Emily Sams Bio
Emily May Sams (née Madril; born July 1, 1999) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a defender. She currently features for Angel City FC of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) and represents the United States national team. Mainly a center back, she can also operate at right back. Standing 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m), Sams combines defensive composure with the versatility to step into multiple roles across the back line.
After starring at Florida State University, where she helped the Seminoles win the 2021 national championship, Sams launched her professional career in 2022. She was drafted third overall by the Orlando Pride in the 2023 NWSL Draft and quickly developed into one of the league’s most reliable defenders. In 2024, she was named NWSL Defender of the Year and helped lead Orlando to the NWSL Shield and the NWSL Championship.
Early Life and Background
Emily May Sams was born on July 1, 1999, in Boise, Idaho. Her family later relocated to Navarre, Florida, in the summer of 2014, settling into the Gulf Coast community where she would finish her high school years. The move shaped her path in soccer, exposing her to stronger youth competition in a region known for producing top college talent.
She attended Navarre High School, where she produced standout numbers for the school’s soccer team, recording 107 goals and 70 assists across her career. Her individual honors included the 2016 Florida Miss Soccer award and two Player of the Year selections by the Pensacola News Journal. At the club level, she played for the Gulf Coast Texans, one of the most respected developmental programs in the southeastern United States.
Sams also has a twin sister, Lizzy, who played alongside her at Navarre High School before going on to play college soccer at Daytona State College. The two sisters remain closely connected, and their shared soccer journey was a defining part of Sams’ formative years.
Path to Professional Soccer
Sams joined the Florida State Seminoles in 2017 and immediately made an impact at the collegiate level. Across five seasons in Tallahassee, she made 62 appearances, starting 61, while scoring six goals and adding seven assists. Her freshman campaign included two assists on her debut against UNC Greensboro and her first collegiate goal against Boston College on October 5, 2017.
Her college path included major setbacks. She redshirted the 2018 season after an ACL injury and then missed the 2019 campaign with a second ACL tear. She returned in the COVID-shortened 2020 spring season, starting all 16 games as Florida State claimed the ACC regular season and tournament titles. As a redshirt senior in 2021, she anchored a back line that conceded just 13 goals across 25 games and posted 14 shutouts, helping the Seminoles win the 2021 College Cup over BYU on penalties.
Her 2021 honors included ACC Defensive Player of the Year, ACC All-Tournament Team, All-ACC First Team, College Cup All-Tournament Team, and United Soccer Coaches First Team All-American. Eligible for an extra season after the pandemic, she instead turned professional in August 2022, citing frustration with the FSU administration following the head coach search.
Emily Sams Career
Early Career (2022)
Before committing fully to the professional ranks, Sams signed with the USL W League affiliate of Racing Louisville FC in May 2022. She made nine appearances and scored four goals during the summer season, earning a spot on the league’s Best XI second team. The stint offered her a bridge between college and the NWSL and helped sharpen her finishing instincts in a semi-professional environment.
On August 31, 2022, Sams signed a professional contract directly with the NWSL through 2025, retaining her eligibility for the 2023 NWSL Draft. She was immediately loaned to Swedish Damallsvenskan side BK Häcken FF for the remainder of the year. She debuted on September 14, 2022, starting a full 90 minutes in a 3–0 Svenska Cupen win over Jitex BK, and went on to score once in league play during a 7–1 rout of AIK.
Orlando Pride Era (2023–2025)
On January 12, 2023, Sams was selected third overall in the 2023 NWSL Draft by the Orlando Pride, the franchise that would define her early professional identity. She settled into a center-back role and quickly formed a partnership that anchored the team’s record-setting defensive season.
In 2024, Sams produced her breakout NWSL campaign. She recorded her first league assist on May 5, 2024, setting up Barbra Banda in a 1–0 win over Racing Louisville, and scored her first NWSL goal two weeks later, opening a 3–2 victory against the Seattle Reign. Playing alongside center back Kylie Strom, she helped Orlando set the league record for consecutive games unbeaten and lift the NWSL Shield, the first trophy in Pride history. Her individual recognition followed: three NWSL Team of the Month selections, a place on the NWSL Best XI, and the NWSL Defender of the Year award.
On February 13, 2025, she signed a contract extension with Orlando through 2027, signaling the franchise’s commitment to building around her. Across her three seasons with the Pride, she emerged as a leader, a set-piece threat, and one of the most consistent defenders in the league.
Angel City FC Era (2026–Present)
On January 9, 2026, Sams was traded to Angel City FC in exchange for $650,000 in intraleague transfer funds, marking a fresh chapter in her career. The move to Los Angeles brought new tactical responsibilities and a new defensive group to lead.
She debuted for Angel City on March 15, 2026, in the home opener against Chicago Stars, and quickly recorded her first assist for the club on April 26, 2026, setting up Prisca Chilufya’s stoppage-time goal in a 1–2 loss to the Portland Thorns. Her early form suggested a smooth transition into a wider conference setting, with her passing range and aerial presence already shaping Angel City’s buildup play.
Driving Style and Strengths
Sams reads the game with poise beyond her years, choosing when to step into tackles and when to hold the defensive line. Her distribution out of the back allows Orlando and now Angel City to launch attacks from deep, and her heading accuracy makes her a constant threat on set pieces at both ends of the field.
Notable Events and Milestones
Her signature moments include winning the 2021 College Cup with Florida State, lifting the NWSL Shield and the NWSL Championship in 2024, and earning NWSL Defender of the Year honors. In 2024, she was also part of the United States squad that won gold at the Paris Olympics, meeting the eligibility criteria for a medal by being named to a matchday squad.
Emily Sams Career Wins
Across club, college, and international play, Sams has assembled a resume that includes a 2021 NCAA national championship, an NWSL Shield, an NWSL Championship, and an Olympic gold medal. She added the NWSL Defender of the Year award in 2024 to cap her most decorated season as a professional.
Orlando Pride Highlights
With Orlando, Sams helped the club capture the 2024 NWSL Shield, the first major trophy in Pride history, and the 2024 NWSL Championship. She started consistently throughout the record-breaking unbeaten run, finishing the year on the NWSL Best XI and winning Defender of the Year.
Other Wins and Performances
At Florida State, Sams won the 2021 College Cup, two ACC regular-season titles, and two ACC tournament titles. She also reached the 2024 Paris Olympics with the senior national team and earned her first international cap on October 27, 2024, starting a 3–1 friendly win over Iceland in Nashville.
| Team | Titles | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Florida State Seminoles | NCAA Championship, ACC titles | 2020, 2021 |
| Orlando Pride | NWSL Shield, NWSL Championship | 2024 |
| United States | Olympic Gold | 2024 |
Emily Sams Family
Family Background and Twin Connection
Sams has a twin sister, Lizzy, with whom she shared her high school soccer career at Navarre. Lizzy went on to play college soccer at Daytona State College, and the two remain close. Their shared background in the sport helped shape Sams’ competitive drive from an early age.
Personal Life
Emily married Dakota Sams on February 19, 2024. The couple’s life together has coincided with the most successful stretch of her professional career, and she often credits her family for providing stability through the demands of top-flight soccer.
2025 Season Performance
Sams opened 2025 coming off the strongest year of her career, fresh off signing a contract extension with Orlando through 2027. She remained a fixture at center back for the Pride, partnering with Kylie Strom and continuing to set the standard for the team’s defensive organization. Her veteran presence helped Orlando defend both the NWSL Shield and the NWSL Championship in the early months of the season.
Individually, she picked up where she left off in 2024, contributing key assists, dominant aerial duels, and composed performances against high-powered attacks across the league. Her leadership in the locker room grew as younger defenders rotated through the back line, and she continued to be a regular selection for the NWSL Best XI and Team of the Month honors.
With the United States national team, Sams built on her October 2024 senior debut and remained in contention for the full World Cup qualifying cycle heading into the 2025 calendar. Her combination of big-game experience and growing international minutes positioned her as a likely starter for the senior side through the year’s major fixtures.
