Kristen Nicole Edmonds (born May 22, 1987) is an American professional soccer player who plays for Tampa Bay Sun in the USL Super League. She previously played for Stjarnan in Iceland, WFC Rossiyanka in Russia, and the Western New York Flash, Orlando Pride, and Kansas City Current, and NJ/NY Gotham FC in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL).

Kristen Edmonds
Edmonds with the Orlando Pride in 2018
Personal information
Full name Kristen Nicole Edmonds[1]
Date of birth (1987-05-22) May 22, 1987 (age 37)
Place of birth Metuchen, New Jersey, U.S.
Height 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in)
Position(s) Defender / midfielder
Team information
Current team
Tampa Bay Sun
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2005–2008 Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2005–2006 New Jersey Wildcats
2009–2010 Hudson Valley Quickstrike Lady Blues
2011 Stjarnan 7 (1)
2012–2013 WFC Rossiyanka 23 (1)
2014–2015 Western New York Flash 33 (0)
2016–2020 Orlando Pride 69 (9)
2021–2022 Kansas City Current 42 (1)
2023–2024 NJ/NY Gotham FC 14 (0)
2024– Tampa Bay Sun 0 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of August 18, 2024

College career

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Rutgers Scarlet Knights, 2005–2008

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Edmonds attended Rutgers University from 2005 to 2008 where she played for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights. During her freshman season, she became the first rookie to lead the team in scoring since Carli Lloyd. Edmonds scored six goals and recorded six assists. She was named the SoccerBuzz All-Region Freshman First Team.[2] The following season, she scored two goals and recorded one assist in the 16 games in which she played.[2] During her senior year, she was a starter in all 22 games, scored five goals and registered six assists.[2]

Club career

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After her collegiate career, Edmonds attended tryouts for Sky Blue FC twice but failed to make the roster.[3]

New Jersey Wildcats, 2005–2006

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Edmonds played for USL W-League team New Jersey Wildcats in the 2005 and 2006 USL W-League seasons. The team won the W-League double as regular-season and post-season champions in 2015, and Edmonds made four appearances during the season, scoring two goals and registering an assist.[4][5]

Hudson Valley Quickstrike Lady Blues, 2009–2010

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Edmonds played for newly formed USL W-League team Hudson Valley Quickstrike Lady Blues for two years under coach Jesse Kolmel.[3] Edmonds registered an assist in the team's first-ever match in May 2009.[6] The team won two regular-season championships with Edmonds, in 2009 and 2010, and reached the semi-finals both seasons.[5]

Stjarnan, 2011

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In 2011, Edmonds signed with Icelandic team, Stjarnan and helped the team win the league championship and Icelandic Women's Cup.[2] She played with undiagnosed ligament tears in one of her ankles, which required surgery and rehabilitation after returning to the United States.[7]

WFC Rossiyanka, 2012–2013

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Edmonds joined WFC Rossiyanka of the Russian Premier League for the 2012–13 season. She made 13 appearances, scored two goals, and recorded seven assists.[2] Rossiyanka finished in first place during the regular season with a 10–1–3 record.[8] She made two appearances with the club in the 2012–13 UEFA Champions League.[2] During the 2013 season, Edmonds made 13 starts in 13 games and scored one goal.[8] Rossiyanka finished in fourth place during the regular season with a 8–4–2 record.[8] She made four appearances for the club in the 2013–14 UEFA Champions League.[8]

Western New York Flash, 2014–15

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Edmonds signed with the Western New York Flash in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) for the 2014 season.[2][5] She started in 19 of the 22 games and recorded one assist while playing as a defender.[2] The Flash finished the regular season in seventh place with a 8–12–4 record.[8]

After returning for the 2015 season, Edmonds 10 starts in her 11 appearances for the club and recorded one assist.[2] The club finished in seventh place with a 6–9–5 record.[8]

Orlando Pride, 2016–2020

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In December 2015, Edmonds was traded to expansion team Orlando Pride.[9] Edmonds started in all of the 19 games in which she played and scored six goals from the midfield. The team finished in ninth place with a 6–13–1 record during its inaugural season.[8] She was named NWSL Player of the Week for Week 12 after scoring a brace against the Boston Breakers to lead the Pride to a 2–1 win.[10]

Kansas City Current, 2021–2022

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On January 30, 2021, the Pride traded Edmonds to Kansas City Current with the natural second-round pick in the 2022 NWSL Draft in exchange for Gunnhildur Yrsa Jónsdóttir and the playing rights to Erika Tymrak.[11] After an altercation during an April 9, 2021, match with Portland Thorns FC forward Morgan Weaver, Edmonds was suspended for two games in the 2021 NWSL Challenge Cup.[12] Kansas City re-signed edmonds to a new contract on January 18, 2022.[13]

Edmonds played for Kansas City in the 2022 NWSL Championship match against Portland, where the Current lost 2–0.[3]

NJ/NY Gotham FC, 2022–2024

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On December 1, 2022, Edmonds signed as a free agent with NJ/NY Gotham FC. She cited being closer to family and her home as factors in the move from Kansas City.[3] She left the club by mutual agreement on August 9, 2024, to pursue an opportunity with Tampa Bay Sun FC of the USL Super League.[14]

Tampa Bay Sun FC, 2024–

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Edmonds was announced as a member of the Tampa Bay Sun on August 14, 2024, ahead of the inaugural USL Super League season.[15]

International career

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On October 27, 2016, Edmonds was called up to United States national team training camp for the first time.[16]

Career statistics

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As of October 17, 2020.[17]
Club Season League Cup[a] Continental[b] Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Stjarnan 2011 Úrvalsdeild 7 1 1 1 8 2
Rossiyanka 2012 Russian Championship 10 0 2 0 12 0
2013 13 1 4 0 17 1
Total 23 1 0 0 6 0 0 0 29 1
Western New York Flash 2014 NWSL 22 0 22 0
2015 11 0 11 0
Total 33 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 33 0
Orlando Pride 2016 NWSL 19 6 19 6
2017 23 2 23 2
2018 15 1 15 1
2019 13 0 13 0
2020 3[c] 1 3 1
Total 70 9 0 0 0 0 3 1 73 10
Career total 133 11 1 1 6 0 3 1 143 13

Honors

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with Stjarnan
with Rossiyanka
with Orlando Pride

NJ/NY Gotham FC

References

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  1. ^ Kristen EdmondsUEFA competition record (archive 
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Kristen Edmonds". National Women's Soccer League. Retrieved May 23, 2017.
  3. ^ a b c d Tonelli, Jenna (December 1, 2022). "A Homecoming: Jersey Girl Kristen Edmonds Signs with Gotham FC". Nets Republic. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
  4. ^ "Scarlet Knights Help Wildcats Win W-League Title". Rutgers Scarlet Knights (Press release). August 10, 2005. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
  5. ^ a b c "Flash sign Edmonds, New Zealand's Kete". The Equalizer. February 21, 2014. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
  6. ^ "Soccer: Win kicks off Lady Blues' season". Times Herald-Record. May 17, 2009. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
  7. ^ Hamm, Harrison (June 12, 2018). "Orlando Pride's Kristen Edmonds shares her incredible story of playing around the world to working at Planet Fitness to achieve her soccer dreams". The Comeback. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i "K. Edmonds". Soccer Way. Retrieved May 23, 2017.
  9. ^ "Orlando Pride Acquires Rebecca Edwards and Kristen Edmonds". Orlando City Soccer Club.
  10. ^ a b "Kristen Edmonds of Orlando Pride is Named NWSL Player of the Week". Goal Nation. Archived from the original on April 3, 2018. Retrieved May 23, 2017.
  11. ^ "Pride Acquire Gunny Jónsdóttir and Rights to Erika Tymrak from Kansas City" (Press release). Orlando City SC. June 30, 2021.
  12. ^ Poe, Julia (April 14, 2021). "Former Orlando Pride forward Kristen Edmonds suspended 2 games for Portland altercation". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
  13. ^ "Kansas City Current Re-Sign Veteran Kristen Edmonds" (Press release). National Women's Soccer League. January 18, 2022. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
  14. ^ "Gotham FC and defender Kristen Edmonds agree to mutually part ways". NJ/NY Gotham FC. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
  15. ^ "Tampa Bay Sun FC Adds NWSL Champion Kristen Edmonds". TampaBaySunFC.com. Tampa Bay Sun. Retrieved August 18, 2024.
  16. ^ "Ellis names 24 players for friendlies vs. Romania in California". United States Soccer Federation.
  17. ^ "Kristen Edmonds player profile". Soccerway. Retrieved April 15, 2019.
  18. ^ "NWSL Championship highlights: Gotham FC crowned champions as Rapinoe, Krieger end careers". USA Today. November 11, 2023. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
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