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Ali Riley

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Ali Riley
MNZM
Ali Riley in 2019
Personal information
Full name Alexandra Lowe Riley[1]
Date of birth (1987-10-30)30 October 1987(age 36)[1]
Place of birth Los Angeles,California,U.S.[2]
Height 1.64 m (5 ft 5 in)[1]
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
 Angel City
Number 5
Youth career
1998–2004 Westside Breakers
2004–2006 Real So Cal
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2006–2009 Stanford Cardinal 83 (7)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2009 Pali Blues 7 (0)
2010 FC Gold Pride 23 (0)
2011 Western New York Flash 15 (0)
2012–2018 Rosengård 132 (4)
2018–2019 Chelsea 9 (0)
2019–2020 Bayern Munich 3 (0)
2020–2021 Orlando Pride 20 (0)
2020 →Rosengård(loan) 17 (1)
2022– Angel City 44 (3)
International career‡
2006 New Zealand U20 11 (5)
2007– New Zealand 155[3] (2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 26 April 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 20 July 2023

Alexandra Lowe RileyMNZM(born 30 October 1987) is a professionalfootballerwho plays as adefenderforAngel Cityof the AmericanNational Women's Soccer League(NWSL). Born in the United States, she represents theNew Zealand national team.[4]She captains both her club and national teams. As a collegiate athlete, she captained theStanfordsoccer team to two NCAA semi-finals and one final.

Early life[edit]

Born inLos Angeles, Californiato parents John Graham Riley and Beverly Fong Lowe, Riley attended St. Matthew's Parish School in Pacific Palisades andHarvard-Westlake SchoolinNorth Hollywood, California.She was named captain of the soccer team during her senior season and was a two-time Mission League Offensive MVP as well as a two-time first-team San Fernando Valley selection. As a senior, she helped lead the Wolverines to the 2006 Southern Section Division I final and was named to the All-CIF Southern Section Division I first team. Riley also competed for local soccer clubs LA Breakers FC[5](formerly Westside Breakers) and Real SoCal (formerly SoCal United).[6]

Stanford University[edit]

Riley attendedStanford Universityand played for theStanford Cardinalfrom 2006 to 2009. During her freshman year, she started in fifteen of the eighteen matches she played. She played forward and scored four goals with two assists. As a sophomore, she played sixteen games and started in fourteen of them. She scored two goals and had two assists. During her junior year, Riley converted from her position at forward to an outside back and she has played almost exclusively at left or right full-back ever since, As a senior, Riley started in each of the twenty-four games and scored one goal with one assist.[6]

Club career[edit]

FC Gold Pride[edit]

In January 2010, Riley was selected as the tenth pick in the first round of the2010 WPS DraftbyFC Gold Pride.While she played on her natural right wing-back position for the NZ Women's National Team, she played professionally as a left wing-back and had three assists in the 2010 run to the WPS championship byFC Gold Pride.Riley won the WPS Rookie of the Year award.

Western New York Flash[edit]

Riley signed forWestern New York Flashfor the 2011 season, becoming a free agent after FC Gold Pride failed to find financial backers.[7]

In the 2011 season Riley was a finalist for Defender of the year as the Flash swept both the league season title and then won the2011 WPS Championship.

In 2012, Riley re-signed withWestern New York Flashfor the 2012 season, however, the league folded before play began.

LdB FC Malmö/FC Rosengård[edit]

With the suspension of the WPS, she signed in 2012 withLdB FC Malmö,2011 Swedish League Champions. In her first game (the Supercupen), she assisted on the winning goal. She played her first full season in theDamallsvenskanin 2013. WithLdB FC Malmöshe finished top of the table.

In September 2013 Riley re-signed with LdB FC Malmö (since December 2013 renamed FC Rosengård) for the 2014 and 2015 seasons.FC Rosengårdagain won gold in theDamallsvenskanin 2014.

In March 2015 she played both at full-back and forward in her second Supercupen victory with Rosengård. In September 2015 she re-signed with Rosengård. The team went on to win the Damallsvenskan for the third straight year, earning Riley her fifth league championship in her eight-year career.

Chelsea[edit]

On 26 June 2018, it was announced that Riley would be leaving Rosengård in July to joinChelseain the EnglishFA Women's Super League.[8]

Bayern Munich[edit]

On 18 July 2019, Riley moved toBayern Munichof theFrauen-Bundesliga.[9]

Orlando Pride[edit]

On 10 February 2020, Ali Riley returned to the US and signed a one-year contract with an option for an additional year for theOrlando Pride.[10][11]The season was postponed due to thecoronavirus pandemicwith the NWSL eventually scheduling a smaller schedule2020 NWSL Challenge Cuptournament.[12][13]However, on 22 June 2020, the team withdrew from the tournament following positive COVID-19 tests among both players and staff.[14]

Loan to FC Rosengård[edit]

On 13 July 2020, having been unable to feature for the Pride, Riley returned to Sweden to be with her partner during the pandemic and rejoinedRosengårdon loan.[15]

Angel City FC, 2022–[edit]

On 27 January 2022, Riley was traded toAngel City FCin exchange for $15,000 in allocation money and a third-round pick in the2023 NWSL Draft.As a result of the trade, she was able to play in her hometown for the first time in her career.[16]During the club'sinaugural season,Riley was a starting defender in 19 of the 20 games she played and recorded 1,591 minutes on the pitch.[17]The club finished their first season in eighth place with a8–9–5record.[18]

During the2023 season,Riley started 15 of the 19 games she played.[17]She scored her first goal for the club during a 2–2 draw againstChicago Red Starson September 17.[19]Angel City finished in fifth place during the regular season and advanced to theplayoffsfor the first time[20]where they were eliminated byOL Reignin the quarter final match.[21]

International career[edit]

Riley playing for New Zealand in May 2011

Being US-born to a New Zealand father, Riley represented New Zealand at the2006 Women's U-20 World Cupfinals.[22]She made herseniordebut in a 5–0 loss toAustraliaon 6 February 2007,[23]and represented New Zealand at the2007 FIFA Women's World Cupin China,[24]where they lost 5–0 toBrazil,2–0 toDenmarkand 2–0 toChina.[25]

Riley also played every minute for the New Zealand squad in the2008 Summer Olympicswhere they drew withJapan(2–2) before losing toNorway(1–0) and theUnited States(4–0).[26] Riley's first international goal was scored in the final of the OFC Women's Nations Cup as New Zealand qualified for the2011 FIFA Women's World Cupwith an 11–0 win overPapua New Guinea. [27]

On 27 June 2011, Riley earned her 50th A-international cap in a 2–1 loss toJapanin New Zealand's opening group stage match at the2011 FIFA Women's World Cup.[28]In the final seconds of extra time in the match v. Mexico she assisted on the tying goal that gave the Football Ferns their first point in a World Cup group stage.

In the2012 OlympicsRiley played every minute of the Football Ferns' four games. In the preliminary round games the Ferns lost 1–0 to Great Britain and Brazil and beat Cameroon 3–1. This was the first victory by a NZ football team in the Olympics. With the victory the Ferns advanced to the second round based on goal differential. In the quarter-final the Ferns played the USA losing 2–0.

In 2013 Riley started for New Zealand in a series of games establishing the Football Ferns as a growing force in international competition. The Ferns won the Vallais Cup beating #4 Brazil 1–0 and #16 China 4–0 and also had ties playing #10 Australia, #3 Japan and #1 USA.

She featured in all New Zealand's three matches at the2015 FIFA Women's World Cupin Canada.[29]

In the2016 Rio OlympicsRiley played every minute of the Football Ferns' three games. The Ferns lost 2–0 toUSA,3–0 toFranceand beatColombia1–0.

Riley has been the captain of the Football Ferns since the2017 Cyprus Cup.

In April 2019, Riley was named to the final 23-player squad for the2019 FIFA Women's World Cup.[30]

On 20 July 2023, Riley captained New Zealand in the country's first World Cup victory ever. In the opening game of the2023 FIFA Women's World Cup,New Zealand beat Norway 1–0.[31]

Other work[edit]

Media[edit]

Kelley O'Haraand Riley host the Just Women's Sports pregame show before the 2022 NWSL Championship.

In 2021 Riley started hosting anOff the Ballshow for sports websiteJust Women's Sports.[32][33]

Books[edit]

In 2023, Riley released a cookbook featuring plant-based recipes titledGirls Gone Vegwith her former Orlando Pride teammateToni Pressley.[34]

Personal life[edit]

Riley is ofChinesedescent.[35]Her father John Riley is a nativeNew Zealanderand her mother Bev Lowe isChinese-American.They first met when both worked with theRAND Corporation.[36]

Riley became engaged to her fiancee Lucas Warrer Nilsson in March 2024.[37]

Career statistics[edit]

Club[edit]

As of match played 26 April 2024.[38]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup[a] Continental[b] Other[c] Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Pali Blues 2009 USL W-League 7 0 — — 3 0 10 0
FC Gold Pride 2010 WPS 23 0 — — 1 0 24 0
Western New York Flash 2011 15 0 — — 1 0 16 0
Total 45 0 — — 5 0 50 0
Rosengård 2012 Damallsvenskan 19 0 1 0 5 0 1 0 26 0
2013 20 1 — 3 0 — 23 1
2014 19 1 — 6 0 — 25 1
2015 21 1 5 0 6 0 1 0 33 1
2016 22 0 4 0 6 0 1 0 33 0
2017 21 1 5 0 4 0 — 30 1
2018 10 0 5 0 — — 15 0
Total 132 4 20 0 30 0 3 0 185 4
Chelsea 2018–19 FA WSL 9 0 1 0 2 0 4 2 16 2
Bayern Munich 2019–20 Bundesliga 3 0 1 0 3 0 — 7 0
Orlando Pride 2020[d] NWSL — — — — —
2021 20 0 4 0 — — 24 0
Total 32 0 6 0 5 0 4 2 47 2
Rosengård(loan) 2020 Damallsvenskan 17 1 1 0 — — 18 1
Angel City FC 2022 NWSL 20 2 6 0 — — 26 2
2023 18 1 4 0 — 1 0 19 1
2024 5 0 — — — 5 0
Total 43 3 10 0 — 1 0 50 3
Career total 269 8 37 0 35 0 13 2 354 10
  1. ^Includes theSvenska Cupen,FA Cup,DFB-Pokal,NWSL Challenge Cup
  2. ^Includes theUEFA Champions League
  3. ^Includes the USL W-League playoffs, WPS playoffs,Svenska Supercupen,FA League Cup,NWSL Playoffs
  4. ^The 2020 Season ended up cancelled due toCovid-19and Riley didn't take part in theNWSL Challenge Cupbefore leaving for Sweden

International goals[edit]

New Zealand score listed first, score column indicates score after each Riley goal.
International goals by date, venue, opponent, score, result and competition
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition Ref.
1 8 October 2010 North Harbour Stadium,Auckland,New Zealand Papua New Guinea 1–0 11–0 2010 OFC Championship [39]
2 6 September 2022 Titan Stadium,Fullerton Philippines 2–1 2–1 Friendly

Honours[edit]

FC Gold Pride

Western New York Flash

FC Rosengård (formerly LdB FC Malmö)

New Zealand

Individual

  • Nike Junior Women's Player of the Year 2006
  • Nike National Women's Player of the Year 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011
  • Oceania Football Confederation Women's Player of the Year 2009, 2010
  • FIFPRO World XIshort-list (55 players): 2016, 2017[40]
  • IFFHS OFC Woman Team of the Decade2011–2020[41]
  • WPS Rookie of the Year: 2010
  • WPS All Pro selection (First XI): 2010, 2011[42]
  • Damallsvenskan All Star Selection (First XI): 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017
  • All-Pac-10 freshman first team: 2006
  • TopDrawerSoccer.comTeam of the Season: 2009
  • All-Pacific Region first team: 2009
  • All-Pac-10 first team: 2009
  • Pac-10 women's soccer Scholar-Athlete of the Year: 2009
  • Stanford University, Pat Strathairn Best Competitive Athlete Award: 2010

Orders

References[edit]

  1. ^abc"List of Players – 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup"(PDF).Fédération Internationale de Football Association.Retrieved20 June2015.
  2. ^"NZ Football – HOME".www.nzfootball.co.nz.
  3. ^"Football Ferns squad revealed for World Cup".The New Zealand Herald.29 April 2019.
  4. ^"Caps 'n' Goals, New Zealand Women's national representatives".The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website.Retrieved11 June2009.
  5. ^"LA Breakers FC".
  6. ^ab"Ali Riley player profile".Stanford University. Archived fromthe originalon 19 February 2012.Retrieved23 February2013.
  7. ^"Western New York snaps up Riley".NZ Football. 13 December 2010. Archived fromthe originalon 25 July 2011.
  8. ^"Ali Riley: Chelsea Women to sign New Zealand defender from FC Rosengard".BBC Sport.26 June 2018.Retrieved9 July2018.
  9. ^"CHELSEA WOMEN DEPARTURE AS ALI RILEY MOVES TO BAYERN MUNICH".Chelsea FC. 18 July 2019.Retrieved18 July2019.
  10. ^"Orlando Pride Signs New Zealand Women's National Team Defender Ali Riley".www.orlandocitysc.com.
  11. ^Rosen, Haley (10 February 2020),Ali Riley talks her return to the US,Just Women's Sports
  12. ^"NWSL, CPL delay start of 2020 seasons due to Covid-19".SportBusiness.21 March 2020.
  13. ^"NWSL announces 2020 Challenge Cup presented by P&G and Secret".www.nwslsoccer.com.
  14. ^"Orlando Pride Statement Regarding 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup Participation".www.orlandocitysc.com.
  15. ^"Orlando Pride Defender Ali Riley Loaned to FC Rosengård".Orlando City SC. 13 July 2020.Retrieved13 July2020.
  16. ^"Orlando Pride Acquire 2023 Draft Pick, Allocation Money from Angel City FC".www.orlandocitysc.com.
  17. ^ab"A. Riley".SoccerWay.Retrieved23 March2024.
  18. ^"2022 Angel City FC".Soccerway.Retrieved23 March2024.
  19. ^"Ali Riley and Jun Endo score as Angel City plays Chicago to draw".Los Angeles Times.18 September 2023.Retrieved23 March2024.
  20. ^"Angel City FC season preview: Aiming to become contenders".Los Angeles Daily News. 15 March 2024.Retrieved23 March2024.
  21. ^"Reign edge Angel City in NWSL quarterfinals as Rose Lavelle returns in Megan Rapinoe's final home game".The Athletic.Retrieved23 March2024.
  22. ^"Sixty seconds with: Ali Riley".Herald on Sunday.15 May 2016.Retrieved11 September2018.
  23. ^"Caps 'n' Goals, New Zealand Women's national representatives".The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website.Retrieved22 September2008.
  24. ^"New Zealand Squad List, 2007 Women's World Cup".FIFA. Archived fromthe originalon 13 July 2008.Retrieved22 September2008.
  25. ^"Tournament Statistics – New Zealand".FIFA. Archived fromthe originalon 13 July 2008.Retrieved24 September2008.
  26. ^"Olympic Football Squads Named".New Zealand Olympic Committee. 4 July 2008. Archived fromthe originalon 5 July 2008.Retrieved4 July2008.
  27. ^"Football Ferns reach World Cup in style".NZFootball.com. 8 October 2010. Archived fromthe originalon 25 July 2011.
  28. ^"Football Ferns move on".Archived fromthe originalon 3 July 2011.Retrieved3 July2011.
  29. ^"FIFA player's stats".FIFA.Archived fromthe originalon 24 October 2012.Retrieved28 June2015.
  30. ^"Football Ferns squad revealed for World Cup".28 April 2019 – via www.nzherald.co.nz.
  31. ^McIntyre, Doug (20 July 2023)."New Zealand makes history with country's first World Cup victory ever".Fox Sports.Retrieved20 July2023.
  32. ^Hruby, Emma (28 June 2022)."Off the Ball with Ali Riley launches third season with new flavor".Just Women's Sports.Retrieved4 November2022.
  33. ^Louie, Jesse (8 April 2021)."Off the Ball with Ali Riley, Ep 1: Marta Magic".Just Women's Sports.Retrieved4 November2022.
  34. ^"On Her Mark: Soccer pros discuss new 'Girls Gone Veg' cookbook".NBC Sports Boston.28 November 2023.Retrieved13 March2024.
  35. ^"NWSL preseason preview: Ali Riley on reckoning with her identity and inspiring Asian-American girls to play".17 March 2021.
  36. ^Culpepper, Chuck. "Ali Riley, the California-born co-captain of New Zealand, welcomes the world,"The Washington Post,Monday, July 17, 2023.Retrieved May 18, 2024.
  37. ^"Instagram".
  38. ^"Ali Riley player profile".Soccerway.Retrieved11 February2020.
  39. ^"OFC 2010 final New Zealand 11 – 0 Papua New Guinea".Archived fromthe originalon 3 March 2016.
  40. ^"FIFPRO 2017 Voting on World Best XI".
  41. ^"IFFHS WOMAN TEAM – OFC – OF THE DECADE 2011–2020".IFFHS.31 January 2021.
  42. ^"WPS announces best XI of 2011".WPS. 7 September 2011. Archived fromthe originalon 14 January 2012.Retrieved7 September2011.
  43. ^"New Year Honours 2024: the full list".The New Zealand Herald.30 December 2023.Retrieved30 December2023.

External links[edit]

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