Rose Lavelle is one of women’s soccer’s most talented and creative midfielders today. She plays for OL Reign of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) and the United States national team. She has won several titles and awards with both teams, including the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup and the 2020 Olympic bronze medal. She is also known for her nutmegs, dribbles, and goals that showcase her flair and skill on the field.
Early Life and Career
Rosemary Kathleen Lavelle was born on May 14, 1995, in Cincinnati, Ohio, to parents Marty and Janet. She has three siblings: John, Nora, and Mary. She started playing soccer at a young age and joined various clubs in her hometown. She credits her love of soccer to her trainer, Neil Bradford, who predicted her rise to the national team when she was eight.
Lavelle attended Mount Notre Dame High School, where she was a four-year varsity player and the team’s leading scorer with 57 goals. She was named Cincinnati’s Player of the Year by The Cincinnati Enquirer in her senior year and received the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Sports Women of the Year award in 2013.
Lavelle then attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she played for the Wisconsin Badgers from 2013 to 2016. She scored 22 goals and had 24 assists in 84 appearances for the Badgers. She was named the Big Ten Midfielder of the Year in 2015 and significantly earned first-team All-Big Ten honors. She also represented the United States at various youth levels, including the U-18, U-20, and U-23 teams.
Professional and International Career
The Boston Breakers drafted Lavelle as the first overall pick in the 2017 NWSL College Draft. She made her professional debut on April 16, 2017, against FC Kansas City and scored her first goal on April 29, 2017, against Seattle Reign FC. She played ten games and scored two goals for the Breakers before the team folded 2018.
Lavelle was then allocated to the Washington Spirit, where she played from 2018 to 2020. She scored one goal in 17 appearances for the Spirit and helped them reach the NWSL Challenge Cup final in 2020, where they lost to Houston Dash.
In August 2020, Lavelle signed a one-year contract with Manchester City of the FA Women’s Super League (WSL), England’s top division of women’s soccer. She scored her first goal for City on October 7, 2020, in a 3-1 win over Everton in the FA Women’s League Cup. She also won the FA Women’s Cup with City in 2020, scoring in the final against Everton. She scored two more goals for City in the WSL and the UEFA Women’s Champions League before returning to the NWSL in 2021.
Lavelle joined OL Reign in 2021, where she reunited with her former Washington Spirit coach Laura Harvey. She scored her first goal for the Reign on August 29, 2021, in a 2-0 win over Kansas City. She has scored six goals in 32 appearances for the Reign as of October 20, 2021.
Lavelle made her senior international debut for the United States on March 4, 2017, against England in the SheBelieves Cup. She scored her first international goal on June 8, 2017, against Sweden in a friendly match. She was selected to the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup squad, where she started six games and scored three goals, including the second goal in the final against the Netherlands. She was awarded the Bronze Ball as the tournament’s third-best player and was named to the 2019 FIFA FIFPro World XI. She was also ranked the sixth-best player in the world at The Best FIFA Football Awards 2019.
Lavelle also participated in the 2020 Olympics, scoring one goal in the bronze medal match against Australia. She helped the United States win their first Olympic medal since 2012 and their seventh overall. She has scored 24 goals in 91 appearances for the United States as of August 1, 2021.
Style of Play and Personality
Lavelle is a versatile, dynamic midfielder who can play various positions and roles. She is comfortable with both feet and has excellent vision, passing, and dribbling skills. She is also known for her ability to nutmeg opponents, which is when a player passes the ball through another player’s legs. She has nutmegged several players, including Marta of Brazil, Lucy Bronze of England, and Julie Ertz of the United States.
Lavelle is also a humble and funny person who enjoys playing with her dog Wilma and watching The Office. She is a fan of professional soccer star Mia Hamm, who she wrote a book report about in third grade. She also advocates for women’s soccer and equality and has partnered with various organizations and brands to promote the sport and inspire young girls.
Rose Lavelle is one of the best and most exciting players in women’s soccer today. She has achieved a lot in her career, both at the club and international level, and has a bright future ahead of her. She is also a role model and a leader for the next generation of women’s soccer players. She is a rising star of women’s soccer and a joy to watch on the field.
Originally posted 2024-03-14 19:22:39.
