Emily Sams

How Acquired: Selected No. 3 overall in the 2023 NWSL Draft

Club Highlights:

• 2024 NWSL Defender of the Year.

• Earned Best XI First Team recognition for 2024 season.

• Staple in the backline of a Pride defense that tied an NWSL record the most team clean sheets (13) in a single season and a new league record for consecutive minutes without conceding a goal (554).

• Named to the NWSL Best XI in both May and September in 2024.

• Finished the 2024 season with the Pride as NWSL Shield winners and NWSL Champions.

• Came just three minutes away from earning Iron Woman recognition in 2023, given to those who play every minute of a season.

• In 2023, led all NWSL rookies minutes played (1977), blocks (18) and total clearances (73).

• Elected to forgo her final year of eligibility with Florida State, signing a contract with the NWSL before going on loan to begin her professional career with BK Häcken FF of Sweden.

• Scored on her first touch of the game in an Oct. 31, 2022, win over AIK.

International Highlights:

• 2024 Olympic Gold Medalist with the USWNT in 2024.

• Made her debut with the USWNT senior-team on Oct. 27, 2024, in a USWNT friendly against Iceland.

• Earned her first call-up to the USWNT senior-team in June as a training player and later would be named to the 2024 Olympic roster for the Paris games.

College Highlights:

• A two-time NCAA National Champion, finished her time at Florida State with 62 appearances, 61 starts, 6 goals and 7 assists
• Named the 2021 ACC Defensive Player of the Year, leading the Seminoles with 2,306 minutes and anchored a defense that allowed just 13 goals in 25 games, securing 14 clean sheets
• A 2021 United Soccer Coaches All-American and two-time United Soccer Coaches All-Atlantic Region First Team honoree