Mia Fishel Bio
Mia Renee Fishel (born April 30, 2001) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a forward for Seattle Reign FC of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) and the United States national team. Fishel played college soccer for the UCLA Bruins, winning two Pac-12 titles before being drafted fifth overall in the 2022 NWSL Draft by the Orlando Pride. However, she instead chose to sign with Mexican club Tigres UANL and was the leading scorer in Liga MX Femenil. In August 2023, Fishel signed with Women’s Super League club Chelsea. An anterior cruciate ligament injury interrupted her time at Chelsea where she scored two goals in fourteen appearances over two seasons. On July 10, 2025, Fishel signed a contract with Seattle Reign FC of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL).
Early Life and Background
Born in San Diego, California, Mia Fishel attended Patrick Henry High School, where she played two years of high school soccer as well as basketball. She was recognized as a first-team All-CIF player in soccer during her sophomore year. Fishel also played club soccer with the ECNL team San Diego Surf SC, which helped her develop her skills early on.
Path to Soccer
Fishel played three seasons of college soccer for the UCLA Bruins at the University of California, Los Angeles, between 2019 and 2021 while majoring in psychology. As a freshman, she appeared in all 24 games and led the Bruins in scoring with 14 goals, including five in the postseason, as UCLA reached the College Cup semi-finals. Fishel earned several accolades, including Pac-12 All-Freshman Team and All-Pac-12 third-team honors. In 2020, she helped the Bruins win the Pac-12 title for the first time since 2014, earning All-Pacific Region first-team and All-American second-team selections.
Mia Fishel Career
Early Career (2022)
In December 2021, Mia Fishel was selected in the first round (5th overall) of the 2022 NWSL Draft by Orlando Pride. However, she opted to sign with Mexican Liga MX team Tigres UANL instead. Fishel made her debut on January 31, 2022, and quickly made an impact by scoring twice in her first start. She finished her time at Tigres UANL with an impressive record of 17 goals in 17 appearances during the 2022 Apertura, becoming the first foreign player to win the Liga MX Femenil golden boot.
Breakthrough (2023-2025)
On August 4, 2023, Chelsea announced the signing of Fishel from Tigres on a three-year contract, reportedly paying a $250,000 transfer fee. She made her Chelsea debut on October 1, 2023, scoring her first goal in a Women’s Super League match against Tottenham Hotspur. Unfortunately, her time at Chelsea was marred by an anterior cruciate ligament injury sustained while on international duty in February 2024. Despite this setback, she made her return to the pitch in March 2025.
Notable Works and Milestones
Fishel’s signature work includes her remarkable performance at Tigres UANL, where she became the leading scorer in Liga MX Femenil. She has also made significant contributions to the United States national team, scoring her first goal in a friendly against Colombia on October 29, 2023.
Mia Fishel Award Nominations
Throughout her career, Mia Fishel has received recognition for her performances, particularly during her time at UCLA and with the United States youth national teams.
Mia Fishel Awards Won
Mia Fishel has achieved notable success in her career, including winning the Liga MX Femenil golden boot and multiple accolades during her college career at UCLA. She has also been recognized for her contributions to the United States youth national teams.
Mia Fishel Family
Mia Fishel’s family includes uncles Andrew and David Bascome, both of whom played international soccer for the Bermuda national team. Her cousin, Druw Bascome, is also involved in soccer, and the two have faced each other on the field during international competitions.
Personal Life
In late 2024, Mia Fishel published a children’s book titled Big Fish, showcasing her creative side beyond soccer. Her journey in sports is complemented by her family’s athletic background, which has undoubtedly influenced her career.
