Alyssa Malonson Bio
Alyssa Michelle Malonson (born April 9, 1999) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a left back for Bay FC of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). A graduate of the Auburn University soccer program, she turned professional in 2022 after a decorated college career in the Southeastern Conference. She has represented Bay FC, OL Reign, and Danish side FC Nordsjælland at club level, and earned her first senior call-up to the United States women’s national team in 2024.
Standing at 5 feet 4 inches, Malonson is recognized for her endurance, defensive reading of the game, and consistency on the left flank. She is regarded as one of the most reliable left backs to come out of the SEC in recent years, having left Auburn as the program’s all-time leader in games played, games started, and consecutive games started.
Early Life and Background
Alyssa Michelle Malonson was born on April 9, 1999, in Spring, Texas, a suburb north of Houston. Growing up in a region known for producing competitive youth athletes, she was introduced to soccer at a young age and quickly developed a passion for the sport.
As a youth player, Malonson played as a winger for Challenge Soccer Club in Texas, where she built the technical foundation and tactical awareness that would later define her career. Her time in the Houston-area youth system gave her early exposure to high-level competition and helped shape her transition into the college ranks.
Path to Soccer
Malonson committed to Auburn University, where she joined the Auburn Tigers women’s soccer program in 2017. Over five seasons with the Tigers, she became a cornerstone of the team’s back line and one of the most durable players in program history. By the time she completed her collegiate career, she had set Auburn records for games played, games started, and consecutive games started.
Her senior season in 2021 marked her arrival as one of the top defenders in college soccer. Malonson was named the Southeastern Conference Defender of the Year and earned second-team All-American honors, cementing her status as a professional prospect. Originally selected 20th overall by the North Carolina Courage in the 2021 NWSL Draft, she chose to return to Auburn for a fifth year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a decision that allowed her to complete her degree and refine her game before entering the professional ranks.
Alyssa Malonson Career
Early Career (2022)
Malonson began her professional journey in 2022 when OL Reign acquired her rights from the North Carolina Courage and signed her ahead of the NWSL season. With first-team minutes limited in Seattle, the club arranged a loan move to give her consistent playing time in a competitive environment abroad.
In July 2022, she was loaned to Danish club FC Nordsjælland for the remainder of the year. She made 13 appearances for Nordsjælland during the Kvindeligaen season, gaining valuable senior experience as the Danish side finished fourth in the league.
OL Reign Breakthrough (2022–2023)
Following her stint in Denmark, Malonson returned to OL Reign and made her NWSL debut in a Challenge Cup match against Angel City FC on April 19, 2023. The debut marked the culmination of a long wait that began with her original draft selection in 2021.
Her time with OL Reign provided her first sustained exposure to the NWSL and helped her adjust to the pace and physicality of professional soccer in the United States. The experience prepared her for the next major step in her career.
Bay FC Era (2024–Present)
On December 15, 2023, Malonson was selected as the first pick in the 2024 NWSL expansion draft by Bay FC, the league’s newest franchise. The selection signaled Bay FC’s intent to build its defensive foundation around a proven, durable left back.
Malonson made her Bay FC debut in the club’s inaugural match, a 1–0 victory over Angel City FC on March 17, 2024. Throughout her first season, she competed for minutes at left back with teammate Savy King and finished the year with 22 regular-season appearances. On June 7, 2025, she scored her first professional goal, opening the scoring in Bay FC’s 1–0 win over Portland Thorns FC. On March 9, 2026, Malonson was placed on the Season-Ending Injury list after suffering an ACL tear during preseason training.
Driving Style and Strengths
On the left flank, Malonson combines the technical instincts she developed as a youth winger with the discipline of a natural defender. Her strengths include consistent positioning, endurance over long matches, and the ability to support attacking transitions while maintaining defensive shape. Her partnership with various defensive units has been central to her growth as a professional.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Malonson’s signature moments are her selection as the first-ever expansion draft pick by Bay FC, her role in the club’s inaugural victory, and her first professional goal against the Portland Thorns. Her placement on the Season-Ending Injury list in March 2026 marked a difficult turning point, pausing a career that had been steadily on the rise.
Alyssa Malonson Career Wins
Throughout her professional journey, Alyssa Michelle Malonson has collected a series of milestone achievements rather than major trophy wins, with her most celebrated successes coming at the college and personal-record level. Her career has been defined by durability, defensive excellence, and consistent appearances across multiple clubs and leagues.
College and Club Highlights
Malonson’s most notable individual honors came during her final season at Auburn in 2021, when she was named the Southeastern Conference Defender of the Year and a second-team All-American. She left Auburn as the program’s all-time leader in games played, games started, and consecutive games started, records that underscore her remarkable consistency over five collegiate seasons.
At the professional level, she has accumulated 13 appearances in the Danish Kvindeligaen with FC Nordsjælland and 22 regular-season appearances in her debut season with Bay FC, along with her first professional goal scored in June 2025.
Alyssa Malonson Family
Family Background and Soccer Lineage
Malonson was raised in Spring, Texas, in the greater Houston area, where she developed her early passion for soccer. Specific details about her parents and immediate family are not widely documented in public sources.
Personal Life
Malonson maintains an active presence on social media, where she shares updates about her professional career and recovery process. Public records regarding marital status, spouse, or children are not currently available.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 NWSL season represented a year of continued growth for Alyssa Michelle Malonson and Bay FC. Coming off a strong 2024 debut campaign, she entered the year as an established starter on the left side of the team’s defense and a leader within the relatively young Bay FC squad.
A defining moment came on June 7, 2025, when Malonson scored her first professional goal, a first-half finish that powered Bay FC to a 1–0 victory over Portland Thorns FC. The goal was a milestone in her career and a sign of her growing attacking contribution from the left-back position.
Her season was cut short by a preseason ACL tear sustained ahead of the 2026 campaign, an injury that placed her on the Season-Ending Injury list in March 2026. Despite the setback, her performances throughout 2025 reinforced her reputation as one of the NWSL’s most dependable left backs and a cornerstone of Bay FC’s defensive identity.