Abby Smith

Abby Smith Bio

Abigail Mackenzie Smith, known professionally as Abby Smith, is an American professional soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for Denver Summit FC of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). Standing 5 feet 9 inches tall, Smith wears the number 1 jersey and has built a reputation as a dependable shot-stopper since turning professional in 2016. Over the course of her career, she has played for Boston Breakers, Utah Royals, Kansas City, Portland Thorns, NJ/NY Gotham FC, and Houston Dash.

Smith has been part of two NWSL Championship-winning teams, lifting the trophy with the Portland Thorns in 2022 and with NJ/NY Gotham FC in 2023. She also represented the United States at the under-17, under-20, and under-23 levels, and was called up to senior national team camps without earning a cap.

Early Life and Background

Abigail Mackenzie Smith was born on October 4, 1993, in Portland, Oregon, and was raised in Plano, Texas. She began playing soccer in elementary school and quickly gravitated toward the goalkeeper position. Her early years in Texas helped shape her competitive foundation and introduced her to high-level youth competition.

From 2005 to 2012, Smith played club soccer for the Dallas Texans 94 Red Soccer Club. During the 2011–12 season, the team ranked first nationally in the ESPNHS Elite Clubs National League. Smith captained the side for four years and helped the team win the Nike Cup in Portland, Oregon, and the Gothia Cup in Gothenburg, Sweden, in 2008. She also participated in the Olympic Development Program from 2005 to 2010 and was a member of the Region III ODP Team, earning the US Youth Soccer ODP National Championship Golden Glove.

Smith attended Plano West High School, where she was the starting goalkeeper on the girls’ soccer team before graduating a semester early to facilitate travel with the national team. She was twice named a National Soccer Coaches Association of America Youth All-America honoree in 2010 and 2011 and was named Parade Magazine All-American in 2010. Top Drawer Soccer ranked her as the 13th-best player in the United States and the second-best player in Texas, while ESPNHS ranked her fifth among college prospects nationally.

Path to Professional Soccer

Smith committed to the University of Texas and played for the Texas Longhorns from 2012 to 2015. During her freshman year, she became the starting goalkeeper in the final 12 matches of the season, allowing eight goals and making 34 saves. She set a new Texas record for lowest goals-against average by a rookie goalkeeper at 0.63 and tied the school record for shutouts by a freshman with seven.

In her sophomore season, Smith started all 20 matches and scored her first career goal off a 50-yard free kick. She recorded a 0.78 goals-against average and made 72 saves with eight shutouts, earning Big 12 Conference Defensive Player of the Week honors. By her junior year, she tied the school record with nine shutouts in a single season and was named to the All-Big 12 Conference first team. During her senior year, Smith was a national finalist for the 2015 Senior Class Award and set a new school career shutout record with her 30th clean sheet on October 30, 2015.

Smith entered the 2016 NWSL College Draft and was selected in the third round by the Boston Breakers, officially beginning her professional career.

Abby Smith Career

Early Career (2016–2017)

Smith signed with the Boston Breakers in April 2016 and made an immediate impression before suffering a season-ending knee injury in just her second match. The injury strained her ACL and tore her patellar tendon, sidelining her for the remainder of her rookie year.

After extensive rehabilitation, Smith returned healthy and won the starting goalkeeper job for the 2017 season. Although she required a platelet-rich plasma injection in her previously injured knee and missed time, she still appeared in 19 matches for the Breakers, demonstrating her resilience and work ethic.

Utah Royals Era (2018–2020)

Following the Boston Breakers folding prior to the 2018 NWSL season, Smith was selected by the Utah Royals with the fifth pick in the Breakers Dispersal Draft on January 30, 2018. She appeared in 17 matches during the 2018 season, leading the Royals to their first franchise win on May 5 and earning NWSL Team of the Month honors in May after recording three shutouts.

Smith signed a new contract in March 2019 but did not make a single league appearance for the Royals during the 2019 season. Seeking minutes, she went on loan to the Western Sydney Wanderers in Australia, where she appeared in eight matches and helped the club reach the W-League finals for the first time.

Portland Thorns and NWSL Championship (2021–2022)

After the sale of the Utah Royals, Smith was transferred to KC NWSL, where she split time with Nicole Barnhart before being traded to the Portland Thorns in August 2021. She made six league appearances for Kansas City before the move.

In Portland, Smith saw limited action during the 2021 season but played one league match and two Challenge Cup matches in 2022. The Thorns finished second in the regular season and went on to win the 2022 NWSL Championship, giving Smith her first professional league title. Following the season, she became part of the NWSL’s first class of free agents.

NJ/NY Gotham FC Era (2023–2024)

NJ/NY Gotham FC announced a three-year contract with Smith on November 28, 2022. She started 15 league matches in 2023, kept four clean sheets, and earned Team of the Month honors in May before suffering a season-ending injury during a 2–1 win against the San Diego Wave on August 19, 2023. Gotham finished the season sixth and won the 2023 NWSL Championship, awarding Smith her second league title.

Smith returned to the pitch 433 days after her injury, coming on as a substitute in the 2024 NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup Final against Kansas City Current on October 25, 2024.

Houston Dash Era (2025)

On January 15, 2025, the Houston Dash acquired Smith in exchange for US$20,000 in intraleague transfer funds. She joined the Dash as an experienced goalkeeper coming off a long injury recovery.

Denver Summit Era (2026–Present)

On December 3, 2025, NWSL expansion team Denver Summit FC signed Smith to a two-year contract with a mutual option for another year. The move positioned her as a veteran presence for the league’s newest franchise.

Playing Style and Strengths

Smith is recognized for her shot-stopping reflexes, command of the penalty area, and ability to distribute the ball over long distances, including scoring goals from her own end on free kicks and punts. Her college and professional statistics reflect consistency in saves and shutouts, and her resilience through multiple knee injuries has highlighted her work ethic and mental toughness.

Notable Events and Milestones

Smith holds the University of Texas career shutout record with 30 clean sheets and has won two NWSL Championships, with Portland in 2022 and Gotham in 2023. She also holds the Texas rookie record for lowest goals-against average and tied the school record for shutouts by a freshman. Her return from a 433-day injury layoff in the 2024 Summer Cup Final stands as one of the most dramatic comeback moments of her career.

Abby Smith Career Wins

Smith has accumulated individual and team accolades throughout her youth, college, and professional career, highlighted by two NWSL Championships.

NWSL Highlights

Smith earned her first NWSL Championship with the Portland Thorns in 2022 and her second with NJ/NY Gotham FC in 2023. She was named to the NWSL Team of the Month in May 2018 with the Utah Royals and again in May 2023 with Gotham, marking two of her most celebrated individual league honors.

Other Wins and Performances

Beyond her league achievements, Smith won the Nike Cup in Portland and the Gothia Cup in Gothenburg with the Dallas Texans in 2008. She also earned the US Youth Soccer ODP National Championship Golden Glove and was twice named a NSCAA Youth All-American in 2010 and 2011. During her senior season at Texas, she was a national finalist for the Senior Class Award and was named ESPNW Player of the Week.

Abby Smith Family

Family Background and Soccer Lineage

Smith was raised in Plano, Texas, after being born in Portland, Oregon. She captained the Dallas Texans 94 Red Soccer Club for four years and credited her club environment with shaping her competitive development.

Personal Life

Smith’s educational path included attending Plano West High School before graduating a semester early to join national team travel. She went on to attend the University of Texas from 2012 to 2015, where she balanced academics and athletics as a multi-year Academic All-Big 12 honoree.

2025 Season Performance

Smith began 2025 with the Houston Dash after being acquired on January 15, 2025, for US$20,000 in intraleague transfer funds. The move marked a fresh start following her recovery from a season-ending injury sustained in August 2023 with Gotham.

As an experienced goalkeeper with two NWSL Championships to her name, Smith brought veteran leadership to a Houston squad looking to stabilize its defensive line. Her presence offered competition and depth at the goalkeeper position throughout the campaign.

Looking ahead, Smith signed with expansion side Denver Summit FC on December 3, 2025, joining the club on a two-year contract with a mutual option for an additional year. The signing positioned her as a foundational figure for the new franchise entering its inaugural NWSL season in 2026.