Oihane Hernández Bio
Oihane Hernández Zurbano (born 4 May 2000) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a right back for the Orlando Pride in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) and the Spain national team. Standing 1.65 m tall, she is known for her energy, defensive reliability, and ability to contribute in the attack down the right flank. She has previously played in Spain’s top flight, Liga F, for Athletic Club and Real Madrid, and is a senior international with the Spanish national team.
Across her career, Hernández has won major honours with Spain, including the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup and the 2024 UEFA Women’s Nations League. She also lifted the UEFA Women’s Under-19 Championship in 2018. Her move to the NWSL in February 2025 marked her first club experience outside Spanish football.
Early Life and Background
Oihane Hernández Zurbano was born on 4 May 2000 in Sopela, a coastal town in the Basque Country in northern Spain. Growing up in the Basque region, she was surrounded by a strong football culture, with local clubs and community teams offering a clear pathway for young players. The region has long been recognised for producing technically gifted footballers, and Hernández’s early years in this environment helped shape her development as a defender.
She began playing organised football in her youth, joining Betiko Neskak, a club based in Erandio, where she played from 2010 to 2015. During those formative years, she developed the tactical awareness and positional discipline that would later define her game as a right back. Her progress in the youth setup at Betiko Neskak caught the attention of one of the region’s biggest clubs.
Path to Soccer
In 2015, Hernández signed with Athletic Club, one of the most prestigious clubs in the Basque Country, and was initially assigned to their B team, Athletic Club B, in the Segunda División. The reserve side gave her the opportunity to train at a high level while gaining competitive minutes against senior players. Her development was steady, and she worked her way up the ranks over four seasons.
Her path to the first team came in the 2018–19 season, when she made her senior debut in a Liga F match against Atlético Madrid on 5 January 2019. That season, she made five appearances and scored one goal for the senior squad while continuing to feature for the reserves. From the 2019–20 campaign onward, she became a permanent member of the first team, signing a new contract in 2020 that ran until 2023.
Oihane Hernández Career
Early Career (2015–2019)
After joining Athletic Club’s youth system in 2015, Hernández spent four seasons developing with Athletic Club B in the Segunda División. Her performances for the reserve side earned her a first-team debut in January 2019, and she quickly showed she belonged at the senior level, netting one goal in five appearances during the 2018–19 season.
The experience of training daily with established professionals helped her refine the defensive and attacking qualities that define her game. By the end of her time with the B team, she had built a strong foundation that prepared her for a sustained role in Liga F.
Athletic Club Breakthrough (2019–2023)
From the 2019–20 season, Hernández became a regular in Athletic Club’s first team, playing primarily as a right back. She quickly became a fixture on the right flank, contributing both defensively and in attacking transitions. In 2020, she signed a new contract that tied her to the club until 2023, reflecting her growing importance to the squad.
During her time at Athletic Club, she was part of the side that reached the delayed semi-finals of the 2019–20 Copa de la Reina, where they lost on penalties to EDF Logroño. In August 2021, she won the Basque Cup with Athletic, after the team beat SD Eibar 4–0 in the semi-finals and Deportivo Alavés 2–1 in the final. Across her four full senior seasons with Athletic, she made 109 competitive appearances and scored three goals before departing in the summer of 2023.
Real Madrid Era (2023–2025)
In July 2023, Hernández signed with Real Madrid, marking a major step in her club career. She joined one of the most ambitious projects in Spanish women’s football, looking to test herself at the highest domestic level while competing in the UEFA Women’s Champions League.
She made her Real Madrid debut on 15 September 2023, in a Liga F match against Valencia. Across her time in the Spanish capital, she continued to develop as a right back, training and competing alongside some of the best players in the country. After two seasons with Real Madrid, she departed in February 2025 to take on a new challenge abroad.
Orlando Pride Era (2025–Present)
On 14 February 2025, Hernández transferred to NWSL side Orlando Pride, signing a two-year contract with a mutual option. The move made her one of the latest Spanish internationals to join the rapidly growing NWSL and gave her the chance to compete in a new league and country.
She made her Orlando Pride debut on 12 April 2025, entering as a second-half substitute for Cori Dyke in a 1–0 victory over Seattle Reign. Wearing the number 21 shirt, she quickly began establishing herself within the squad, bringing her experience from Liga F and the Spanish national team to the American game.
Driving Style and Strengths
Hernández is a modern full back whose strengths lie in her work rate, defensive positioning, and ability to get forward down the right flank. She combines reliable one-on-one defending with an instinct for overlapping runs and crossing, making her a dual threat on her side of the pitch. Her tactical discipline and consistency have made her a trusted option at both club and international level.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among her standout achievements, Hernández was part of the Spain squad that won the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, the country’s first senior World Cup title. She also won the UEFA Women’s Nations League in 2024 and the UEFA Women’s Under-19 Championship in 2018. At club level, reaching 109 appearances for Athletic Club and earning a move to Real Madrid stand out as defining milestones in her career.
Oihane Hernández Career Wins
Oihane Hernández has built a strong honours record at both youth and senior level, with major titles for Spain complemented by domestic success at club level. Her trophy cabinet reflects a career that has steadily progressed from promising youth international to senior World Cup winner.
International Highlights
With Spain’s senior team, Hernández won the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, contributing as part of the squad that secured the country’s first world title. She followed that up by winning the 2024 UEFA Women’s Nations League, held in France, the Netherlands, and Spain. At youth level, she helped Spain win the 2018 UEFA Women’s Under-19 Championship in Switzerland, beating Germany 1–0 in the final, after finishing as runner-up at the 2017 U-17 European Championship.
Other Wins & Performances
At domestic level, Hernández won the Basque Cup with Athletic Club in August 2021, helping her side beat SD Eibar 4–0 in the semi-finals and Deportivo Alavés 2–1 in the final. She also reached the Copa de la Reina semi-finals on two occasions with Athletic Club, first in 2019–20 and again in 2022–23.
Oihane Hernández Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Hernández’s family background is limited, and detailed details about her parents and immediate family are not widely available. She grew up in Sopela, in the Basque Country, and her early football development was shaped by the strong grassroots and community club culture of the region.
Personal Life
Hernández is known professionally by her playing name, while her full name is Oihane Hernández Zurbano. She is based in the United States following her 2025 transfer to Orlando Pride, and she continues to represent Spain at senior international level. Further personal details are not publicly confirmed.
2025 Season Performance
Hernández’s 2025 season has been defined by a major move, as she left Real Madrid in February 2025 to join Orlando Pride in the NWSL. Adapting to a new league, country, and style of play, she has begun integrating into the squad and made her debut in April 2025. Her early appearances have given the Pride an experienced international defender on the right side of the pitch.
At international level, Hernández remains part of the Spain squad that won the 2024 UEFA Women’s Nations League, and she will be aiming to maintain her place in the team throughout the 2025 calendar. With the World Cup win in 2023 and the Nations League title in 2024 behind her, she continues to play a role in Spain’s competitive cycle heading into future tournaments.
Looking ahead, her two-year contract with Orlando Pride runs through 2027, giving her time to establish herself as a long-term contributor in the NWSL. Her combination of top-level European experience and senior international pedigree makes her a key part of the Pride’s ambitions for the 2025 season and beyond.