Natalia Kuikka (born 1 December 1995) is a Finnish footballer who plays as a midfielder for Portland Thorns of the American National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) and the Finland National Team.
![]() Kuikka in 2015 | |||
Personal information | |||
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Full name | Natalia Kuikka[1] | ||
Date of birth | (1995-12-01) 1 December 1995 (age 26) | ||
Place of birth | Kemi, Finland | ||
Height | 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in)[2] | ||
Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
Club information | |||
Current team | Portland Thorns | ||
Number | 14 | ||
College career | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2015–2018 | Florida State Seminoles | 79 | (9) |
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2011 | Visan Pallo | 16 | (14) |
2012–2013 | Merilappi United | 35 | (15) |
2013 | → Kokkola F10 | 11 | (1) |
2014–2015 | Merilappi United | 29 | (14) |
2019–2020 | Kopparbergs/Goteborg FC | 41 | (5) |
2021– | Portland Thorns | 12 | (0) |
National team‡ | |||
2011–2012 | Finland U17 | 6 | (2) |
2012–2014 | Finland U19 | 12 | (3) |
2014 | Finland U20 | 3 | (0) |
2013– | Finland | 63 | (3) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 17 January 2016 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 10 February 2022 |
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.[3]
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.[4]
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.[5]
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.[6] Her efforts garnered her the 2018-9 Honda Sport Award for the top female athlete in NCAA Division I soccer.[7][8]
Kuikka graduated at the end of Fall Semester 2018 with a bachelor's degree in Criminology.
On October 29, 2020, Portland Thorns FC announced that they signed Kuikka to a two-year deal, starting in 2021.[9]
In January 2019, Kuikka signed with Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC[10] in the Damallsvenskan in Sweden, joining her former Florida State University teammate and Finnish compatriot, Emma Koivisto.
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.[11] She started in the UWS semi-final and final alongside Florida State teammate, Deyna Castellanos.
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.[12]
Kuikka made her debut for the senior Finland National Team for the UEFA Women's Euro 2013.[13] In 2017, 2020, and 2021, she earned the Finland National Player of the Year award.[14][15]
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.
Kopparbergs/Goteborg FC
Kuikka's hometown is Kemi, Finland. She is the daughter of Heli Kuikka and Hannu Suhonen.
Portland Thorns FC – current squad | |
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Finland squad – UEFA Women's Euro 2013 | ||
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Finland squad – UEFA Women's Euro 2022 | ||
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Honda Sports Award | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Division I |
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Honda Cup |
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Inspiration |
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Div II |
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Div III |
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