Meg Boade Bio
Margaret Diane Boade, known professionally as Meg Boade, is an American professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder. Born in Dallas, Texas, on July 3, 2002, she developed through the U.S. Soccer Development Academy system before starring in college at Northwestern and UCLA. She began her professional career in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) in 2025, suiting up for the Washington Spirit, Gotham FC, and Chicago Stars FC within a single calendar year.
Standing 5 feet 8 inches tall, Boade is recognized for her vision in midfield, her ability to set up teammates, and her competitive record-setting play during her college years. She signed with NWSL expansion side Denver Summit FC in March 2026, continuing her career in her adopted home state of Colorado.
Meg Boade Career
Early Life and Background
Margaret Diane Boade was born on July 3, 2002, in Dallas, Texas, before her family relocated to Golden, Colorado, where she spent her childhood. She attended Valor Christian High School, where she was a multi-sport athlete competing in basketball, soccer, and track. Her athletic versatility helped her develop the speed, endurance, and field awareness that have defined her playing style.
Boade joined the Real Colorado youth system and quickly emerged as a leader on the pitch. In 2018, she captained the Real Colorado U-16 and U-17 squads to the U.S. Soccer Development Academy National Championship, an early signal of her potential at the national level. The title run also marked one of the defining moments of her youth career.
Path to Soccer
Boade’s path to the professional game ran through the American collegiate system, where she continued to develop her midfield craft. After completing her youth career with Real Colorado from 2016 to 2019, she enrolled at Northwestern University and immediately earned a starting role with the Wildcats. Her time in Evanston sharpened her tactical understanding and prepared her for higher-level competition.
Her development accelerated over the course of her college career, particularly during her junior and senior seasons. By the time she transferred to UCLA for her fifth year, she was widely viewed as one of the top midfielders in the country. Her invitation to a U.S. under-18 camp in October 2019 further confirmed her standing within the national team pipeline.
College Career (2020–2024)
Boade began her college career with the Northwestern Wildcats, where she became an immediate contributor. In 2022, she started all 23 matches for the program and scored seven goals, helping Northwestern match the best finish in school history. The following season, she set the Northwestern program record for assists in a single season, finishing with 14 assists.
Her standout senior campaign also brought individual recognition, as she was named to the Mac Hermann Trophy watchlist at season’s end. Because the COVID-19 pandemic granted her an extra year of eligibility, Boade transferred to UCLA for her fifth college season. There, she led the Bruins to a Big Ten Women’s Soccer Championship, although the team was upset in the round of 32 of the NCAA tournament.
Washington Spirit (2025)
After training with Racing Louisville FC as a non-rostered invitee early in 2025, Boade was released in February without a contract. On March 5, 2025, she signed a short-term injury replacement deal with the Washington Spirit. Two days later, the Spirit won the 2025 NWSL Challenge Cup by beating the Orlando Pride on penalties, with Boade an unused substitute in the final.
Boade made her professional debut on March 14, 2025, entering as a substitute in a 2–1 victory over the Houston Dash. She earned her first career start on May 10 in a road win against Chicago Stars FC, and in her next match she scored her first professional goal in a 3–3 draw with Utah Royals. Her contract with the Spirit expired in late June, after which she moved on.
Gotham FC and Chicago Stars (2025)
On July 14, 2025, Gotham FC signed Boade to a national team replacement contract. She did not appear for the club during her short stint in New Jersey. On August 22, 2025, she joined Chicago Stars FC on a roster relief contract, where she finally found a more consistent role.
Her time with the Stars was extended on October 8, when the club signed her through November 22. Across her three NWSL stops in 2025, Boade gained valuable first-team experience and a single professional goal, building the foundation for her next opportunity.
Denver Summit FC Era (2026–Present)
On March 10, 2026, NWSL expansion team Denver Summit FC announced the signing of Boade ahead of its inaugural season. The move brought the midfielder back to her home state of Colorado, where she grew up after being born in Dallas. Wearing number 34, she joined a brand-new club building its first roster.
The signing positioned Boade as a key piece in the expansion side’s midfield core. Her combination of college production and NWSL experience made her a natural fit for a club looking to blend youth with proven professionals from day one.
Driving Style and Strengths
Meg Boade is best described as a creative, assist-driven central midfielder with strong fitness and tactical discipline. Her college record-setting season for assists at Northwestern highlights her ability to unlock defenses, while her comfort starting matches and scoring in the NWSL shows she can also contribute goals. Coaches have leaned on her versatility to play multiple midfield roles in different game states.
Notable Events and Milestones
Boade’s biggest milestones include leading Real Colorado to a 2018 U.S. Soccer Development Academy National Championship, setting Northwestern’s single-season assists record, and helping UCLA win a Big Ten Women’s Soccer Championship. She also won a 2025 NWSL Challenge Cup title with the Washington Spirit as part of the matchday squad.
Meg Boade Career Wins
Across her youth, college, and early professional career, Meg Boade has accumulated a series of team titles and individual honors. Her trophy case begins at the youth level and continues through the college and professional ranks, with more opportunities on the horizon in Denver.
Series and Tournament Highlights
Boade’s most significant team title came in 2018, when she captained Real Colorado to the U.S. Soccer Development Academy National Championship at the U-16 and U-17 level. In college, she helped Northwestern match the best finish in program history in 2022 and then led UCLA to a Big Ten Women’s Soccer Championship during her fifth year. At the professional level, she was part of the Washington Spirit squad that won the 2025 NWSL Challenge Cup.
Other Wins and Performances
Boade’s individual accolades include selection to the Mac Hermann Trophy watchlist following her record-setting assists season at Northwestern. She was also called into a U.S. under-23 training camp in March 2025, practicing alongside members of the senior national team, after previously attending a U.S. under-18 camp in October 2019.
Meg Boade Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Meg Boade comes from an athletic family with deep ties to soccer in Colorado. Her younger sister, Tess Boade, is also a professional soccer player, currently competing in the NWSL for Bay FC. The two sisters represent one of the more notable sibling pairs in American women’s soccer.
Personal Life
Boade was born in Dallas, Texas, but moved to Golden, Colorado, during her childhood, where she attended Valor Christian High School. Her return to Colorado with Denver Summit FC in 2026 brought her career full circle to her adopted home state, where much of her youth development took place.
2025 Season Performance
Boade’s 2025 NWSL season was a whirlwind introduction to the professional ranks. After being released by Racing Louisville in preseason, she signed with the Washington Spirit in early March and quickly tasted silverware as part of the 2025 NWSL Challenge Cup winning squad. She made her professional debut against the Houston Dash and scored her first NWSL goal in a draw with Utah Royals, two of the most memorable moments of her rookie year.
After her contract with the Spirit expired, she was briefly on the books at Gotham FC before joining Chicago Stars FC on a roster relief deal in late August. The Stars extended her contract through late November, giving her a stretch of regular first-team opportunities. The variety of stops across a single season provided her with three different club environments in one calendar year.
Looking ahead, Boade’s performance in 2025 laid the groundwork for a fresh chapter with Denver Summit FC. With a Challenge Cup medal, a first professional goal, and meaningful minutes at three NWSL clubs, she enters the expansion era in her home state with valuable experience and momentum on her side.