Marisa DiGrande Bio
Marisa Marie DiGrande (née Viggiano; born February 5, 1997) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Racing Louisville FC of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). A creative and hardworking central midfielder, she has built her career through steady development at the college level and across multiple NWSL clubs.
She attended Northwestern University from 2015 to 2018, where she earned a degree in communication studies while starring for the Northwestern Wildcats. Since turning professional in 2019, she has represented Orlando Pride, Houston Dash, and Racing Louisville, becoming known for her vision, passing range, and consistency in the middle of the pitch.
Early Life and Background
Marisa Marie DiGrande was born on February 5, 1997, in Troy, Michigan. She grew up in a sports-minded household in the metro Detroit area, where she developed her love for soccer from a young age. Coming out of high school, she was ranked as the No. 25 recruit in the nation and the No. 5 recruit in the Great Lakes Region by TopDrawerSoccer.com, signaling her status as one of the top midfield prospects in her class.
She played three seasons of club soccer for the Michigan Hawks in the ECNL, one of the most competitive youth soccer leagues in the United States. The Hawks program helped sharpen her technical ability and tactical awareness, preparing her for the demands of high-level college soccer.
Her father, Tom Viggiano, played and coached ice hockey at Kent State University and was inducted into the KSU Athletic Hall of Fame in 2013, instilling in his daughter a strong athletic foundation and competitive mindset.
Path to Soccer
DiGrande committed to Northwestern University, joining the Wildcats for the 2015 season. She immediately broke into the starting lineup and was named to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team after starting every game. That iron-man streak continued through 83 consecutive matches into her senior year, the third-longest starting streak in program history.
She also climbed the Northwestern record books as a playmaker, finishing her career ranked second all-time in program history with 20 assists. In the off-seasons during her college years, she gained valuable senior-level experience with hometown Women’s Premier Soccer League side Motor City FC in 2018.
Her combination of durability, creativity, and proven college production positioned her as a draft prospect, and she entered the professional ranks through the 2019 NWSL College Draft.
Marisa DiGrande Career
Early Career (2018–2019)
Marisa Marie DiGrande began her senior career with Motor City FC in 2018, playing in the Women’s Premier Soccer League during her college off-seasons. That summer experience gave her a first taste of competing against seasoned professionals while still sharpening her craft at Northwestern.
After completing her degree in communication studies in 2018, she declared for the 2019 NWSL College Draft. She was selected in the fourth round, 30th overall, by Orlando Pride, then officially signed to the team’s senior roster on April 10, 2019, after a strong preseason showing.
Orlando Pride (2019–2021)
Marisa Marie DiGrande made her professional debut on April 27, 2019, entering as a substitute for Dani Weatherholt against Utah Royals FC. She wasted little time making an impact in attack, scoring her first professional goal on July 20, 2019, a game-winning strike in a 1–0 victory over Sky Blue FC. The strike was nominated for NWSL Goal of the Week, announcing her arrival as a goal-scoring midfielder.
The 2020 NWSL season was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and Orlando played only four matches as part of the Fall Series. Despite the limited schedule, DiGrande finished as the team’s top scorer with two goals in four appearances, reinforcing her value as an offensive engine in the midfield. Ahead of the 2021 season, she signed a new two-year contract with an option for an additional year, a sign of the club’s confidence in her continued development.
Houston Dash (2022–2023)
On January 28, 2022, Houston Dash acquired Marisa Marie DiGrande in a trade with Orlando Pride. In exchange, Orlando received Megan Oyster, $30,000 in allocation money, and a third-round pick in the 2023 NWSL Draft. The move gave DiGrande a fresh start in a new attacking system and a chance to expand her role at the NWSL level.
During her time in Houston, she continued to feature as a central midfielder, contributing to the Dash’s midfield rotation across two seasons before her contract cycle came to a close at the end of 2023.
Racing Louisville FC Era (2024–Present)
In December 2023, Marisa Marie DiGrande signed with Racing Louisville FC, joining the club ahead of the 2024 NWSL season. The move reunited her with a competitive midfield group and offered a clean opportunity to take on a larger creative role.
Wearing jersey number 14, she has continued to provide distribution, set-piece quality, and box-to-box energy for Racing Louisville. Her tenure in Louisville has been marked by steady contributions as the club pushes to climb the NWSL standings.
Driving Style and Strengths
DiGrande is widely regarded as a tireless central midfielder whose strengths lie in her passing range, field vision, and capacity to link defense with attack. Her 20 career assists at Northwestern highlight her creativity, while her 83-match starting streak reflects rare durability and consistency. She reads the game intelligently, arrives late into the penalty area to score timely goals, and combines that offensive output with disciplined defensive work.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among her signature moments are her first professional goal, a 1–0 game-winner over Sky Blue FC on July 20, 2019, and her emergence as Orlando’s top scorer during the pandemic-shortened 2020 Fall Series with two goals in four matches. She also represented the United States at the U23 level in August 2019, selected for the Nordic Tournament against Norway, England, and Sweden.
Marisa DiGrande Career Wins
Marisa Marie DiGrande’s professional record reflects steady production rather than a long list of silverware. Her headline wins include the game-winning goal over Sky Blue FC in 2019 and her status as Orlando Pride’s leading scorer during the 2020 Fall Series mini-tournament.
NWSL Highlights
Across her time in the NWSL with Orlando Pride, Houston Dash, and Racing Louisville, DiGrande has been valued more for her consistency and creative influence than for headline statistics. Her most recent verified club goal came during her Orlando tenure, while at Racing Louisville she has continued to feature as a regular midfield contributor. Playoff and championship results are not clearly supported by the inputs available.
Other Wins and Performances
At the college level, Marisa Marie DiGrande was named to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team and finished her Northwestern career ranked second in program history with 20 assists. She was also part of the United States U23 squad that competed at the 2019 Nordic Tournament, an important milestone in her international development.
Marisa DiGrande Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Marisa Marie DiGrande comes from an athletic family rooted in the metro Detroit area. Her father, Tom Viggiano, played and coached ice hockey at Kent State University and was inducted into the KSU Athletic Hall of Fame in 2013, giving Marisa a strong athletic blueprint to follow.
Her younger sister, Natalie Viggiano, is also a professional soccer player currently with OL Reign, making the Viggiano sisters one of the notable sibling pairs in American women’s soccer.
Personal Life
Formerly known as Marisa Viggiano, she married Danny DiGrande in January 2024, taking his surname. She is married and continues her professional career in the NWSL with Racing Louisville FC.
2025 Season Performance
Marisa Marie DiGrande enters 2025 firmly established as a key midfielder for Racing Louisville FC. After a full calendar year to settle into the club’s system, she is expected to play a central role in connecting defense to attack, providing set-piece quality, and pushing the team up the NWSL table.
Her consistency, longevity, and leadership in the middle of the park make her a foundational piece for Racing Louisville’s ambitions in 2025. With a stable club environment and a clear role, she is well positioned to deliver her most complete professional season yet.