Gage Guerra Bio
Gage Guerra (born December 21, 2002) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a forward for Portland Timbers in Major League Soccer. A graduate of the United States Military Academy and the University of Louisville, Guerra built a decorated college résumé before turning professional in 2025. Standing 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m), he wears the number 88 shirt for the Portland Timbers and is regarded as a promising young attacker within the MLS system.
Early Life and Background
Gage Guerra was born on December 21, 2002, in Houston, Texas, United States. He grew up in the Kingwood area of Greater Houston and attended Kingwood Park High School, where he quickly established himself as one of the top youth prospects in the region. His early football environment, combined with Houston’s deep soccer culture, helped shape his development as a forward.
During his time at Kingwood Park High School, Guerra was a first-team all-state selection by the Texas Association of Soccer Coaches in 2021, finishing his high school career with 32 goals and 24 assists. He was also named the All-Greater Houston Boys Soccer Player of the Year, and he helped lead his team to the Texas state final. Outside of high school competition, Guerra also developed within the Houston Dynamo academy, gaining exposure to a professional pathway at a young age.
Path to Soccer
Guerra’s journey toward professional soccer began in earnest when he joined the Houston Dynamo academy in 2017, where he remained until 2020. That academy experience prepared him for the rigors of college soccer and gave him a foundation in the tactical and physical demands of the game at an elite level.
In 2021, Guerra enrolled at the United States Military Academy at West Point, where he played college soccer for the Army Black Knights over two seasons. He scored 15 goals in 33 appearances and added four assists, performances that earned him major individual recognition. In 2022, he was named Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year, selected to the All-Patriot League First Team, and honored as a United Soccer Coaches All-Atlantic Region First Team pick.
Gage Guerra Career
Early Career (2017–2022)
Guerra’s first structured experience in a top-level development system came with the Houston Dynamo academy, which he joined in 2017 and represented through 2020. Working alongside established professional coaches and competing against high-level youth opponents helped him refine his game before he moved on to college soccer.
At the United States Military Academy, Guerra became a focal point of the Army Black Knights attack. His 15 goals and four assists across 33 appearances marked him as one of the most productive forwards in the Patriot League, and his 2022 awards reflected that productivity. Those performances laid the groundwork for his transfer to a higher-profile college program.
Louisville Cardinals Breakthrough (2023–2024)
Guerra transferred to the University of Louisville in 2023, joining the Louisville Cardinals men’s soccer program. In his first season with the Cardinals, he scored seven goals in 13 appearances and earned a place on the MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List, one of the most prestigious individual honors in college soccer. His form that year drew the attention of Major League Soccer scouts.
On December 19, 2023, Guerra was selected 69th overall in the 2024 MLS SuperDraft by Portland Timbers. He opted to return to Louisville for his senior year rather than sign immediately, and that decision paid off. In 2024, he recorded nine goals and three assists in 16 appearances, performances that earned him All-ACC Third Team honors and cemented his status as a top professional prospect.
Portland Timbers Era (2025–Present)
On November 24, 2024, it was announced that Guerra would join Portland Timbers 2 for their 2025 MLS Next Pro season. He made an immediate impact, netting seven goals in 12 appearances in the first half of 2025, including a goal against Tacoma Defiance in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup earlier in May. That form earned him a short-term loan to the Portland Timbers first team on May 17, 2025, ahead of a fixture against Seattle Sounders.
On June 26, 2025, the Timbers announced that Guerra had signed a permanent deal with the club’s Major League Soccer side, completing his rise from MLS SuperDraft pick to first-team professional. The transition rewarded a season in which he had already proven his scoring touch at the reserve level and demonstrated composure in high-profile cup and league matches.
Driving Style and Strengths
Guerra is a forward who combines consistent finishing with intelligent movement in and around the penalty area. His college and MLS NEXT Pro numbers reflect a player who can produce goals in a variety of ways, and his comfort in front of goal was evident during his seven-goal start to the 2025 season. His pairing with the Timbers’ first-team staff gives him a clear platform to develop into a regular MLS contributor.
Notable Events and Milestones
Key moments in Guerra’s career to date include being named the 2022 Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year, his 69th overall selection in the 2024 MLS SuperDraft, and his permanent move to the Portland Timbers first team on June 26, 2025. His early-May goal against Tacoma Defiance in the U.S. Open Cup also marked his first senior competitive goal in a Timbers shirt.
Gage Guerra Career Wins
Guerra’s competitive highlights to date are anchored in college and reserve-level team success rather than senior individual trophies. His selection in the 2024 MLS SuperDraft and his permanent promotion to the Portland Timbers first team in 2025 represent the most significant competitive milestones of his young professional career.
Louisville Cardinals Highlights
During his two seasons at the University of Louisville, Guerra tallied 16 goals and contributed multiple assists across 29 appearances. He was named to the All-ACC Third Team in 2024 and earned a spot on the MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List in 2023, underscoring his standing among the top college forwards in the country.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond college soccer, Guerra was a Texas state finalist with Kingwood Park High School in 2021 and a first-team all-state selection that same year. He also won the All-Greater Houston Boys Soccer Player of the Year award and was part of the Houston Dynamo academy system from 2017 to 2020.
2025 Season Performance
Guerra’s 2025 season began with Portland Timbers 2 in MLS NEXT Pro, where his scoring rate stood out. Seven goals in 12 appearances over the first half of the year marked him as one of the most productive young forwards in the Portland system, and a U.S. Open Cup goal against Tacoma Defiance added to his growing reputation.
His form earned a short-term loan to the Portland Timbers first team on May 17, 2025, ahead of a high-profile match against Seattle Sounders. Less than six weeks later, on June 26, 2025, the club confirmed a permanent deal, moving Guerra into the senior MLS squad for the remainder of the season. With his integration into the first team now complete, the focus shifts to building on that early scoring touch against top-flight defenders.
