Chase Gasper Bio
Chase Blair Gasper (born January 25, 1996) is an American former professional soccer player who played as a left-back. He is best known for his time in Major League Soccer, where he spent seasons with Minnesota United FC, LA Galaxy, Houston Dynamo, and Chicago Fire. A reliable defender in the back line, Gasper also represented the United States at multiple youth levels and earned a senior cap in 2020.
Standing 6 feet tall, Gasper combined size with positional discipline, helping teams reach the postseason and competing in the U.S. Open Cup. Following the 2025 MLS season, he retired from professional soccer after a decade-long career that began in youth and collegiate ranks.
Early Life and Background
Chase Blair Gasper was born on January 25, 1996, in Alexandria, Virginia, in the United States. Growing up in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, he developed an early interest in soccer and joined the youth setup at Bethesda SC, where he played from 2011 to 2014. His time at the club helped him build the technical foundation required to compete at higher levels.
He attended Gonzaga College High School in Washington, D.C., a school known for producing strong soccer talent. After graduating, Gasper moved west to attend the University of California, Los Angeles, where he continued his soccer development with the UCLA Bruins.
Path to Soccer
Gasper enrolled at UCLA in 2014 and quickly earned a role with the Bruins. As a freshman, he helped UCLA win the Pac-12 Conference championship and was named to the All-Freshman Second Team. His progress was interrupted in his junior year by a groin injury that limited him to three games, prompting the NCAA to grant him a medical redshirt.
In 2017, Gasper transferred to the University of Maryland to be closer to his father, who had been diagnosed with small-fiber neuropathy. At Maryland, he played a central role in the Terrapins’ 2018 national championship run, appearing in every minute of the team’s six College Cup games. That summer experience confirmed his readiness for the professional ranks.
Chase Gasper Career
Early Career (2015–2018)
While still in college, Gasper gained senior-level experience with semi-professional clubs. In 2015, he played with PSA Elite during their U.S. Open Cup campaign, giving him an early taste of high-level knockout competition. A year later, he joined FC Golden State Force in the Premier Development League, where he continued to develop his game against experienced opponents.
Those developmental years, combined with his college work at UCLA and Maryland, prepared him for the 2019 MLS SuperDraft. Scouts viewed him as a project left-back with above-average size and a strong defensive mindset.
Minnesota United FC Breakthrough (2019–2022)
On January 11, 2019, Minnesota United FC selected Gasper 15th overall in the 2019 MLS SuperDraft, after trading $50,000 in General Allocation Money to Chicago Fire to secure the pick. A hamstring injury kept him out of the first 15 games of the season, but he made his MLS debut on June 8, 2019, in a 1–0 loss to the Colorado Rapids.
Gasper finished his rookie regular season with 15 appearances and helped the Loons qualify for the MLS Cup Playoffs for the first time in club history. He also started all five of Minnesota’s U.S. Open Cup games, helping the club reach the final before falling 2–1 to Atlanta United FC.
On September 6, 2020, Gasper scored his first MLS goal in a 4–0 win over Real Salt Lake, finishing the shortened pandemic season with one goal and one assist in 18 appearances. In 2021, he set a personal best with 30 regular season appearances and one goal, and on September 16 he signed a four-year contract extension with the club. After a preseason concussion in 2022 led him into the league’s Substance Abuse and Behavioral Health program, Gasper returned a month later before being traded.
LA Galaxy (2022–2023)
On May 4, 2022, Minnesota United traded Gasper to the LA Galaxy in exchange for $450,000 in General Allocation Money, with an additional $300,000 available if certain performance metrics were met. He made his Galaxy debut on May 8, 2022, as a substitute in a 1–0 win over Austin FC.
Gasper ended the regular season with 17 appearances for the Galaxy, including eight starts, as the club finished fourth in the Western Conference. He did not appear in the team’s two playoff games, and on April 13, 2023, the Galaxy waived him.
Houston Dynamo (2023)
Three days after being waived, on April 16, 2023, Gasper was claimed off waivers by the Houston Dynamo. He continued to add MLS experience with the Dynamo organization, including a loan spell with Houston Dynamo 2.
Chicago Fire Era (2024–2025)
On January 29, 2024, Gasper signed with the Chicago Fire in exchange for the Fire’s third-round pick in the 2026 MLS SuperDraft. He provided depth and veteran leadership along the back line, while also being loaned to Chicago Fire II for additional minutes.
Following the 2025 MLS season with Chicago Fire, Chase Gasper announced his retirement from professional soccer, closing a career that spanned development leagues, college soccer, and more than half a decade in Major League Soccer.
Notable Events and Milestones
Gasper’s signature accomplishment came in college, when he helped Maryland win the 2018 NCAA national championship by playing every minute of the team’s six College Cup matches. In MLS, he helped Minnesota United reach the playoffs in each of his first three seasons and was part of the club’s run to the 2020 Western Conference Finals. He also earned his first senior cap for the United States on February 1, 2020, in a 1–0 friendly win over Costa Rica.
Chase Gasper Career Wins
Across college and professional soccer, Chase Gasper contributed to several notable results, including Maryland’s 2018 NCAA national title and Minnesota United’s first-ever MLS Cup Playoffs appearance in 2019. He also played a role in deep U.S. Open Cup runs with PSA Elite in 2015 and Minnesota United in 2019.
Other Wins & Performances
In his rookie MLS season, Gasper helped the Loons reach the U.S. Open Cup Final, where they lost 2–1 to Atlanta United FC. The following year, he featured in the Western Conference Finals before Minnesota fell 3–2 to the Seattle Sounders FC. These deep postseason runs highlighted his value as a dependable defender at the highest American levels.
Chase Gasper Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Gasper grew up in a supportive family in Alexandria, Virginia. His decision to transfer from UCLA to the University of Maryland in 2017 was driven by a desire to be closer to his father, who had been diagnosed with small-fiber neuropathy. That family connection shaped one of the most important transitions of his soccer career.
Personal Life
Chase Gasper has largely kept his personal life private. He attended Gonzaga College High School in Washington, D.C., and later earned his place at UCLA and the University of Maryland. Publicly available information about his marital status and family life is limited.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marked Chase Gasper’s final year as a professional soccer player with the Chicago Fire. He continued to provide experienced depth at left-back, while spending additional time on loan with Chicago Fire II to accumulate minutes.
As the MLS campaign progressed, Gasper remained a respected voice in the locker room, valued for his familiarity with multiple clubs across the league. His consistent training habits and professional approach helped younger defenders in the Fire organization adjust to the demands of the first team.
Following the conclusion of the 2025 season, Gasper retired from professional soccer, bringing an end to a career that took him from Bethesda SC youth soccer to NCAA championships and more than 100 MLS appearances.