Samantha Keala Staab (born March 28, 1997) is an American soccer defender who currently plays for the Washington Spirit in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL).[3]
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Samantha Keala Staab[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1997-03-28) March 28, 1997 (age 25) | ||
| Place of birth | San Diego, California, United States | ||
| Height | 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m) | ||
| Position(s) | Defender | ||
| Club information | |||
Current team | Washington Spirit | ||
| Number | 3 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| DMCV Sharks | |||
| College career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2015–2018 | Clemson[2] | 80 | (5) |
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2019– | Washington Spirit | 46 | (2) |
| 2019–2020 | → Western Sydney Wanderers (loan) | 12 | (2) |
| National team‡ | |||
| 2018 | United States U23 | 2 | (0) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of October 31, 2021 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of February 29, 2020 | |||
Staab played for the DMCV Sharks in her childhood.[4]
Staab attended Clemson University, where she played for the Tigers women's soccer team from 2015 to 2018.[2] She was selected for the ACC All-Freshman team in 2015 after starting all 20 games in her first season.[5] After making the All-ACC second team in each of the next two years, she was selected to the All-ACC first team in her senior season.[6] At the time of her graduation, her 33 career assists were tied for 4th-most in school history.[7]
Staab was drafted 4th overall in the first round of the 2019 NWSL College Draft by the Washington Spirit.[6] In April, she was signed to the Spirit's senior roster in advance of the 2019 NWSL season.[8] Staab made her professional debut on April 13, 2019, against Sky Blue FC, scoring a 59th-minute goal en route to a 2–0 season-opening win for the Spirit.[9] Staab went on to appear in every minute of the Spirit's season, becoming the second-ever NWSL player to play every minute of her rookie season. She was considered one of the league's top defenders, earning a spot on the May and June 2019 NWSL Team of the Month and she was one of three nominees for Rookie of the Year.[10][11][12] In 2020, she played every minute of the Spirit's season.[13] In the NWSL Challenge Cup she converted a header off a set piece in the 77th minute against the Portland Thorns, scoring the Spirit's lone goal in the team's 1-1 tie.[14] In 2022, Staab played every minute of the Spirit's season.[15]
Staab was signed in advance of the 2019–20 W-League season by the Western Sydney Wanderers. Staab made her debut for the Wanderers on November 14, 2019.[16]
Staab attended training camp with the United States under-19 team in January 2016.[17] Staab was first selected for the United States under-23 team in March 2018 for the 2018 Thorns Spring Invitational.[18] She was called up again for the 2018 Nordic Tournament, where she was the only non-professional player selected for the U.S. roster.[19] She started all three games, and scored the game-winning goal for the United States in the final match, ensuring a first-place result in the tournament.[20]
Washington Spirit – current squad | |
|---|---|
Atlantic Coast Conference Women's Soccer Player of the Year | |
|---|---|
| Player of the Year | |
| Offensive Player of the Year | |
| Defensive Player of the Year | |
| Midfielder of the Year | |