Sarina Bolden

Sarina Isabel Calpo Bolden (born June 30, 1996) is a professional footballer who plays as a forward for A-League Women club Newcastle Jets. She represents the Philippines women's national team.

Bolden holds the distinction of having scored the first-ever FIFA Women's World Cup goal for the Philippines. On July 25, 2023, Bolden scored a header against co-host New Zealand to clinch the country's historic first World Cup win.

Early life and education
Sarina Isabel Bolden was born on June 30, 1996 in Santa Clara, California, U.S. to Sherry and Robert Bolden and has a younger brother. Her mother is from Pangasinan. Her father is African American. Sarina's parents are both into sports, although soccer is not their main discipline.

She attended Milpitas High School and later the Loyola Marymount University where she obtained a business degree which she intends to use as a backup to her sporting career.

Youth career
She played for Milpitas High School's women's soccer and softball teams. With the Milpitas High School Trojans, Bolden led her high school soccer team to the 2015 SCVAL El Camino Division title. She was named as part of the first team All-SCVAL selection for three years from 2013 to 2015.

In the club level, Bolden played for MVLA Mercury Black '96 helping the club reach the 2014 ECNL National Playoffs and helped the De Anza Force '95 win the 2013 and 2015 ECNL North West Conference championships.

Collegiate career
Bolden attended the Loyola Marymount University where she played for the school's women's soccer team. In 2016 she scored six goals for her college team and she was named as part of the All-West Coast Conference First Team and the NSCAA All-West Region.

Club career
Bolden in 2020 played for Xinbei Hangyuan in the Taiwan Mulan Football League. She later played for the San Francisco Nighthawks of the Women's Premier Soccer League in the United States.

In June 2021, Bolden was signed in by Elfen Saitama of the WE League of Japan. She debuted in Saitama's 1–4 lost to Tokyo Verdy Beleza on October 10, 2021, after she was brought in as a substitute in the 62nd minute. Bolden, whose native language is English, was limited on her ability to connect with her teammates.

In December 2022, Bolden mutually terminated her contract with Elfen Saitama and transferred to Australian club Western Sydney Wanderers.

Ahead of the 2023–24 A-League Women season, it was understood that Western Sydney Wanderers didn't re-sign Bolden. Bolden says she received offers from various clubs, but she preferred to remain in the A-League and not make any "big, far moves abroad" at that point in her career. For the meantime, she largely relied on playing time with the Philippine national team to maintain her fitness.

After five rounds of the 2023–24 season, Bolden was signed by Newcastle Jets and played the match the day she was signed, scoring a brace. Head coach Gary van Egmond would invite Bolden to join the team.

International career
Bolden's performance with the Loyola Marymount University women's soccer team led to her being invited to participate in a training camp in Orlando, Florida in April 2017 which was organized by the United States women's national under-23 soccer team. In late 2017, she was able to participate in training camps organized by the Philippines women's national football team and caught the attention of Richard Boon, then head coach of the national team. She was later named in the final line up for the Philippine national team that participated at the 2018 AFC Women's Asian Cup.

In the Philippines' first group stage match against host Jordan, Bolden had her first international cap. She scored the winning goal for the Philippines in their 2–1 victory against the hosts.

Bolden was named in the lineup for the Philippine national team that participated at the 2022 AFC Women's Asian Cup. The Philippines advanced to the knockout stage of the AFC Women's Asian Cup for the first time. During the quarterfinals against Chinese Taipei, which ended in a penalty shoot-out following a 1–1 draw, Bolden scored the winning penalty which resulted in the Philippines qualifying for their first-ever FIFA Women's World Cup, the 2023 edition. On 25 July 2023, she scored the only goal in a 1–0 win over World Cup co-host New Zealand, to be her country's first ever goal and victory in the competition.

She would make her milestone 50th international cap after playing in a friendly against South Korea on April 5, 2024.

International goals

 * Scores and results list the Philippines' goal tally first.

Honors
Philippines
 * Southeast Asian Games third place: 2021
 * ASEAN Women's Championship: 2022

Individual
 * 2024 PSA Annual Awards: Ms. Football
 * 2024 Women in Sports Awards: Athlete of the year

Personal life
Bolden identifies as LGBT, describing herself as "gay" and a "queer woman". Her cousins Jalen Brown and Ryanne Brown are also professional footballers.