Catherine Barry Bio
Catherine Noelle Barry, born on December 16, 2001, in Hingham, Massachusetts, is an American professional soccer player. She plays as a forward for USL Super League club Lexington SC. Barry began her professional career briefly with the Chicago Stars in 2025 before joining Lexington SC, where she quickly emerged as one of the league’s most dangerous goal-scorers. Standing at 6 feet tall, she combines physical presence with a sharp eye for goal and has been recognized for her scoring touch in college and at the professional level.
Barry rose to national attention while playing college soccer for the South Carolina Gamecocks, where she set the program record with 51 career goals. She earned third-team All-American honors twice and was a consistent leader in scoring across all five of her college seasons. After turning professional, she made an immediate impact in the USL Super League and helped lead Lexington SC to a memorable debut season.
Early Life and Background
Catherine Noelle Barry was raised in Hingham, Massachusetts, and grew up in a household that emphasized athletics. She is one of four children born to her parents, Lauren and Christopher Barry. From an early age, Barry was involved in multiple sports, showing a natural ability to compete and a willingness to try new challenges.
Barry attended Tabor Academy, where she lettered in soccer, lacrosse, and basketball. In her junior year, she helped the basketball team reach the NEPSAC championship game, where the squad lost to a Worcester Academy team that featured future South Carolina star Aliyah Boston. On the soccer field, she became the program’s all-time top scorer with 88 goals and led Tabor Academy to the NEPSAC Class B championship in 2018. She was twice named NEPSAC Player of the Year and Massachusetts Gatorade Player of the Year during her high school career.
Outside of school soccer, Barry played in the Development Academy (DA) club system for NEFC, which had previously been known as the Boston Breakers Academy. Rated a four-star prospect by TopDrawerSoccer, she committed to the University of South Carolina as a high school sophomore, choosing the Gamecocks over several other programs.
Path to Professional Soccer
Barry’s journey toward the professional ranks accelerated during her time at Tabor Academy, where her scoring record and athletic versatility drew attention from top college programs. Her performances in the NEPSAC and for her club team NEFC helped establish her as one of the top young forwards in the country. By the time she graduated, she had already been invited into the United States under-20 player pool, signaling her standing on the national stage.
At the University of South Carolina, Barry became a focal point of the Gamecocks’ attack from her first season. Even with her freshman year shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic, she led the team in scoring with 6 goals and 4 assists in 16 games. She would go on to be the team’s top scorer in each of her five college seasons, a testament to her consistency and finishing ability.
Her development at South Carolina was steady and impressive. She earned first-team All-SEC honors multiple times, helped lead the Gamecocks to an SEC tournament title in 2022, and was twice named a third-team All-American. By the time she finished her college career, she held program records for both single-season goals and career goals, placing her among the most accomplished players in Gamecocks history.
Catherine Barry Career
Early Career (2020–2024)
Barry played her college soccer for the South Carolina Gamecocks from 2020 through 2024. Her freshman year was condensed by pandemic-era scheduling, but she still managed to lead the team in scoring. Over the next several seasons, she grew into a reliable scorer and a team leader, serving as one of the Gamecocks’ captains during her senior year.
Her junior season in 2022 stood out, as she set then-career highs with 10 goals and 7 assists in 24 games, helping South Carolina capture the SEC tournament title. In her final year, she scored 18 goals in 22 games, breaking program records and earning another All-American selection. By the end of her college career, she had accumulated 51 goals in 101 appearances, a record that cemented her legacy at South Carolina.
Chicago Stars Era (2025)
Barry joined the Chicago Stars of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) as a non-roster trialist during the 2025 preseason. On March 13, 2025, the club announced that they had signed her to her first professional contract on a roster relief deal. She made her professional debut the following day, entering as a late substitute in the season-opening 6–0 loss to the Orlando Pride.
On April 10, 2025, she signed a new short-term contract with Chicago that ran through June. She made four total appearances for the Stars during her time with the club. While her stay in the NWSL was brief, the experience provided a valuable bridge between her college career and her next professional opportunity.
Lexington SC Era (2025–Present)
On July 1, 2025, Barry signed a one-year contract with USL Super League expansion side Lexington SC. She made her club debut and her first professional start in the season-opening 3–3 draw with Fort Lauderdale United on August 24. The following game, she scored her first professional goals in her home debut at Lexington SC Stadium, netting twice in a 2–0 win over Brooklyn FC. The day after that match, Lexington announced a new two-year contract for Barry that runs through the summer of 2027.
Her debut season in Lexington was record-breaking. On November 22, she scored in a 1–1 draw with the Tampa Bay Sun as Lexington opened the season by breaking the league record for consecutive games unbeaten. In early 2026, she continued to be a central figure as the team’s unbeaten run stretched to 17 games. On April 1, 2026, Barry’s second goal in a 2–0 win over DC Power FC vaulted her into the Golden Boot lead, and two weeks later she scored her first professional hat trick in a 4–0 victory over Tampa Bay. She finished her debut season with 16 goals in 28 games and 4 assists, setting league records for single-season goals and goal contributions.
Notable Events and Milestones
Barry’s debut USL Super League season was filled with milestones. She set the league’s single-season goal record, was a key figure in Lexington’s worst-to-first surge to win the Players’ Shield, and earned first-team All-League honors. In the playoffs, she scored a goal in the semifinal win over the Dallas Trinity and assisted the equalizer in the final against the Carolina Ascent, helping Lexington become the first team in the league to complete the double.
Catherine Barry Career Wins
Catherine Noelle Barry’s professional career is still in its early stages, but she has already built a strong résumé. After a short stint with the Chicago Stars, she joined Lexington SC and quickly became one of the most productive forwards in the USL Super League. Her debut season in 2026 ended with the USL Super League Golden Boot and a league record 16 goals in 28 games.
USL Super League Highlights
Barry made an immediate impact at Lexington SC, scoring twice in her home debut and continuing to find the back of the net throughout the season. She set the league’s single-season goal record, helped the club win the Players’ Shield, and finished as a finalist for the league’s Player of the Year award. Her contributions helped Lexington complete a historic double in its inaugural USL Super League campaign.
Other Wins and Performances
During her college career at South Carolina, Barry helped the Gamecocks win the SEC tournament title in 2022 and was twice named a third-team All-American. She also made two international appearances for the United States under-20 team in December 2019.
Catherine Barry Family
Family Background and Soccer Lineage
Catherine Noelle Barry is one of four children raised in Hingham, Massachusetts, by her parents Lauren and Christopher Barry. Her family supported her athletic pursuits throughout her youth, and she grew up playing multiple sports in a competitive environment. Her development as a multi-sport athlete at Tabor Academy was supported by her family’s encouragement of her competitive drive.
Personal Life
Barry stands at 6 feet tall and is known for her athleticism and scoring instincts. Off the field, she has built a following on social media and continues to represent her hometown of Hingham, Massachusetts, as she builds her professional career with Lexington SC.
2025 Season Performance
Catherine Noelle Barry’s 2025 season marked her transition from college soccer to the professional ranks. She signed her first professional contract with the Chicago Stars in March and made four appearances in the NWSL before being released from her short-term deal in the spring. Her time in Chicago offered an early introduction to the demands of the professional game, even though the stint was brief.
Midway through the year, Barry signed with USL Super League side Lexington SC. She made her debut in August and quickly became a key contributor, scoring twice in her home debut and finishing the calendar year with momentum. Her performances in the back half of 2025 laid the foundation for her record-breaking 2026 campaign.
As 2025 came to a close, Barry had established herself as a rising talent in American professional soccer. With a contract extension through 2027 and a growing role at Lexington SC, her outlook heading into the following season was highly promising.