DATE OF BIRTH: November 28, 2000
HEIGHT: 5-3
HOMETOWN: Huntington Beach, California
POSITION: Defender
ACQUIRED: Signed three-year contract (March 2023); selected in the 2023 NWSL Draft with the fourth
overall pick.
COLLEGE: Florida State University
COUNTRY: USA
PRONOUNS: She/Her
Honors: 2023 NWSL Rookie of the Year
PROFESSIONAL:
2023: The rookie sensation played more minutes than any other rookie (1,536) in the regular season. She also provided seven goal contributions across all competitions, which ties for most among league
rookies this year. Additionally, she notched 35 tackles, which was the most on Gotham FC, most among rookies, and third among defenders across the league. Throughout the regular season, Nighswonger
earned six NWSL awards, which was the most by a rookie in 2023. She was named NWSL Rookie of the Month twice (May, June), named to the NWSL Best XI of the Month presented by Mastercard three times
(May, July, August), and earned UKG NWSL Challenge Cup Best XI All-Tournament Team (September).
COLLEGE:
2019-22: Nighswonger played at Florida State University, where she scored 19 goals and made 34 assists in 86 total appearances in her collegiate career. In 2022, Nighswonger was one of three finalists for the
MAC Hermann Award as the top player in women’s college soccer. She was named ACC Tournament MVP and was also honored by the United Soccer Coaches and College Soccer News as a First Team All-
American. Her 34 career assists with the Seminoles place Nighswonger second all-time in the school’s record books.
INTERNATIONAL
2023: Nighswonger made her USWNT debut on Dec. 2, 2023 in a 3-0 win against China PR. Since then, Nighswonger has made six appearances and has scored twice.