Paige Metayer

Paige Metayer (born September 23, 2000) is an American professional women's soccer player who plays as a midfielder for the Washington Spirit in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL).

Youth career
Metayer grew up in Irvine, California, and attended University High School, where she was twice named the girls' soccer team's most valuable player and set a school record in the 400-meter dash. In 2018, the school named her its girls' athlete of the year. Metayer also played youth soccer for Elite Clubs National League (ECNL) team So Cal Blues, where she appeared in three consecutive national playoffs and won the 2017 Surf Cup.

College career
Metayer played NCAA Division I women's soccer for the California Golden Bears, where she scored nine goals and registered one assist in 89 matches played. She scored her first collegiate goal on September 17, 2018, against UC Davis.

At the University of California, Berkeley, Metayer studied data science and economics.

Club career
Metayer was not selected in the 2023 NWSL Draft.

Washington Spirit, 2023–
NWSL club Washington Spirit invited Metayer to join the team during the 2023 preseason as a non-rostered invitee. On March 8, 2023, she signed a three-year contract with the team with an option for an additional year. She debuted for the Spirit in the team's first match of her rookie season on March 26, 2023, as a starter against OL Reign. After being the only rookie to start in the Spirit's first three matches of the season, she received a second yellow and red card ejection and one-match suspension on April 1 in a match against Racing Louisville FC.

On May 6, she scored her first professional goal in a 3–1 win against San Diego Wave FC. She also scored an equalizing header in a 1–1 draw against NJ/NY Gotham FC on May 28, assisted on Ashley Sanchez's match-winning goal against Angel City FC on June 10, and scored an equalizing goal in the Spirit's 3–2 win over Kansas City Current on June 18.

On July 6, 2023, the NWSL named Metayer its June Rookie of the Month, citing her June 10 assist and June 18 goal as well as her shot-creating actions.

Playing style
With the Washington Spirit, Metayer plays on the right side of the team's 4–4–2 diamond formation, covering defensively and serving as an aerial threat offensively. In May 2023, American women's soccer outlet The Equalizer described Metayer as a U.S. national team prospect as either a holding or box-to-box midfielder, citing her pace, positioning, footwork, and tackling.

Honors

 * NWSL Rookie of the Month: June 2023