Kiana Angélica Palacios Hernández (born 1 October 1996) is an American-born Mexican footballer who plays as forward for Liga MX Femenil side Club América and the Mexico women's national team.
![]() Palacios playing for Real Sociedad | |||
Personal information | |||
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Full name | Kiana Angélica Palacios Hernández[1] | ||
Date of birth | (1996-10-01) 1 October 1996 (age 26)[1] | ||
Place of birth | Orange, California, United States[1] | ||
Height | 1.67 m (5 ft 6 in)[2] | ||
Position(s) | Forward[1][2] | ||
Club information | |||
Current team | América | ||
Number | 7 | ||
College career | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2014–2017 | UC Irvine Anteaters | 67 | (24) |
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2018 | LA Galaxy OC | 5 | (3) |
2018–2021 | Real Sociedad | 68 | (13) |
2021– | América | 30 | (9) |
National team‡ | |||
2015–2016 | Mexico U-20 | 8 | (5) |
2017– | Mexico | 26 | (2) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 14 February 2019 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 8 April 2018 |
Palacios played for UC Irvine in her Collegiate career, converting from the defensive midfield to a forward, and essentially playing where the Anteaters needed her to be. She adjusted well and became the fourth leading scorer all time for UC Irvine with 24 goals. In her junior season, she at a point led the NCAA in goals scored and total team points before leaving for international duty for Mexico's U-20 team in 2016, two weeks before the collegiate regular season ended.
In her senior season, due to team injuries, she was put into the Central/Attacking Midfield position where she guided UC Irvine to the Big West regular season title; they were defeated in the Big West semifinals. Palacios received numerous collegiate accolades locally and nationally, in athletics and academics.
Palacios was selected in the fourth Round of the 2018 NWSL College Draft by Sky Blue FC,[3] but was not signed.
She joined the LA Galaxy Orange County Women's squad in May 2018, competing in the United Women's Soccer League. The club is managed by her college coach from UC Irvine, Scott Juniper, and is designed to help collegiate players and recent graduates develop as professionals. She scored three goals in five matches.[4]
On 13 July 2018, it was announced Palacios had signed a one-year contract with Spanish club Real Sociedad.[5] On May 11, 2019 Palacios scored in the 19th minute in the 2018–19 Copa de la Reina de Fútbol to equalize against Atlético Madrid to assist Real Sociedad to its first title in a 2–1 victory.[6]
Palacios represented Mexico at the 2015 CONCACAF Women's U-20 Championship and the 2016 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup. She made her senior debut on 4 February 2017 in a friendly match against Canada.[7]
Palacios made her first senior team start on July 8, 2017 against Sweden and scored her first senior team goal on April 8, 2018 against the United States in her fifth recorded cap.
Club América (women) – current squad | |
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Mexico squad – 2018 CONCACAF Women's Championship | ||
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