Heather Hinz Bio
Heather Elizabeth Hinz is an American professional soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for Sydney FC of the A-League Women. Born in Maryland, she played college soccer for the South Carolina Gamecocks, where she was recognized as the SEC Goalkeeper of the Year in 2023. She entered the professional ranks after being selected by the Houston Dash in the third round of the 2024 NWSL Draft and has since added international experience in Australia.
Early Life and Background
Heather Elizabeth Hinz was born on June 27, 2001, in Laytonsville, Maryland. She is the daughter of Laura and Lance Hinz and grew up alongside three older sisters in a supportive household. Her older sister Megan was also a professional goalkeeper before moving into college coaching, giving Hinz an early connection to the position she would later make her own.
Hinz originally played as a striker in her youth career. She was asked to move into goal after her Olympic Development Program team lost its starting goalkeeper to injury, and the switch proved to be a defining moment in her development. She attended Our Lady of Good Counsel for high school and also played ECNL club soccer with Bethesda Union, building a strong technical foundation before college.
Path to Professional Soccer
After high school, Hinz joined the South Carolina Gamecocks in 2019, beginning a five-year collegiate career in the Southeastern Conference. She spent one season as a backup before becoming the starting goalkeeper during the pandemic-abbreviated 2020 season. Her breakthrough came in the seasons that followed, when she developed into one of the most reliable shot-stoppers in the country.
In the 2021 NCAA tournament, Hinz made only three saves in an upset of North Carolina before recording a career-high eleven saves in a quarterfinal loss to BYU. The 2022 season saw her lead the nation with 13 clean sheets on a Gamecocks defense that ranked as high as third nationally, and she saved three penalties in a shootout win over Georgia before being named MVP of the SEC championship. She closed her college career in 2023 with ten shutouts, leading the SEC in save percentage and goals against average, and earned SEC Goalkeeper of the Year and first-team All-SEC honors.
Heather Hinz Career
Early Career (2019–2023)
Heather Hinz’s earliest senior-level work came at the University of South Carolina, where she competed in the Southeastern Conference from 2019 through 2023. Following one year as a backup, she became the Gamecocks’ starter in 2020 and quickly established herself as a top collegiate goalkeeper. Her progression included All-SEC recognition and an SEC tournament MVP award in 2022.
By the end of her senior season, Hinz had recorded more than 25 career shutouts and was widely regarded as one of the top goalkeeper prospects in the country. Her college resume, highlighted by 13 clean sheets in 2022 and SEC Goalkeeper of the Year in 2023, set the stage for her professional selection.
Houston Dash Era (2024–2025)
Hinz was selected 38th overall by the Houston Dash in the third round of the 2024 NWSL Draft and signed a one-year contract with an option for another year. She joined a squad that included reigning NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year Jane Campbell and initially served as a backup while learning the professional game.
On July 28, 2024, Hinz made her professional debut in the NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup, recording multiple saves in a 2–1 win over Tigres UANL. After Campbell was injured, Hinz made her NWSL regular-season debut on November 2, 2024, finishing with five saves in a 3–2 loss to Bay FC. Seven days later, she was loaned to USL Super League club Fort Lauderdale United FC, where she made two appearances before being recalled to Houston on December 10. On May 5, 2025, the Dash announced that the two sides had mutually agreed to terminate her contract.
Sydney FC Era (2025–Present)
On June 30, 2025, Hinz signed a one-year contract with A-League Women club Sydney FC, beginning her first stint outside the United States. The move gave her a clear path to regular playing time and an opportunity to test herself in a new league and country.
Hinz made her Sydney FC debut on November 8, 2025, starting in a 0–0 draw with Adelaide United on matchday two. She quickly established herself as one of the league’s top goalkeepers, conceding an average of just 0.9 goals per match and posting an 87 percent save rate in her early appearances.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Hinz’s most significant moments are her MVP performance in the 2022 SEC championship, her 13 clean sheets that same season, and her professional debut against Tigres UANL. Her first NWSL regular-season start against Bay FC and her shutout debut for Sydney FC against Adelaide United further highlight a career still in its early stages.
Heather Hinz Career Wins
Heather Hinz’s professional career is still developing, and her headline result to date is a 2–1 Summer Cup win over Tigres UANL with the Houston Dash. She also contributed to an unbeaten start at Sydney FC that included a clean sheet against Adelaide United, signaling her growing influence between the posts.
Other Wins and Performances
In the loan spell with Fort Lauderdale United FC, Hinz debuted the day after signing and posted a 1–1 draw with the Tampa Bay Sun, showing composure in a new environment. Across her early professional stints, she has combined cup, league, and international experience to build a varied resume for a goalkeeper in the first two years of her senior career.
Heather Hinz Family
Family Background and Soccer Lineage
Hinz is the daughter of Laura and Lance Hinz and grew up with three older sisters in Maryland. Her sister Megan also played professionally as a goalkeeper before transitioning into college coaching, giving the family a deep connection to the position. That background helped shape Heather’s early development and her eventual move from striker to goalkeeper.
Personal Life
Outside of soccer, Hinz is fluent in American Sign Language. She is a close friend of Maddy Ayson, a teammate at both Houston and Sydney FC. She stands 5 feet 7 inches tall and continues to build her career abroad after completing her NWSL journey in the United States.
2025 Season Performance
Heather Hinz’s 2025 season has been defined by change, with a move to a new continent and a new league. After mutually terminating her contract with the Houston Dash in May, she signed with Sydney FC in late June and quickly became a regular starter, beginning with a clean sheet against Adelaide United in November.
Her early Sydney FC form has been among the strongest in the A-League Women, with a save rate near 87 percent and an average of under one goal conceded per match. That performance has helped anchor the team’s defense during the opening rounds of the campaign.
Looking ahead, Hinz’s contract with Sydney FC runs through 2026, giving her a full season to establish herself as a long-term option at the club. With a growing résumé that already includes SEC, NWSL, USL Super League, and A-League Women experience, she is positioned to continue her development on the international stage.