Ashley Hatch Bio
Ashley Marie Hatch (born May 25, 1995) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a forward for the Washington Spirit of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) and the United States women’s national team. Standing 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m), she is recognized as a reliable goal scorer and a consistent contributor in league play. Hatch rose to national attention after winning the NWSL Rookie of the Year award in 2017 and later captured the NWSL Golden Boot and NWSL Championship in 2021 with the Spirit.
Selected as the second overall pick in the 2017 NWSL College Draft, Hatch has built a career defined by durability and a steady scoring touch. Across club and international stages, she has been a regular presence in starting lineups and a trusted finisher for her teams.
Early Life and Background
Ashley Marie Hatch was born on May 25, 1995, in San Dimas, California, United States. Although born in California, she spent most of her childhood growing up in Utah and Arizona, an upbringing that helped shape her athletic foundation. She is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a faith background that later connected her to her collegiate path. Hatch also has three younger siblings, reflecting a close family environment during her early years.
She attended Brigham Young University (BYU), where she played for the BYU Cougars women’s soccer team from 2013 to 2016 in the West Coast Conference (WCC). During her freshman season, she started all 21 games, scored six goals and added seven assists, quickly establishing herself as a young talent to watch. Her early performances earned her All-WCC Freshman Team honors and several other regional accolades that highlighted her scoring instinct.
Path to Professional Soccer
Hatch’s college career steadily built her reputation as one of the top attacking players in the country. As a sophomore in 2014, she set a BYU school record with 15 shots in a single match, scored 18 goals and tied for the fifth highest goal total in program history. She was named WCC Co-Player of the Year and earned All-WCC First Team and NSCAA All-West Region First Team honors. By her junior season in 2015, Top Drawer Soccer ranked her as the best player in the West Coast Conference, a distinction she held again in 2016.
Her senior year in 2016 was particularly decisive. Hatch scored a hat-trick against Penn State in August and was named NCAA and WCC Player of the Week. She started all 20 matches, scored 19 goals and recorded six assists, earning a semifinalist nod for the Hermann Trophy and a No. 7 national ranking by Top Drawer Soccer. This momentum led directly to her selection as the second overall pick by the North Carolina Courage in the 2017 NWSL College Draft, beginning her professional career.
Ashley Hatch Career
Early Career (2017)
Ashley Marie Hatch signed with the North Carolina Courage on April 10, 2017, and made her professional debut in a 1–0 win over Portland Thorns FC on April 17. She scored her first professional goal on June 3 during a 2–0 victory against FC Kansas City and added multiple game-winning goals throughout the season. Hatch appeared in 24 matches, scoring seven goals and providing one assist while helping the Courage post a 16–7–1 regular season record.
The Courage secured the NWSL Shield as the league’s regular-season champions and qualified for the playoffs. Hatch capped her debut year by being named the NWSL Rookie of the Year. She also joined Melbourne City on loan for the 2017–18 W-League season in Australia, where she made 14 appearances, scored twice and helped the club win a third consecutive W-League Grand Final title against Sydney FC.
Washington Spirit Breakthrough (2018–2021)
In January 2018, Hatch was traded to the Washington Spirit along with Taylor Smith in exchange for the rights to Crystal Dunn. She made her Spirit debut on March 24, 2018, in a 2–1 loss to Seattle Reign and finished that season with a team-high four goals in 22 starts. In 2019, she started all 24 games, matched her rookie output with seven goals and two assists, and continued to develop as the team’s primary forward.
Her standout season came in 2021, when Hatch scored 10 goals in 20 regular-season games to win the NWSL Golden Boot as the league’s top scorer. She scored the winning goal in a 1–0 playoff quarterfinal win over the North Carolina Courage in extra time and helped the Spirit defeat the Chicago Red Stars 2–1 in extra time to win the NWSL Championship. Hatch was named to the NWSL Best XI that year, cementing her reputation as one of the league’s elite forwards.
Washington Spirit Era (2022–Present)
Hatch continued to be Washington’s offensive leader in 2022, scoring nine goals in 18 games and leading the Spirit to the 2022 NWSL Challenge Cup Final. In 2023, she scored 11 goals with two assists in 22 starts and was named to the NWSL Second XI. The 2024 season saw her score seven goals with three assists in 24 games, as the Spirit finished second in the league behind the Orlando Pride and reached the NWSL Championship game, where they fell 1–0.
Her tenure has been marked by consistency, scoring in double digits across multiple seasons and serving as a dependable penalty taker in high-pressure moments. Hatch converted the opening penalty in a 2025 NWSL Challenge Cup shootout win over the Orlando Pride, helping the Spirit claim that title.
Playing Style and Strengths
Hatch is a traditional No. 9 forward known for her positioning inside the penalty area, intelligent movement and efficient finishing with both feet and her head. She excels at poacher’s goals, capitalizing on rebounds and service from wide players, and has developed into a reliable penalty taker. Her durability, evidenced by starting most matches across multiple seasons, allows coaches to build attacking systems around her consistent presence up top.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among her signature moments, Hatch scored 24 seconds into a U.S. women’s national team friendly against Australia in November 2021 to record her first international goal. She also scored a brace against her former club, the North Carolina Courage, on July 10, 2021, and delivered the extra-time winner against that same team in the 2021 NWSL playoffs. Her 2021 Golden Boot and NWSL Championship double established her as one of the defining players of that NWSL season.
Ashley Hatch Career Wins
Ashley Marie Hatch has compiled an impressive list of team and individual achievements across multiple leagues and competitions. With the North Carolina Courage she won the 2017 NWSL Shield, and with Melbourne City she helped secure a third consecutive W-League Grand Final title in the 2017–18 season. At the Washington Spirit, she won the 2021 NWSL Championship and the 2025 NWSL Challenge Cup, while individually she earned the 2017 NWSL Rookie of the Year, the 2021 NWSL Golden Boot, and selections to the 2021 NWSL Best XI and the 2023 NWSL Second XI.
NWSL Highlights
Hatch has been a consistent scoring force in the NWSL since her rookie season. Her first NWSL goal came on June 3, 2017, against FC Kansas City, and she has since tallied multiple double-digit goal seasons, including 10 in 2021, 11 in 2023 and 9 in 2022. Her most recent championship-level win came in the 2025 NWSL Challenge Cup final, where she converted a penalty in the shootout victory over the Orlando Pride.
Other Wins and Performances
On the international stage, Hatch made her senior United States debut on October 19, 2016, in a friendly against Switzerland and has continued to receive national team call-ups in subsequent years. She was named to the U.S. U-23 squad for the 2018 Nordic tournament and returned to the senior team for two 2021 friendlies in Australia, where she scored her first international goal.
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Ashley Hatch Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Ashley Marie Hatch was raised in California, Utah and Arizona, where she grew up alongside three younger siblings. She is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and attended Brigham Young University, where her faith and family upbringing supported her development as a student-athlete. Her sister, Brianna Hatch, played for the Utah Valley University soccer team in 2018 and 2019.
Marriage and Off-Field Role
Hatch married Jeff Van Buren in 2019, and the couple continues to share a family life alongside her professional commitments. Beyond her playing career, she served as a volunteer assistant coach for the Utah Valley Wolverines during the 2018 season. In July 2024, she was one of five active NWSL players who represented the NWSL Players Association at final negotiations in Philadelphia that updated the league’s collective bargaining agreement through 2030, highlighting her growing influence off the pitch.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 NWSL season has positioned Ashley Marie Hatch as a central figure for the Washington Spirit as they build on their 2024 runner-up finish. After helping the Spirit capture the 2025 NWSL Challenge Cup with a penalty shootout win over the Orlando Pride, Hatch entered the regular season carrying the momentum of a major early trophy. Her experience as a reliable penalty taker and proven double-digit scorer gives Washington’s attack a dependable focal point.
Across her career, Hatch has shown a consistent ability to produce in critical moments, from extra-time playoff goals to clutch spot kicks. That reliability, paired with her understanding of head coach Mark Parsons’ system, makes her an essential contributor to the Spirit’s push for the 2025 NWSL Championship.
As the season unfolds, Hatch’s blend of veteran poise and finishing efficiency places her among the league’s most respected forwards. With the collective bargaining agreement secured through 2030 and the Spirit’s roster strengthened around her, her outlook for the 2025 campaign remains strong, supported by a stable environment and a track record of producing when it matters most.