Morgan Gautrat Bio
Morgan Paige Gautrat (née Brian; born February 26, 1993) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Women’s Super League 2 club Newcastle United W.F.C. Born and raised in coastal Georgia, she starred at the University of Virginia before being selected first overall by the Houston Dash in the 2015 NWSL College Draft. Gautrat is a two-time FIFA Women’s World Cup champion with the United States, having helped the national team claim titles in 2015 and 2019.
Across her club career, Gautrat has played in the National Women’s Soccer League, the French top flight with Olympique Lyonnais, and now the English second tier with Newcastle United. She is widely regarded as one of the most decorated American midfielders of her generation, having collected more than 88 senior caps and eight international goals for the United States.
Early Life and Background
Morgan Paige Brian was born on February 26, 1993, in St. Simons Island, Georgia, to parents Vickie and Steve Brian. She grew up alongside her older sister, Jennifer, in a community that she later credited with shaping her competitive drive. Because of her small frame compared to older teammates, she picked up the childhood nickname “Plankton,” a label she carried lightly as her career blossomed.
St. Simons Island had a strong youth soccer culture, and Gautrat began playing with girls several years older than herself from an early age. She later joined the Ponte Vedra Storm in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, where she progressed from the U-12 level through U-19. With the Storm, she captured state championships at the U-17 and U-19 levels and, in her final youth season under the Clay County Soccer Club banner, won the 2012 United States Youth Soccer National Championship.
Gautrat attended Frederica Academy on St. Simons Island from 2007 to 2011, leading the soccer team to four consecutive state titles. She also played varsity basketball and earned All-Region and All-State recognition on the court. By the end of her high school career, she had recorded 186 goals and 95 assists, was twice named a Parade All-American, and became the first soccer player to be honored as the Gatorade National Female Athlete of the Year in 2011.
Path to Soccer
Gautrat’s club pathway was shaped by the Olympic Development Program, where she was initially cut from the Florida state team but used the setback as motivation to earn state, regional, and national ODP selections. She also represented the United States at the youth international level, joining the U-17 squad that finished third at the 2010 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Costa Rica as the youngest member of the roster.
At the University of Virginia, Gautrat played for the Cavaliers from 2011 to 2014, finishing her collegiate career ranked second in career points, second in career assists, and fifth in career goals. She was a two-time MAC Hermann Trophy winner, capturing the award in 2013 and 2014 to become one of the few women in history to win the honor in consecutive years. Her dominance in college established her as the top prospect heading into the professional draft.
Morgan Gautrat Career
Early Career (2011–2014)
As a freshman at Virginia, Gautrat started 22 games and was named Soccer America National Freshman of the Year. She continued to develop in her second year, helping the United States win the 2012 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Japan and earning ACC Tournament MVP honors for the Cavaliers. Her junior and senior seasons cemented her status as a top-tier talent, leading to back-to-back Hermann Trophy wins.
Houston Dash Breakthrough (2015–2017)
The Houston Dash selected Gautrat with the first overall pick of the 2015 NWSL College Draft, and she made her professional debut on April 10, 2015, against the Washington Spirit. After contributing to the United States’ 2015 World Cup triumph in Canada, she returned to log ten appearances during her rookie NWSL campaign. She spent parts of three seasons in Houston before being traded to the Chicago Red Stars in August 2017 for Kristie Mewis.
Chicago Red Stars Era (2017–2022)
Gautrat made an immediate impact with Chicago, helping the club earn its first-ever NWSL playoff win in 2019. That season, she scored her first NWSL goal against Sky Blue FC and earned her first NWSL Team of the Month selection in September. She returned to the Red Stars in 2018 after a brief stint in France and remained a key midfield presence through the 2022 season, when the club announced her departure.
Olympique Lyonnais Stint (2018)
In January 2018, Gautrat signed a two-and-a-half-year deal with Olympique Lyonnais Féminin, one of the most decorated clubs in European women’s soccer. Her time in France was short, lasting only five months before she returned to the NWSL and rejoined the Chicago Red Stars in June 2018.
Kansas City Current and Orlando Pride (2023–2025)
Gautrat joined the Kansas City Current as a free agent ahead of the 2023 NWSL season on a two-year contract. On January 11, 2024, she was traded to the Orlando Pride in exchange for $50,000 in allocation money and an international roster spot. In Orlando, she continued her role as a veteran midfield presence while pursuing a move abroad.
Newcastle United Era (2025–Present)
On August 25, 2025, Gautrat signed with Newcastle United on loan until December 2025, marking her return to European soccer. She made an instant impression, scoring her first goal for the club, an olimpico, in the 98th minute of a 2–2 draw against Crystal Palace on October 5, 2025. On March 13, 2026, Newcastle announced the permanent signing of Gautrat following the expiration of her contract with the Orlando Pride.
Driving Style and Strengths
Gautrat is known for her two-way play in midfield, combining sharp passing, late runs into the box, and reliable finishing with strong off-the-ball movement. She is comfortable playing centrally or on the wing, and her tactical intelligence has long been highlighted by coaches, including former Virginia head coach Steve Swanson, who praised her elite soccer brain and versatility.
Notable Events and Milestones
Gautrat became a two-time FIFA Women’s World Cup champion in 2019 after helping the United States defeat the Netherlands 2–0 in Lyon. Earlier, in 2015, she was the youngest member of the American squad that beat Japan 5–2 in the World Cup final. She also represented the United States at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, recording an assist on Alex Morgan’s goal against New Zealand.
Morgan Gautrat Career Wins
Gautrat has built an impressive résumé that includes two FIFA Women’s World Cup titles (2015, 2019), a 2012 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup championship, a 2016 CONCACAF Olympic qualifying Golden Ball, and multiple NWSL playoff appearances. Her honors at the club level include stints with title-contending sides such as Olympique Lyonnais and the Orlando Pride.
United States Highlights
Gautrat made 88 appearances and scored eight goals for the United States senior national team, earning her first cap on June 15, 2013, against Korea Republic. Her senior debut goal came just two minutes after entering a match against Mexico on September 3, 2013, off an assist from Abby Wambach. She went on to become a two-time World Cup champion and was named to the Best XI at the 2016 CONCACAF Women’s Olympic Qualifying tournament.
Other Wins and Performances
At the youth level, Gautrat helped the United States win the 2012 CONCACAF Under-20 Women’s Championship and the 2012 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Japan, scoring a goal during the tournament. With the Ponte Vedra Storm and Clay County Soccer Club, she captured U-17 and U-19 state titles, and her Frederica Academy high school team won four consecutive state championships during her tenure.
Morgan Gautrat Family
Family Background and Soccer Lineage
Gautrat was raised in St. Simons Island, Georgia, by parents Vickie and Steve Brian, alongside her older sister, Jennifer. Her parents and sister have been credited in interviews with supporting her early development in a coastal community steeped in youth soccer. Her husband, Fabrice Gautrat, is also a professional soccer player, and the couple shares a connection to the sport that has shaped much of her adult life.
Personal Life
Morgan married soccer player Fabrice Gautrat in November 2017, taking his surname professionally. She is a Christian and a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. In June 2020, she wore a jersey bearing the name “Gautrat” during the NWSL Challenge Cup, reportedly as a tribute to her husband. Earlier in her career, she was in a relationship with fellow professional Eric Bird from 2013 to 2015.
2025 Season Performance
Gautrat’s 2025 campaign began with the Orlando Pride, where she was expected to play a leadership role in central midfield. On August 25, 2025, however, the club and player agreed to send her on loan to Newcastle United of the Women’s Super League 2, where she would have a chance to compete in European competition. The move gave Newcastle an experienced international playmaker to anchor its midfield.
Gautrat’s first goal for Newcastle, an olimpico scored in the 98th minute against Crystal Palace on October 5, 2025, immediately endeared her to the Newcastle supporters and demonstrated her knack for late, decisive contributions. Her performances in England have provided a fresh platform as she continued to build match fitness after limited minutes in Orlando.
Heading into the second half of the loan, Gautrat’s combination of veteran poise, two-footed passing range, and nose for goal positioned her as a centerpiece of Newcastle’s promotion push. Her form has also fueled conversations about a potential long-term contract, which was ultimately finalized in March 2026. The English chapter has revitalized a stage of her career that began as a teenage prodigy on the beaches of coastal Georgia.