Jenna Bike Bio
Jenna Elizabeth Bike, born February 2, 1998, is an American professional soccer player who competes as a forward for Chicago Stars FC in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). Standing 5 feet 6 inches tall, she first gained national recognition as one of the top high school players in Connecticut before developing into a reliable professional contributor at the NWSL level.
Before turning professional, Bike built a decorated career at Boston College, where she combined top-flight collegiate soccer with studies in nursing. Her journey from a youth standout in Trumbull, Connecticut, to a contracted NWSL forward has been marked by persistence through injury, the COVID-19 pandemic, and a successful position change at the professional level.
Early Life and Background
Jenna Elizabeth Bike was born on February 2, 1998, in Trumbull, Connecticut, in the United States. She grew up in a sports-minded household and developed an early love for soccer through local youth club play in her hometown.
Bike attended St. Joseph High School in Trumbull, where she played for the St. Joseph High Cadets girls’ soccer team. As a sophomore in 2013, she erupted for 40 goals and 35 assists and helped the Cadets win the Connecticut state championship. In her senior year, she added 25 goals, led the Cadets to another Class L state title with a 22–1 record, and contributed a goal and an assist in a 2–0 finals victory over Suffield High School.
Across her high school career, Bike set school records with 79 goals and 45 assists. Her dominance at the youth level earned her the National Soccer Coaches Association of America National High School Player of the Year award in December 2015, and she was twice named Gatorade Connecticut Player of the Year in 2015 and 2016.
Path to Soccer
After high school, Bike enrolled at Boston College, where she joined the Boston College Eagles women’s soccer program in 2016 as a forward. She quickly became a regular contributor, appearing in 57 matches across her first three seasons and establishing herself as a physical, tireless presence in the attack.
A serious injury prevented her from playing her senior season in 2019, and her subsequent 13-month rehabilitation coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic. During this extended recovery period, Bike completed her undergraduate nursing degree at Boston College in 2020 and initially registered for the 2020 NWSL College Draft but went unselected.
Determined to continue her soccer development, Bike returned to Boston College for two graduate seasons while pursuing first a master’s degree and then a doctorate in nursing practice. She also worked on campus as a nurse and served as team captain in both of her final seasons. She also represented the United States at a women’s national under-18 team training camp in 2014, an early sign of her national-team pedigree.
Jenna Bike Career
Early Career (2016–2021)
Bike’s developmental stage came at Boston College, where she played five seasons under head coach Jason Lowe and the Eagles’ staff. Across her college career, she made 89 appearances, 88 of them starts, and logged 6,461 minutes while scoring 18 goals and adding 15 assists.
Her leadership qualities were evident in her two seasons as team captain, and her work rate and pressing stood out even during a period when she balanced training with graduate-level coursework in nursing. By the time she finished at Boston College in 2021, Bike had matured into a tactically flexible, defensively responsible forward ready for the professional ranks.
NJ/NY Gotham FC Breakthrough (2022)
Bike’s professional path began in 2022 when she accepted an open tryout invitation from NWSL club NJ/NY Gotham FC and stepped away from her doctorate program. She earned a place on Gotham’s preseason roster as a non-roster invitee before signing her first professional deal, a national team replacement contract, on June 27, 2022.
Bike made her professional debut on June 2, 2022, against the Chicago Red Stars. Shortly after joining the squad, she transitioned from forward to right back, learning the position with guidance from goalkeeper Michelle Betos and veteran center back Ali Krieger, both of whom had joined Gotham that season. The position change showcased her tactical versatility, and on August 5, 2022, she signed a full contract with Gotham, only to be waived later that November.
Chicago Stars FC Era (2023–Present)
In January 2023, Chicago Red Stars, later rebranded as Chicago Stars FC, head coach Chris Petrucelli reached out to Bike about a need for a winger. Chicago then signed her from the NWSL waiver wire to a two-year contract with an option for a third year, allowing her to return to her natural forward role.
Since joining Chicago, Bike has slotted into the attacking rotation and contributed to the team’s wide play and pressing structure. Her contract is set to run through the 2025 NWSL season, giving the club stability at the forward position as it builds its identity under Petrucelli.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Bike’s signature milestones are her high school scoring records, her 2015 National Soccer Coaches Association of America national player of the year honor, and her 2022 induction into the Connecticut Girls’ Soccer Coaches’ Association Hall of Fame. Her late-career professional debut with Gotham FC, followed by a successful move to Chicago Stars FC, marks one of the most unconventional paths into the NWSL.
Jenna Bike Career Wins
Although detailed club win totals are limited, Bike has collected significant team and individual victories throughout her career. At the high school level she captured two Connecticut Class L state championships with the St. Joseph High Cadets, and she earned a host of individual accolades, including NSCAA National High School Player of the Year, Gatorade Connecticut Player of the Year, and Connecticut Girls’ Soccer Coaches’ Association Hall of Fame honors.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond her high school championships, Bike captained Boston College during her final two college seasons and represented the United States at a U-18 national team training camp in 2014. Her professional chapter with Gotham FC and Chicago Stars FC has added NWSL regular-season minutes and valuable playoff-race experience.
Jenna Bike Family
Family Background and Soccer Lineage
Bike comes from a close-knit family in Trumbull, Connecticut, with strong ties to soccer. She has two younger sisters, Julia and Tory, both of whom also play the sport, continuing the family’s competitive tradition.
Personal Life
Known for balancing elite athletics with academic rigor, Bike completed her undergraduate nursing degree at Boston College in 2020 and pursued graduate studies, including a doctorate in nursing practice, while continuing her soccer career. Her time working as a nurse on the Boston College campus has been widely noted as a defining part of her personal story.
2025 Season Performance
Bike enters 2025 in the final guaranteed year of her two-year Chicago Stars FC contract, with the club holding an option for an additional season. Her familiarity with Petrucelli’s system, after two years playing as a winger and forward in Chicago, positions her as a likely contributor in the team’s attacking rotation.
For the Stars, the 2025 NWSL season represents an opportunity to climb the league table following the franchise’s rebranding and roster rebuild. Bike’s combination of pressing intensity, defensive work rate, and ability to play multiple attacking roles makes her a flexible piece for the coaching staff.
With continued health and a clear role in the forward group, Bike’s 2025 outlook centers on steady minutes, additional NWSL experience, and a chance to help Chicago Stars FC push toward postseason contention.