Katie Lund Bio
Katherine Ann Lund, known professionally as Katie Lund, is an American professional soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for Chicago Stars FC of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). Standing 6 ft 1 in tall, she has built a reputation as a reliable shot-stopper since turning professional in 2020. She previously represented the Washington Spirit and Racing Louisville in the NWSL, and she played college soccer for the TCU Horned Frogs and the Arkansas Razorbacks.
Born in Plano, Texas, Lund developed her game in the Dallas-Fort Worth area before launching a college career that ultimately carried her into the top flight of American women’s soccer. Her path through the league has included an expansion draft selection, a single-season saves record, and a Goalkeeper of the Year finalist nod, establishing her among the league’s most consistent netminders of her generation.
Early Life and Background
Katherine Ann Lund was born on November 27, 1996, in Plano, Texas, a suburb north of Dallas that has produced a steady stream of collegiate and professional soccer talent. Growing up in North Texas gave her access to a strong youth soccer infrastructure, and she developed the size and athleticism that would later define her as a goalkeeper prospect.
From her early years, Lund gravitated toward the goalkeeper position, where her height, wingspan, and shot-stopping instincts set her apart from peers. Her hometown area features a deep competitive soccer culture, and she spent her formative years training in club environments around the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, building the foundation for a career at the highest level of American women’s soccer.
Path to Soccer
Lund’s college path began at Texas Christian University, where she played for the TCU Horned Frogs from 2016 through 2018. During her three seasons in Fort Worth, she gained the starting experience and competitive reps that goalkeepers typically need before turning professional, facing high-level Big 12 Conference attacks on a regular basis.
Seeking a fresh start and a stronger fit, Lund transferred to the University of Arkansas for her senior season in 2019, suiting up for the Arkansas Razorbacks in the Southeastern Conference. That final college year sharpened her positioning, distribution, and command of the penalty area, preparing her for the jump into the National Women’s Soccer League.
Katie Lund Career
Early Career (2020)
Lund’s professional career began in 2020 with the Washington Spirit, the NWSL club based in the Washington, D.C. area. Her initial stint with the Spirit gave her a foothold in the league and exposure to the pace and physical demands of top-flight professional soccer in the United States.
That same year, she was selected by Racing Louisville in the 2020 NWSL Expansion Draft as the league’s newest club assembled its first roster. The selection marked a turning point, as Lund quickly became a central figure in the expansion side’s goalkeeping corps and earned a clear role in the team’s plans for its inaugural campaigns.
Racing Louisville Breakthrough (2021-2025)
Lund made an immediate impact in Louisville, leading Racing Louisville FC to the inaugural Women’s Cup title in August 2021. The cup win established her as a competitive presence in goal and gave the expansion club an early piece of silverware to build around.
In 2022, Lund had a breakout season that put her on the national map. She set the NWSL record for saves in a single season, started every regular-season match for Racing Louisville, and posted six clean sheets along the way. Her workload and consistency earned her a place on the NWSL Best XI for the September/October portion of the season, recognition reserved for the league’s top performers during that stretch.
Her strong form continued into 2023, when she was named one of three finalists for the NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year award. The finalist nod underscored her status as one of the league’s elite shot-stoppers and reflected the trust her club placed in her between the posts.
Chicago Stars Era (2026-Present)
On December 15, 2025, Chicago Stars FC announced that the club had signed Lund to a three-year contract running through 2028. The move signaled a new chapter for the goalkeeper, pairing her with a Chicago organization seeking to reshape its identity in goal.
Lund entered her Chicago tenure carrying the momentum of her Racing Louisville years, including the single-season saves record, the Best XI selection, and the Goalkeeper of the Year finalist honor. The multi-year deal gives the Stars a proven starter and a foundation piece as the club builds its competitive roster around her.
Playing Style and Strengths
Lund’s profile begins with her physical presence at 6 ft 1 in, a frame that allows her to command her penalty area and contest high balls with authority. Her defining strength is her shot-stopping volume, headlined by her single-season NWSL saves record set in 2022. She pairs that workload with disciplined positioning, steady decision-making under pressure, and the durability required to start every regular-season match in heavy minutes.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Lund’s signature achievements is her role in Racing Louisville FC’s inaugural Women’s Cup victory in August 2021, the club’s first major trophy. Her 2022 campaign stands as her career-defining stretch, combining the NWSL single-season saves record, six clean sheets, and a Best XI selection. Her 2023 Goalkeeper of the Year finalist nod cemented her standing among the league’s top goalkeepers.
Katie Lund Career Wins
Katie Lund’s verified career honors include the inaugural Women’s Cup with Racing Louisville FC in August 2021, the NWSL Best XI selection for the September/October period of 2022, and a finalist finish for the 2023 NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year award. Together, these accomplishments trace a clear arc from expansion-year contributor to league-recognized standout.
NWSL and Cup Highlights
Lund’s first major professional trophy came in August 2021, when she helped Racing Louisville FC capture the inaugural Women’s Cup. The win marked a milestone moment for both player and club in their debut competitive stretch.
Her 2022 season produced both her single-season saves record and her Best XI appearance, the latter recognizing her as one of the top performers across all positions during the September/October stretch. The following year, she closed her time in Louisville as a 2023 Goalkeeper of the Year finalist, a strong capstone on her Racing Louisville tenure before her move to Chicago.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond her NWSL work, Lund’s college career included stints with the TCU Horned Frogs from 2016 through 2018 and the Arkansas Razorbacks in 2019, where she built the consistency that carried her into the professional ranks. Her professional path began with a brief 2020 stint at the Washington Spirit before the expansion draft selection that redirected her career to Louisville.
Katie Lund Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Lund is married to Ryan Atkinson, and the couple announced their engagement in November 2024. Her decision to compete under her maiden name has remained part of her public professional identity throughout her NWSL career.
2025 Season Performance
Lund’s 2025 campaign represented her final season with Racing Louisville, the club she had anchored since the 2021 expansion year. As the established starter, she continued to absorb heavy shot volume and provide the kind of consistency that defined her 2022 and 2023 seasons.
Her long-term future was settled during the offseason, when Chicago Stars FC announced on December 15, 2025, that the club had signed her to a three-year deal running through 2028. The agreement positioned her as a central piece of the Stars’ goalkeeping plan and offered her a fresh environment after five seasons in Louisville.
Heading into 2026, Lund carries the form of a veteran starter with a single-season saves record, a Best XI honor, and a Goalkeeper of the Year finalist nod already on her ledger. Her move to Chicago sets up a new storyline built around her reliability, her leadership in the back, and her pursuit of additional team trophies at the Stars.