Abby Dahlkemper Bio
Abigail Lynn Dahlkemper, known professionally as Abby Dahlkemper, is an American professional soccer player who plays as a center back for Bay FC of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) and the United States national team. Standing 5 foot 7 inches tall, she has been a central figure in American soccer since her college days at UCLA, where she helped the Bruins win the 2013 NCAA championship. She is widely recognized for her composure in central defense, her high soccer IQ, and her ability to read the game at the highest level of the women’s game.
Born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania and raised in the Bay Area, Dahlkemper has represented the United States at every youth level before graduating to the senior squad. She earned a FIFA Women’s World Cup winner’s medal in 2019 and has since added an Olympic bronze medal from the Tokyo 2020 Games. In 2017, she was voted the NWSL Defender of the Year, cementing her reputation as one of the top defenders in the league.
Early Life and Background
Abby Dahlkemper was born on May 13, 1993 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania to Andrew and Susan Dahlkemper. She grew up alongside her two brothers, Andrew and Joseph, and was raised in Menlo Park, California after her family relocated to the West Coast. The Bay Area community became central to her identity, and she has often spoken of her strong ties to the region.
She attended Sacred Heart Preparatory in Atherton, California, where she starred on the school’s soccer team. In 2010, her senior year, she was named the Gatorade California Girls Soccer Player of the Year and earned Parade All-American honors. She also played youth club soccer for the MVLA Avalanche from 2005 to 2010, sharpening her skills in one of the country’s most competitive youth pipelines before committing to UCLA.
Path to Soccer
Dahlkemper joined the UCLA Bruins in 2011 and quickly developed into one of the top college defenders in the country. As a sophomore in 2013, she helped UCLA capture the program’s first NCAA Division I Women’s Soccer Championship. The following year she received the Honda Sports Award as the nation’s top collegiate women’s soccer player, completing one of the most decorated individual college careers in the country.
At the international level, she represented the United States at the U-17, U-20, and U-23 levels. With the U-23 team, she helped the squad win the 2013 and 2014 Four Nations and Six Nations Tournaments. Her first senior cap arrived in October 2016, and after recovering from a serious sepsis infection she became a permanent fixture in the U.S. Women’s National Team back line by 2017.
Abby Dahlkemper Career
Early Career (2013–2014)
While still in college, Dahlkemper signed with the Pali Blues of the W-League for the 2013 summer season. The Pali Blues won both the western conference title and the national championship that year, giving her an early taste of trophy-winning soccer. In 2014 she returned to the W-League, this time with the LA Blues, continuing her development as a polished ball-playing center back.
She returned to UCLA for her senior year, won the Honda Sports Award, and declared for the 2015 NWSL College Draft. Her performances at the college and amateur level had established her as a lock for a top selection, and her professional path was set.
Western New York Flash and Adelaide United (2015–2016)
In January 2015, the Western New York Flash selected Dahlkemper as the third overall pick in the NWSL College Draft. She signed with the club in March and made her professional debut in April. In October 2015, she joined Adelaide United in Australia’s W-League on loan for the 2015-16 season, gaining valuable international experience. Returning to the Flash, she helped the team win the 2016 NWSL Championship, her first professional league title.
North Carolina Courage (2017–2020)
Following the relocation of the Flash, Dahlkemper became a North Carolina Courage player in 2017. She played every minute of the 2017 season, helped the Courage claim the NWSL Shield, and was named to the 2017 NWSL Best XI. She was also voted the 2017 NWSL Defender of the Year, the league’s top individual honor for her position.
In 2018 she played 19 regular season matches for a Courage defense that set a league record for fewest goals conceded, repeated as NWSL Shield winners, and went on to lift the 2018 NWSL Championship with a 3-0 win over Portland. The following season Dahlkemper and the Courage completed a second consecutive league double in 2019, reinforcing their status as the dominant club of the era.
Manchester City and Houston Dash (2021)
On January 16, 2021, Dahlkemper signed with Manchester City of the English FA Women’s Super League on a two-and-a-half-year deal, becoming the third American international to join the club that season. Her time in England was cut short, and Manchester City announced on August 20, 2021, that she had departed. On August 29, 2021, the Houston Dash announced they had acquired her from the Courage, providing a return to the NWSL.
San Diego Wave FC (2022–2024)
On November 22, 2021, Dahlkemper was announced as the first-ever player signing by NWSL expansion side San Diego Wave FC. The 2022 season was a difficult one physically, as she fractured a rib in May and battled a back injury that ultimately led to a season-ending injury designation in October, forcing her to miss the playoffs. She underwent transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion surgery in November 2022 to relieve her sciatic nerve pain.
Dahlkemper returned to the field on August 5, 2023, in a Challenge Cup match against Angel City FC, and was named to the NWSL Best XI of the Month in her first month back. She continued as a regular starter through 2024 before her move to Bay FC.
Bay FC Era (2024–Present)
On August 26, 2024, Bay FC announced that they had acquired Dahlkemper from San Diego Wave FC in exchange for $50,000 in allocation money. She signed a contract extension through 2026, with an option for 2027. She debuted for her hometown team in a friendly against FC Barcelona, and scored her first Bay FC goal in a 3-1 road loss to the Portland Thorns, becoming the fifth NWSL player to score in back-to-back regular season matches for two different clubs.
Playing Style and Strengths
Dahlkemper is a calm, ball-playing center back whose strengths include reading the game, organizing the back line, and distributing accurately from the back. Her anticipation, positional discipline, and composure under pressure have made her a trusted partner for elite goalkeepers and a natural fit for teams that build from the back.
Notable Events and Milestones
In 2019, Dahlkemper started every match of the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup in France, playing nearly every minute as the United States defeated the Netherlands 2-0 in the final to claim a record fourth world title. She also earned an Olympic bronze medal at the Tokyo 2020 Games and was named to multiple NWSL Best XI teams across her career.
Abby Dahlkemper Career Wins
Across her career, Abby Dahlkemper has been part of championship-winning teams at the youth, college, club, and international levels. Her trophy cabinet includes an NCAA championship with UCLA in 2013, an NWSL Championship with the Western New York Flash in 2016, two NWSL Shields and two NWSL Championships with the North Carolina Courage in 2018 and 2019, a 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup title, and an Olympic bronze medal at Tokyo 2020.
NWSL Highlights
Dahlkemper’s NWSL journey has produced consistent winning form. She won the 2016 NWSL Championship with the Flash, then the 2018 and 2019 Shields and Championships with the Courage. She was named the 2017 NWSL Defender of the Year, has been a multi-time NWSL Best XI selection, and remains a respected veteran presence in the league.
International Achievements
At the international level, Dahlkemper won the 2018 SheBelieves Cup and Tournament of Nations with the U.S. Women’s National Team. She started every match of the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup, helping the United States win its fourth world title, and added an Olympic bronze medal at the Tokyo 2020 Games in 2021.
Abby Dahlkemper Family
Family Background and Soccer Lineage
Abby Dahlkemper is the daughter of Andrew and Susan Dahlkemper and grew up with her two brothers, Andrew and Joseph. The family moved from Lancaster, Pennsylvania to Menlo Park, California, where her parents supported her early athletic development and her soccer journey began in earnest.
Personal Life
Dahlkemper is married to Aaron Schoenfeld. The couple began dating in May 2019, announced their engagement in December 2020, and married in a private ceremony on January 5, 2021. In September 2025, they announced on Instagram that they were expecting their first child, and their son was born on February 25, 2026. In 2019, she also appeared in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue alongside teammates Crystal Dunn, Megan Rapinoe, and Alex Morgan.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 NWSL season has marked a homecoming chapter for Abby Dahlkemper with Bay FC, the league’s Bay Area expansion club. Acquired in August 2024 and signed through 2026, she has been a central defensive leader for a young roster trying to climb out of the league’s lower half. Her experience and communication from the back line have provided stability to a team still building its identity in just its second season.
On the international stage, Dahlkemper has continued to be available for the United States Women’s National Team while balancing her NWSL duties. Her long-standing partnership with Becky Sauerbrunn and her comfort in high-pressure matches make her a valuable option for the U.S. coaching staff as the program looks toward upcoming major tournaments.
Looking ahead, Dahlkemper is expected to remain a key figure for both Bay FC and the U.S. Women’s National Team. With a contract that runs through 2026 and a Bay Area fan base that already embraces her as a local product, her 2025 form is likely to shape the conversation around her legacy as one of the most decorated American defenders of her generation.