Justina Gaynor Bio
Justina Gabrielle Gaynor (born December 21, 2001) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a defender for Lexington SC of the USL Super League. She played college soccer for the Butler Bulldogs and the Michigan State Spartans and was named Big Ten Midfielder of the Year in 2023. She is the sister of professional soccer player Celia Gaynor.
Early Life and Background
Justina Gabrielle Gaynor was born on December 21, 2001, in Shelby Township, Michigan, USA. She grew up as one of three children in the family of Paul and Rita Gaynor. Her older sister, Celia, would later share the field with her at both Butler and Michigan State, giving Justina an early model of competitive play at home.
Gaynor attended Notre Dame Preparatory School, where she played both soccer and basketball. Beyond high school, she developed her game in the club system with the Nationals Development Academy, a program that helped sharpen her technical foundation. During that stretch she won three USYS national titles, an early signal of her ability to contribute on big stages.
Path to Soccer
Gaynor’s progression through the youth ranks blended high school, club, and collegiate competition. Her success with the Nationals Development Academy and her multi-sport background at Notre Dame Preparatory built the versatility that would later define her college career.
Recruitment to the Butler Bulldogs marked her entry into the NCAA ranks, where the COVID-19 pandemic pushed her freshman season into the spring. After that first year she transferred alongside her sister to the Michigan State Spartans, joining a stronger Big Ten Conference program that would set the stage for her individual breakout.
Justina Gaynor Career
Early Career (2020–2021)
Gaynor spent one season with the Butler Bulldogs, playing in the spring after the usual fall season was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. She started all 12 games and scored 2 goals, a strong statistical line for a debut season under unusual scheduling conditions.
Following that year she transferred alongside her sister Celia to the Michigan State Spartans. In her first season in East Lansing in 2021, Gaynor appeared in 17 games, started 11 of them, and added 2 goals, easing into a deeper and more competitive Big Ten roster.
Michigan State Breakthrough (2022–2024)
Gaynor established herself as a junior in 2022, starting all 23 games and scoring 4 goals with 2 assists. She was named first-team All-Big Ten as Michigan State went undefeated in conference play to capture its first-ever outright regular-season title, with the only blemish being a loss to Penn State in the Big Ten tournament final.
In her senior season she started all 22 games and led the team in outfield minutes in 2023, recording a career-high 6 goals and 12 assists. In the NCAA tournament she converted a penalty kick in a 1–0 win against Harvard, sending Michigan State to the third round of the tournament for the first time in program history. That year she earned first-team All-Big Ten honors and was named Big Ten Midfielder of the Year.
In her graduate season in 2024, Gaynor played 21 games, started all but one of them, and scored 5 goals with 6 assists. Michigan State matched its best NCAA tournament result, while Gaynor was named first-team All-Big Ten and third-team All-American, becoming only the fourth All-American in program history.
Chicago Stars Era (2025)
Following a preseason trial as a non-roster invitee, Gaynor signed her first professional contract with Chicago Stars FC of the National Women’s Soccer League on March 12, 2025, agreeing to a one-year deal with an option to extend for another year. Although she had played as a midfielder throughout college, she made Chicago’s roster as a defender, signaling a positional shift for the pros.
She made her professional debut two days later as a second-half substitute for Camryn Biegalski in the season opener against the Orlando Pride. She went on to make one further appearance, starting against Racing Louisville on March 30, before the Stars announced on July 1 that the two sides had mutually agreed to terminate her contract.
Lexington SC Era (2025)
Gaynor signed with USL Super League club Lexington SC on July 8, 2025. She debuted for the club on August 23, entering as a second-half substitute for Addie McCain in Lexington’s season-opening draw with Fort Lauderdale United FC. She made eight appearances for Lexington before departing on a mutual contract termination at the end of the year, ending her first top-flight professional chapter.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the signature moments of her career, Gaynor’s penalty kick against Harvard stands out, the goal that sent Michigan State to the third round of the NCAA tournament for the first time in program history. Her selection as Big Ten Midfielder of the Year in 2023 and her third-team All-American nod in 2024 also rank as clear milestones.
Justina Gaynor Career Wins
At the club level, Gaynor’s most documented wins came during her youth career, when she won three USYS national titles with the Nationals Development Academy. In college, her standout team result was Michigan State’s undefeated run through the 2022 Big Ten regular season, which delivered the program’s first-ever outright regular-season title.
Other Wins & Performances
Gaynor’s professional performances have been measured more in starts and appearances than in trophy hauls at this stage. Her debut season with Chicago Stars FC and her eight appearances with Lexington SC provided valuable minutes, while her Big Ten individual honors underscore her rising profile across the American women’s game.
Justina Gaynor Family
Family Background and Soccer Lineage
Gaynor is the daughter of Paul Gaynor and Rita Gaynor, and she grew up as one of three children in Shelby Township, Michigan. Her older sister, Celia Gaynor, is also a professional soccer player, and the two shared the field at both Butler and Michigan State. That family connection gave Justina a familiar teammate and a daily training partner throughout her formative years.
Personal Life
Gaynor stands 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) tall. She remains focused on her professional career, with her 2025 contract running through the end of that year and her career continuing into the USL Super League.
2025 Season Performance
Justina Gaynor’s 2025 season told the story of a player in transition, moving from college stardom into the professional ranks. She opened the year by signing her first professional contract with Chicago Stars FC of the NWSL on March 12, earned a quick debut against the Orlando Pride, and made a starting appearance against Racing Louisville before the Stars and Gaynor agreed to mutually terminate her contract on July 1.
Within a week of leaving Chicago, she signed with USL Super League club Lexington SC on July 8 and debuted on August 23 as a substitute in a season-opening draw with Fort Lauderdale United FC. She went on to make eight appearances for Lexington before a mutual contract termination closed out her 2025 chapter.
Across the year, the move from midfielder to defender defined her role, and her ability to adapt quickly helped her earn minutes at two different clubs. Looking ahead, her play in the USL Super League will determine whether she remains a regular starter or pushes toward another NWSL opportunity.