Nighswonger

Jenna Gray Nighswonger (born November 28, 2000) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a left back for NJ/NY Gotham FC of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) and the United States women's national team. She played college soccer for the Florida State Seminoles, winning the NCAA championship in 2021. Drafted in 2023, she was named the NWSL Rookie of the Year and lifted the NWSL Championship trophy with Gotham in her first season.

Early life
Nighswonger played youth soccer for Slammers FC, winning a U14 ECNL National Championship. She also participated in the US Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program.

Nighswonger graduated from Huntington Beach High School in December 2018. She played soccer for the school until her junior year, when she instead opted to play for a United States Soccer Development Academy club.

College career
In May 2017, Nighswonger committed to play college soccer at Florida State. In 2019, she played for United Women's Soccer club LA Galaxy OC and played in the league's national championship, which LA Galaxy OC won in a 1–0 victory over Calgary Foothills WFC.

She played at Florida State from 2019 to 2022. Nighswonger made her Florida State debut on August 22, 2019, against TCU. She scored her first collegiate goal on September 1, 2019, against USC. She recorded her first brace on September 12, 2019, against Colorado.

The Seminoles reached the finals of the 2020 NCAA Division I women's soccer tournament, drawing in regulation against Santa Clara University 1–1 on Nighswonger's 63rd-minute goal before losing in a penalty shoot-out, and won the 2021 tournament. Nighswonger was especially noted for scoring Olympico goals directly from her left-footed corner kicks, including an equalizing Olympico goal in the 2022 ACC championship match, a Michigan own goal forced by an Olympico goal attempt in the 2021 NCAA Division I tournament quarterfinals, and two Olympico goals scored in separate September 2022 matches against Louisville and Boston College, the latter of which was featured on SportsCenter.

The Atlantic Coast Conference named Nighswonger the most valuable player of the 2022 ACC women's soccer tournament. Nighswonger was also voted as one of three finalists for the 2022 Hermann Trophy recognizing the nation's best collegiate players.

Club career
In November 2022, Nighswonger said she was eschewing the fifth year of NCAA eligibility granted by the association due to the COVID-19 pandemic and considering playing for a European club after finishing her career at Florida State.

Nighswonger was among the final registrants for the 2023 NWSL Draft and was considered by draft analysts as a top prospect as a midfielder. On January 13, 2023, NWSL club NJ/NY Gotham FC selected Nighswonger with the 4th overall pick in the draft.

NJ/NY Gotham FC, 2023–present
Nighswonger signed a three-year contract with Gotham FC on March 17, 2023. She made her NWSL regular-season debut with Gotham FC, substituting for an injured Ali Krieger during the club's 2023 NWSL season opener at Angel City. Though she primarily played as an attacker during her college career, head coach Juan Carlos Amorós played her at outside-back during her first professional season. She played in 20 league games, starting in 17. She scored three goals and played over 1,500 minutes during the regular season. The NWSL named Nighswonger its Rookie of the Month in May and July, making her the only player to earn the award twice. She was named Rookie of the Year on November 8, 2023. Nighswonger played in every game of the NWSL postseason, helping Gotham FC lift the NWSL Championship trophy on November 11, 2023.

International career
Nighswonger represented the United States under-20 team at the 2020 CONCACAF Women's U-20 Championship. She also appeared for the under-16, under-17, under-18, and under-23 teams. She was called into her first full women's national team camp November 20, 2023 and made her first appearance on December 2, 2023, in a 3–0 win against China PR. Though she was called up as a midfielder, Nighswonger played in her first national team games as an outside-back. Nighswonger earned her first start on December 5, 2023, against China PR. She scored her first goal on February 20, 2024, when she converted a penalty against the Dominican Republic during the 2024 CONCACAF W Gold Cup.

Nighswonger was selected to the 18-player roster for the 2024 Summer Olympics in France.

Personal life
Nighswonger has an older sister with whom she played recreational soccer as a child, and is a fan of Manchester United.

In 2022, Nighswonger donated $1,000 to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, using money from her name, image, and likeness deal with Garnet & Gold.

International

 * Scores and results list United States's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Nighswonger goal.

Honors
Florida State Seminoles
 * NCAA Division I women's soccer tournament: 2021

NJ/NY Gotham FC
 * NWSL Championship: 2023

United States U20
 * CONCACAF Women's U-20 Championship: 2020

United States
 * CONCACAF W Gold Cup: 2024
 * SheBelieves Cup: 2024

Individual
 * ACC women's soccer tournament MVP: 2022
 * Hermann Trophy finalist: 2022
 * NWSL Rookie of the Month: May 2023, July 2023
 * NWSL Rookie of the Year: 2023
 * NWSL Best XI Second Team: 2023