Dani Weatherholt Bio
Danielle Marie Weatherholt (born March 17, 1994) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder or defender for the North Carolina Courage of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). She has spent more than a decade in elite competition, beginning with the United States youth national teams and continuing through the National Women’s Soccer League. Standing 5 feet 8 inches tall, she is comfortable operating in the middle of the park or across the back line.
After starring at Santa Clara University, Weatherholt was drafted by the Orlando Pride in the fourth round of the 2016 NWSL College Draft. She has since represented Melbourne Victory, OL Reign, and Angel City FC before joining the Courage as a free agent in 2024. In July 2024, she was one of five active NWSL players who represented the NWSL Players Association during final negotiations in Philadelphia that produced a new collective bargaining agreement running through 2030.
Dani Weatherholt Career
Early Career (2010-2015)
Weatherholt’s competitive pathway began in Southern California, where she played club soccer for the SoCal Blues for nine years and served as team captain for seven of those seasons. She attended San Clemente High School and played on the women’s varsity soccer team for four years. Her play for the Cal South State Team in 2011-2012 ranked her fifth in Southern California and nineteenth nationally according to Top Drawer Soccer, and she collected a long list of youth honors including the 2011 ODP National Championship and a 2011 NSCAA Youth All-American selection.
At Santa Clara University from 2012 to 2015, Weatherholt majored in Liberal Studies and Pre-Teaching. As a freshman she started all 22 games and earned All-WCC Honorable Mention, WCC All-Freshman, and Top Drawer Soccer Freshman Team of the Year recognition. Across her four college seasons she started nearly every match, and by her senior year she was a First Team All-WCC pick and an NSCAA Scholar Second Team All-West Region selection. She also represented the United States at the under-17, under-18, and under-20 levels before a senior-team call-up to the under-23 squad in April 2015.
Orlando Pride Era (2016-2019)
The Orlando Pride selected Weatherholt with the 31st overall pick in the fourth round of the 2016 NWSL College Draft, and she signed her first professional contract in April 2016. She made 12 appearances during her rookie season and saw her contract option exercised for 2017, when she appeared 19 times and scored her first NWSL goal. Offered a new deal for 2018, she responded by playing 23 games, a total she shared with defender Shelina Zadorsky for the most appearances by an Orlando player that year.
On October 16, 2018, Melbourne Victory announced the signing of Weatherholt on loan for the 2018-2019 W-League season in Australia. She featured in 12 matches as the club claimed the W-League Premiership, a title that gave her the first professional trophy of her career. She returned to Orlando for the 2019 campaign before the franchise moved on from her contract.
OL Reign Era (2020-2021)
On January 22, 2020, Weatherholt was traded to OL Reign in exchange for the Reign’s natural second-round pick in the 2021 NWSL College Draft. The move gave her a fresh start on the West Coast and a chance to contribute for a club with championship ambitions. She featured regularly across the 2020 and 2021 seasons, providing defensive flexibility and experience in central roles.
Her time in the Pacific Northwest helped round out her résumé as a versatile defender capable of reading the game from multiple positions. Coaches valued her tactical discipline, and her consistent availability allowed the Reign to rotate across a demanding NWSL schedule.
Angel City FC Era (2022-2023)
Weatherholt was selected by Angel City FC with the first overall pick in the 2022 NWSL Expansion Draft, immediately becoming part of the league’s newest franchise. Across two seasons in Los Angeles she made 41 regular-season appearances, recording 185 duels won, 47 tackles, and 10 chances created. Her experience helped stabilize a young squad and gave Angel City a steady presence in central defense.
Her two-year stint in Los Angeles cemented her reputation as a dependable professional who could contribute on and off the field in a high-pressure market. By the end of 2023 she had become a respected veteran voice in the locker room.
North Carolina Courage Era (2024-Present)
On January 16, 2024, the North Carolina Courage announced the signing of Weatherholt as a free agent on a two-year contract running through 2025. She made her club debut on March 16, 2024, entering as a 74th-minute substitute and scoring the final goal in a 5-1 opening-day win over the Houston Dash. Head coach Sean Nahas deployed her at defensive midfield, center back, and left back, calling her “basically a Swiss Army knife” for the variety she offered.
On December 1, 2025, the Courage announced a one-year contract extension that will keep Weatherholt in North Carolina through 2026. Her flexibility and veteran leadership have made her a regular option in the team’s rotation.
Driving Style and Strengths
Weatherholt’s primary strengths are positional versatility, tactical awareness, and composure in possession. Coaches have used her across the back line and in defensive midfield, and her willingness to fill multiple roles has made her a reliable squad player throughout her NWSL career.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among her signature achievements, Weatherholt scored the final goal in the Courage’s 5-1 opening-day win over the Houston Dash in 2024 and won the W-League Premiership with Melbourne Victory during the 2018-2019 season. She also participated in the 2024 NWSL collective bargaining negotiations that shaped league conditions through 2030.
Dani Weatherholt Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Weatherholt was born to Doug Weatherholt and Gail Weatherholt and raised with her two brothers in Capistrano Beach, California. Her parents supported her early athletic development and helped her balance club soccer, school, and her youth national team commitments. The family remained closely tied to the Southern California community throughout her formative years.
Personal Life
Off the field, Weatherholt has used her platform to advocate for player welfare. In July 2024 she joined four other active NWSL players in representing the NWSL Players Association at the final bargaining session in Philadelphia that produced a new collective bargaining agreement extending through 2030. She maintains a public presence on social media, where she shares updates about her professional career.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 NWSL season marked the final year of Weatherholt’s original two-year contract with the North Carolina Courage, providing her a platform to showcase her continued value as a versatile defender. She remained a regular contributor in head coach Sean Nahas’s rotation, splitting time between defensive midfield, center back, and left back while logging consistent minutes in league play.
Her ability to read the game and communicate across the back line helped stabilize a Courage squad chasing a return to the NWSL playoffs. The team’s depth across the defensive positions allowed her to maintain freshness during a congested schedule, and her experience in high-pressure moments proved valuable in tight matches.
On December 1, 2025, North Carolina announced a one-year contract extension that will keep Weatherholt in the squad through 2026, signaling confidence in her continued production. Looking ahead, she is expected to remain a key rotational piece for the Courage as the club builds toward another playoff run.