Messiah Bright Bio
Messiah Da’kahlian Bright (born January 12, 2000) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a forward for the Houston Dash of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). Bright played college soccer for the Texas Christian University Horned Frogs, where she became the all-time top scorer. She was named the Big 12 Freshman of the Year in 2018 and earned first-team All-American honors in 2021. Bright was drafted by the Orlando Pride in the second round of the 2023 NWSL Draft.
Early Life and Background
Born in Dallas, Texas, Messiah Bright attended Cedar Hill High School. During her early years, she scored 48 goals and provided 15 assists, earning the District 8-6A Offensive MVP title in 2016. However, she opted not to play high school soccer in her last two years. Instead, she played club soccer for Solar SC, where she became a three-time Dallas Girls Cup champion. In addition to soccer, Bright was also a standout track and field athlete.
Path to Soccer
Bright played five seasons of college soccer for the Texas Christian University Horned Frogs from 2018 to 2022. In her freshman year, she was one of five players to start all 21 games and tied for the team lead with six goals. Her performance earned her All-Big 12 Conference Second Team honors and the title of Big 12 Freshman of the Year. Bright continued to excel in her college career, leading her team with 12 goals in her sophomore year and being recognized as All-Big 12 First Team and Offensive MVP at the 2019 Big 12 Tournament. Over her college career, she made 103 appearances, scored 50 goals, and provided 18 assists, setting a new program record for all-time goals.
Messiah Bright Career
Early Career (2023)
Messiah Bright was selected in the second round (21st overall) of the 2023 NWSL Draft by Orlando Pride on January 12, 2023. She signed a three-year contract with the team on March 1, 2023, and made her debut on March 26, 2023, starting in the season opener against Portland Thorns FC. Bright quickly made an impact, scoring six goals in 22 regular season appearances and was nominated for the NWSL Rookie of the Year award.
Breakthrough (2024)
After one season with the Orlando Pride, Bright requested a trade for personal reasons and was acquired by Angel City FC on January 26, 2024. She made her debut for Angel City on March 17, 2024, and recorded her first assist on July 26, 2024. Bright achieved a significant milestone by scoring her first professional hat-trick on August 18, 2024, during a friendly match against FC Juárez, marking the first hat-trick in Angel City’s history.
Notable Works and Milestones
Bright’s signature work includes her record-setting performance at Texas Christian University and her impactful debut season in the NWSL. She has been recognized for her contributions on the field, including being named NWSL Player of the Week and earning multiple All-Big 12 honors.
Messiah Bright Award Nominations
Throughout her career, Messiah Bright has received several nominations, including being one of three nominees for the NWSL Rookie of the Year award in 2023.
Messiah Bright Awards Won
Bright has achieved notable recognition during her college career, including being named Big 12 Freshman of the Year and earning All-Big 12 honors multiple times. She was also recognized as a first-team All-American in 2021.
Messiah Bright Family
Information regarding Messiah Bright’s family is not publicly available.
Personal Life
Details about Messiah Bright’s personal life, including relationships and children, are not publicly disclosed.