Natalia Kuikka

Natalia Kuikka (born 1 December 1995) is a Finnish professional footballer who plays as a defender for the Chicago Red Stars of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) and the Finland national team. She was named the Finnish Footballer of the Year in 2022 by Finnish sports journalists.

Florida State University
Kuikka was recruited by Mark Krikorian to join his Florida State University squad for the 2015 season. In her freshman year, she played in a total of 19 games, all as a midfielder, tallying 6 goals and 5 assists. She scored the first goal of her career versus New Mexico State University on 21 August 2015. In the ACC tournament, her goal and two assists earned her the first of her ACC Tournament MVP Awards.

Moving to the central defender role beginning her sophomore season, Kuikka helped solidify a defense that allowed a paltry 0.39 GAA. For the second year in a row, she won the ACC Tournament MVP award for her solid defensive play and two shootout penalty kick conversions.

After being selected as a team captain, success as the director of the defensive line continued in her junior year. The Seminoles had eight clean sheets including two in the NCAA Tournament.

As a senior and team captain, Kuikka anchored the Seminoles defense and led the team to a school-record 16 shutouts, including four in the NCAA Tournament. The final two being in the College Cup versus defending champion Stanford and in the final versus UNC to claim the NCAA Championship. Her efforts garnered her the 2018-9 Honda Sport Award for the top female athlete in NCAA Division I soccer.

Kuikka graduated in 2018 with a bachelor's degree in criminology.

Seattle Sounders Women
In the summer of 2016, Kuikka joined Seattle Sounders Women in the Women's Premier Soccer League. Alongside Florida State teammates Kaycie Tillman, Megan Connolly, and Cassie Miller, Kuikka helped the team go undefeated in the regular season to become WPSL NW Division Champions.

Santa Clarita Blue Heat
In the summer of 2017, Kuikka joined Santa Clarita Blue Heat in the United Women's Soccer league. She helped lead the defense to allow only 5 goals in 8 regular season games. She started in the UWS semi-final and final alongside Florida State teammate, Deyna Castellanos.

Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC
In January 2019, Kuikka signed with Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC in the Damallsvenskan in Sweden, joining her former Florida State University teammate and Finnish compatriot, Emma Koivisto.

Portland Thorns FC
On October 29, 2020, Portland Thorns FC announced that they signed Kuikka to a two-year deal, starting in 2021. On September 20, 2022, the club announced that they signed Kuikka to a one-year deal, extending her contract through the 2023 season. At the end of the 2022 season, Kuikka won the NWSL Championship title with Thorns.

Chicago Red Stars
On 18 January 2024, fellow NWSL side Chicago Red Stars announced the signing of Kuikka on a three-year deal.

International career
Having been capped for the Finnish U-16, U-17, U-18, U-19, and U-20 teams, Kuikka also played in the U-20 Women's World Cup in 2014.

Kuikka made her debut for the senior Finland National Team for the UEFA Women's Euro 2013. In 2017, 2020, 2021, and 2022, she earned the Finland National Player of the Year award.

Personal life
Kuikka's hometown is Kemi, Finland. She is the daughter of Heli Kuikka and Hannu Suhonen.

Honors
Florida State Seminoles
 * NCAA Division I Women's Soccer Championship: 2018

Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC
 * Svenska Cupen: 2019
 * Damallsvenskan Best Back (2020)
 * Damallsvenskan: 2020

Portland Thorns FC
 * NWSL Community Shield: 2020
 * NWSL Challenge Cup: 2021
 * International Champions Cup: 2021
 * NWSL Championship: 2022

Individual
 * Finnish Footballer of the Year: 2022
 * Finnish Female Footballer of the Year: 2017, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023
 * Honda Collegiate Women's Sport Award Winner for Soccer (2018–19)
 * College Cup All-Tournament Team (2018)
 * United Soccer Coaches All-American Third Team (2018)
 * United Soccer Coaches All-Atlantic Region First Team (2018)
 * All-ACC Second Team: 2016, 2018
 * ACC All-Tournament Team: 2015, 2016, 2018
 * ACC Defensive Player of the Week (October 23, 2018)
 * United Soccer Coaches All-East Region Second Team (2017)
 * All-ACC First Team (2017)
 * NSCAA All-American Third Team (2016)
 * NSCAA All-Southeast Region First Team (2016)
 * ACC Tournament MVP: 2015, 2016
 * ACC All-Freshman Team (2015)
 * TopDrawerSoccer Freshman Best XI Second Team (2015)
 * TopDrawerSoccer Team of the Week (11/10/15, 11/24/15)