Kerry Abello Bio
Kerry Margaret Abello (born September 17, 1999) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a defender for the Orlando Pride of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) and the United States national team. Standing 5 feet 5 inches tall, Abello is recognized for her versatility across the back line and her steady presence in one of the league’s most competitive rosters. She won both the NWSL Shield and the NWSL Championship with Orlando in 2024, cementing her status as one of the league’s most reliable defenders.
Early Life and Background
Kerry Margaret Abello was born on September 17, 1999, in Elmhurst, Illinois. She grew up in a supportive household with her parents, Oscar and Kim Abello, and has two older brothers and one older sister. Her early years were shaped by an active family life and a strong interest in competitive sports.
Abello began her soccer journey in the youth ranks, playing club soccer for Team Chicago and Eclipse Select SC. She also spent one season playing high school soccer at Benet Academy in Illinois. Between 2014 and 2016, she was recognized as a three-time NSCAA Youth All-American, an award given to the top youth players in the country. Within the 2017 recruiting class, TopDrawerSoccer.com ranked her as the 12th overall player and the number 2 defender nationally, signaling her arrival as one of the top young prospects in the United States.
Path to Professional Soccer
Abello’s path to professional soccer ran through one of the most storied college programs in the country. She enrolled at Pennsylvania State University in 2017 and played five seasons for the Penn State Nittany Lions between 2017 and 2021. While competing at the highest level of collegiate soccer, she pursued a pre-medical major in biological life sciences and Spanish and was a member of the Schreyer Honors College.
Academically, Abello was a four-time CoSIDA Academic All-American and earned the CoSIDA Academic All-American of the Year award for the 2020-21 and 2021 seasons, becoming the first student-athlete to earn the distinction twice in Division I soccer. Her freshman year saw her make 15 appearances as a substitute, while her sophomore year included a stint with the Chicago Red Stars Reserves in the WPSL. By her junior season in 2019, she had transitioned to left-back and earned First Team All-Big Ten honors, and she was named team captain ahead of the 2020 season. Selected 24th overall in the 2021 NWSL Draft by the Orlando Pride, she chose to return for her senior season to compete in both the delayed 2020 and 2021 campaigns.
Kerry Abello Career
Early Career (2017-2021)
Abello’s early career was defined by her development at Penn State, where she played multiple positions across the pitch. As a freshman, she appeared in 15 matches off the bench and helped her team capture the 2017 Big Ten Women’s Soccer Tournament title. During the 2018 offseason, she gained valuable experience playing center-back for the Chicago Red Stars Reserves in the WPSL, helping the side top the Northern Conference and reach the playoff semi-finals.
In her sophomore season, she became a starter and scored seven goals with five assists, primarily as a forward, while leading Penn State to the Big Ten regular season title. Her positional flexibility, demonstrated by her ability to play forward, left-back, and center-back, became a defining feature of her game and a major reason she attracted professional attention.
Penn State Breakthrough (2019-2021)
As a junior in 2019, Abello made the switch to left-back full time and started all 24 of Penn State’s matches. She scored eight goals and added three assists, earning First Team All-Big Ten honors and establishing herself as one of the most dynamic attacking full-backs in college soccer. Her leadership qualities were recognized when she was named team captain ahead of the 2020 season.
The 2020-21 campaign brought another transition, this time to center-back, where she started 12 matches before injury cut her season short. Despite the setback, Penn State won the Big Ten regular season title for the second time in three seasons. In her fifth and final year in 2021, Abello started all 20 matches and earned First Team All-Big Ten honors for the second time, finishing her college career as one of the most decorated players in program history.
Orlando Pride Era (2022-Present)
After being selected 24th overall in the 2021 NWSL Draft by the Orlando Pride, Abello returned to Penn State for her final season of eligibility before signing a two-year professional contract with Orlando on January 28, 2022. She made her professional debut on April 3, 2022, coming on as a 61st-minute substitute against the Washington Spirit in the 2022 NWSL Challenge Cup.
By 2024, Abello had become a central figure for the Pride. She was the only field player to appear in all 26 regular season matches, starting 25 of them, as Orlando claimed the NWSL Shield with the best record in the league. Her consistent performances earned her a spot on the NWSL Best XI Second Team. On November 23, 2024, she started in the NWSL Championship, which the Pride won 1-0 over the Washington Spirit to complete a historic double. In May 2025, Abello became the first Pride player to appear in 50 consecutive matches, underscoring her durability and importance to the club.
Driving Style and Strengths
Abello’s greatest strength lies in her positional versatility, having played forward, left-back, and center-back at a high level. Her tactical intelligence allows her to read the game effectively from multiple positions, while her stamina and consistency enable her to contribute on both ends of the pitch. Combined with strong leadership skills, as shown by her captaincy at Penn State and her durable run at Orlando, she has become a reliable presence in the Pride’s back line.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Abello’s most notable achievements are her role in Orlando’s 2024 NWSL Shield and NWSL Championship double, her distinction as the first Penn State student-athlete to earn CoSIDA Academic All-American of the Year twice in Division I soccer, and her record-setting streak of 50 consecutive appearances for the Pride. Her senior international debut for the United States on June 3, 2025, a 4-0 win over Jamaica, marked another major milestone in her career.
Kerry Abello Career Wins
Kerry Abello has built a steady and growing collection of team honors across her college and professional career. From conference titles at Penn State to the NWSL Shield and NWSL Championship with Orlando, she has consistently played a role in title-winning teams.
NWSL Highlights
In her NWSL career, Abello’s signature accomplishments came during the 2024 season, when she helped Orlando Pride capture both the NWSL Shield for the best regular season record and the NWSL Championship with a 1-0 victory over the Washington Spirit. She was the only field player to feature in all 26 regular season matches that year, earning NWSL Best XI Second Team recognition for her efforts.
Other Wins and Performances
At the collegiate level, Abello won the 2017 Big Ten Women’s Soccer Tournament and two Big Ten regular season titles in 2018 and 2020-21 with Penn State. She also helped the Chicago Red Stars Reserves top the WPSL Northern Conference in 2018. Individually, she earned First Team All-Big Ten honors twice, was a four-time CoSIDA Academic All-American, and was twice named CoSIDA Academic All-American of the Year.
Kerry Abello Family
Family Background and Soccer Lineage
Kerry Margaret Abello is the daughter of Oscar and Kim Abello. She grew up alongside two older brothers and one older sister in Elmhurst, Illinois, where her family supported her early development in soccer. Her strong family foundation played a key role in her path to becoming a professional athlete and a top collegiate scholar.
Personal Life
Abello has maintained close ties to her family throughout her career, crediting her parents and siblings for their ongoing support. Off the field, she is known for her academic achievements, having studied pre-medical biological life sciences and Spanish at Penn State as a member of the Schreyer Honors College. Her dedication to education has been a defining part of her identity alongside her professional soccer career.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season has continued Kerry Abello’s rise as one of the most dependable defenders in the NWSL. She reached a milestone in May 2025 by becoming the first Orlando Pride player to appear in 50 consecutive matches, a testament to her fitness and importance to the team’s defensive structure. Her consistency has helped the Pride maintain their status as defending NWSL Shield and NWSL Championship holders.
In May 2025, Abello received her first call-up to the senior United States national team, a long-awaited recognition of her form at club level. She started in her senior debut on June 3, 2025, helping the U.S. to a 4-0 victory over Jamaica. The moment marked the next chapter in her career, balancing club and country duties at the highest level.
Looking ahead, Abello’s role with the Orlando Pride and her growing presence in the U.S. national team setup point to a bright future. Her versatility, leadership, and proven ability to perform in big matches position her as a key figure for both club and country heading into the rest of the 2025 campaign and beyond.