Kimmi Ascanio Bio
Kimmi Ascanio is an American professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder or forward for San Diego Wave FC of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). Born on January 21, 2008, she signed with the Wave at the age of 16 in 2024, beginning a three-year deal that runs through 2027. She is also a United States youth international, having won a bronze medal at the 2024 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.
Raised in Florida with Venezuelan roots, Ascanio has built a reputation as one of the brightest young talents in American soccer. Her early professional milestones include becoming one of the youngest goal contributors in NWSL history and earning her first NWSL Team of the Month honor as a teenager.
Early Life and Background
Kimmi Ascanio was born in Orlando, Florida, and raised in Doral, Florida. Her parents were both born and raised in Venezuela, with her father from Caracas and her mother from Valencia, giving her a strong connection to her family heritage. Growing up in Florida, she was exposed to a vibrant soccer culture from an early age.
Ascanio played her youth soccer for Florida United Soccer Club, a team that competes in the United Premier Soccer League (UPSL). During her time with the club, she helped Florida United win two state titles, establishing herself as a standout prospect. Her performances at the youth level drew attention from national team scouts and professional clubs alike.
Path to Soccer
Ascanio’s journey to the professional ranks accelerated through the United States youth national team system. She first joined the program at the under-15 level, where she helped the United States win the 2022 CONCACAF Girls’ U-15 Championship. This early international success marked her as one of the top young players in the country.
She continued her rise with the under-17 squad, becoming the youngest member of the roster at the 2024 CONCACAF Women’s U-17 Championship. In the semifinal against Haiti, she scored a hat trick in just six minutes during a 7–1 win, and she added another goal in the final to help the United States beat Mexico 4–0 and claim the regional title. These performances led directly to her professional opportunity with San Diego Wave FC.
Kimmi Ascanio Career
Early Career (2024)
The San Diego Wave signed Ascanio to a three-year contract on March 22, 2024, through the NWSL’s Under-18 Entry Mechanism, a rule that allows clubs to sign elite young talent before the draft. The move made her one of the youngest professional players in the league at the time of her signing.
She made her professional debut as a second-half substitute against Racing Louisville on April 13, 2024. Two weeks later, on April 27, she earned her first start and recorded her first professional assist in a 2–1 win against Bay FC, a performance that made her the third-youngest goal contributor in NWSL history.
San Diego Wave Breakthrough (2024–2025)
Ascanio’s second professional season produced several league firsts. On April 26, 2025, she started alongside Trinity Armstrong and Melanie Barcenas against the Chicago Stars, the first time an NWSL team fielded three 17-year-old starters in a single match. In that game, she scored her first professional goal in stoppage time to help San Diego beat Chicago 3–0.
Her offensive output continued to grow throughout the 2025 campaign. Across a five-game stretch, she registered three goals and one assist, showing consistent production against top opposition. Her third goal of the season, a game-winning strike against Gotham FC on May 16, 2025, made her the youngest-ever NWSL player to score in consecutive matches and the second-youngest to net a game-winning goal in league history.
Ascanio appeared in all 26 of San Diego’s regular season matches in 2025 and also started in the Wave’s first-round playoff match, a defeat against the Portland Thorns. Her role expanded from rotational contributor to a regular starter, reflecting the club’s confidence in her development.
San Diego Wave Era (2026–Present)
Ascanio opened her third professional season on May 15, 2026, scoring the game-winning header in the 89th minute of a 2–1 win over the Washington Spirit. The late goal highlighted her growing importance to the team’s attack and her ability to deliver in decisive moments.
Her performances throughout May 2026 earned her a spot on the NWSL Team of the Month for the first time in her career. The recognition marked another step in her emergence as a cornerstone of the San Diego Wave roster. She continues to wear jersey number 8 for the club.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Ascanio’s signature achievements, her role in the first-ever NWSL match featuring three 17-year-old starters stands out as a league-wide milestone. On the international stage, she started every game for the United States at the 2024 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, where the team earned bronze, the country’s best finish in the tournament since 2008. She also scored in a 2–0 quarterfinal win over Nigeria during that competition.
Kimmi Ascanio Career Wins
Kimmi Ascanio has collected individual accolades and team trophies across both club and international soccer. Her most prominent team honors include two state titles with Florida United Soccer Club during her youth career and a bronze medal with the United States at the 2024 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup. She also contributed to a CONCACAF Girls’ U-15 Championship in 2022 and a CONCACAF Women’s U-17 Championship in 2024 at the regional level.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond her team trophies, Ascanio has earned individual recognition, including a place on the NWSL Team of the Month in May 2026. Her first professional assist in 2024 made her the third-youngest goal contributor in NWSL history, and her 2025 game-winning goal against Gotham FC established her as the youngest player in league history to score in consecutive matches.
Kimmi Ascanio Family
Family Background and Soccer Lineage
Ascanio’s family ties run between the United States and Venezuela. Both of her parents were born and raised in Venezuela, with her father originating from Caracas and her mother from Valencia. This Venezuelan heritage has been a meaningful part of her upbringing in Florida and has helped shape her identity both on and off the field.
Personal Life
Born and raised in Florida, Ascanio continues to pursue her professional soccer career with San Diego Wave FC. As a young player focused on her development, she represents a new generation of American talent emerging through both the club and national team pathways.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 NWSL season marked Ascanio’s breakout year as a professional. She appeared in all 26 of San Diego’s regular season matches, transitioning from a rotational teenager to a reliable starter in the Wave’s midfield and forward rotations. Her offensive numbers, including three goals and one assist across a five-game window, demonstrated her growing influence on the team’s attack.
A defining moment came on April 26, 2025, when she helped form the youngest-ever trio of 17-year-old starters in an NWSL match and scored her first professional goal. Her game-winning strike against Gotham FC on May 16 further cemented her reputation as a clutch performer in tight matches.
Ascanio also started in the Wave’s first-round playoff match against the Portland Thorns, gaining valuable postseason experience as a 17-year-old. With her contract running through 2027 and her role in the team continuing to expand, her outlook within the NWSL remains strong heading into future seasons.
