Olivia Moultrie Bio
Olivia Lynn Moultrie (born September 17, 2005) is an American professional soccer player who plays as an attacking midfielder for the Portland Thorns of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) and the United States national team. Moultrie signed her first professional contract with the Thorns at age 15 in 2021, following a lawsuit against the NWSL that successfully removed the league’s age limit. She won the 2022 NWSL Championship with the Thorns and was named to the NWSL Best XI First Team in 2025.
Moultrie made her senior debut for the United States at age 18 in 2023, earning U.S. Soccer Young Female Player of the Year afterwards. She continues to develop as one of the most prominent young talents in American women’s soccer.
Early Life and Background
Moultrie was born in Santa Clarita, California to K.C. and Jessica Moultrie, both of whom participated in college athletics. She was raised in the Canyon Country district of Santa Clarita and is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Moultrie began training in soccer at the age of four and quickly showed an advanced commitment to the sport.
By fifth grade, Moultrie was homeschooled so she could focus on soccer, and she became the first girl on a boys’ club team to play in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy system. At 11 years old, she accepted a full scholarship offer to play soccer for the University of North Carolina Tar Heels, becoming the youngest girls’ soccer player to publicly accept a college offer at that time. Her family then began planning a move to Lyon, France, to allow her to begin playing professionally as soon as possible, though those plans were later set aside.
Path to Soccer
Moultrie played youth soccer with Total Futbol Academy in 2017 before moving to Beach FC, where she developed from 2017 to 2019. She also represented the United States at youth international level, featuring for the U15 team in 2018 and 2019, the U16 team in 2019, and the U17 team in 2020. Her rapid rise through the youth ranks drew national attention long before she reached senior soccer.
Shortly after her college commitment, Moultrie traveled to Europe to train, signaling her intention to pursue a professional career as early as possible. In February 2019, she announced that she was turning professional, signing a representation deal with the Wasserman Media Group and a multi-year endorsement arrangement with Nike, giving up her college eligibility in the process. She then joined the Portland Thorns FC academy in 2019, and her family later relocated from California to Wilsonville, Oregon, where she currently resides.
Olivia Moultrie Career
Early Career (2019-2020)
After joining the Portland Thorns FC academy in 2019, Moultrie trained with the club’s senior team and appeared in exhibition matches, even though she could not sign a professional contract. She was prevented from signing by the NWSL, which prohibited players under age 18, while FIFA also restricted minors from playing overseas. Her first appearance for the senior team came in an exhibition match on March 27, 2019, against the United States under-23 team.
During this period, Moultrie also continued her youth international career with the United States U15, U16, and U17 teams, gaining valuable experience against high-level competition. Despite the limitations on her club career, she continued to develop her technical skills and tactical understanding in training environments at the Thorns.
Portland Thorns Breakthrough (2021-2022)
On May 4, 2021, Moultrie filed an antitrust lawsuit against the NWSL in the United States District Court for the District of Oregon, alleging that the league violated the Sherman Antitrust Act with its age limit. On May 24, 2021, Judge Karin Immergut granted a temporary restraining order, ordering the league to lift its age rule and allow Moultrie to compete for a roster spot. In June 2021, the league awarded her rights to OL Reign, who traded her to the Thorns for a third-round draft pick.
On June 30, 2021, Moultrie signed a three-year contract with the Thorns, becoming the youngest player to sign with an NWSL team. She made her professional debut on July 3, 2021, coming on as an 83rd-minute substitute in a 2-0 win against Racing Louisville. She recorded her first start and first assist on August 7 against Washington Spirit, and on August 19 she scored her first professional goal, a 57th-minute direct free kick against Houston Dash in the International Champions Cup semifinal.
On June 12, 2022, Moultrie scored her first NWSL league goal, becoming the youngest player to do so. On October 29, 2022, she came on as a substitute in the 2022 NWSL Championship game, and the Thorns won the match, earning Moultrie her first NWSL Championship.
Portland Thorns Era (2023-Present)
Moultrie continued her development with the Thorns in 2023 and made her senior debut for the United States at age 18 in October 2023, earning her first cap on December 2, 2023, against China PR. On February 13, 2024, it was announced that she agreed to a three-year contract extension with the Thorns, lasting through the 2026 season.
On October 4, 2025, Moultrie became the youngest player in Thorns history to score twice in a single match, recording a brace in a 2-1 comeback win over Bay FC. She played in all 26 games that season and led the team in scoring with 8 goals, 2 of them on direct free kicks. On September 15, 2025, she set the NWSL record for most goals (14) scored by a teenager, surpassing Jaedyn Shaw. On November 2, 2025, she was awarded the Supporters’ Player of the Year award by Rose City Riveters. Moultrie started the 2026 season off by registering two game-winning goals and one assist, earning her a spot on the March NWSL Team of the Month.
Driving Style and Strengths
Moultrie is recognized for her technical quality as an attacking midfielder, particularly her ability to score on direct free kicks, with two of her 8 goals in 2025 coming from set pieces. Her vision and passing allow her to create chances for teammates, and her composure in front of goal has been a defining feature of her game. She has developed strong tactical understanding, which complements her natural finishing ability.
Notable Events and Milestones
Moultrie’s antitrust lawsuit against the NWSL stands as a landmark moment in American soccer, as it removed the league’s age limit and opened the door for future young professionals. She became the youngest player to sign with an NWSL team in 2021, the youngest to score an NWSL league goal in 2022, and an NWSL Champion that same year. In 2025, she set the NWSL record for most goals scored by a teenager with 14, surpassing Jaedyn Shaw.
Olivia Moultrie Career Wins
Olivia Moultrie has compiled an impressive list of accomplishments across club and international soccer. She won the 2022 NWSL Championship with the Portland Thorns and claimed the 2024 CONCACAF W Gold Cup with the United States. She has been recognized individually as U.S. Soccer Young Female Player of the Year and as the Rose City Riveters Supporters’ Player of the Year.
Portland Thorns Highlights
Moultrie’s first NWSL goal came on June 12, 2022, against the Houston Dash, and she added to her tally consistently each season. By 2025, she had developed into a leading scorer for the Thorns, finishing the season with 8 goals and leading the team in scoring. She set the NWSL record for most goals by a teenager with 14 goals, surpassing Jaedyn Shaw on September 15, 2025.
Other Wins and Performances
On the international stage, Moultrie won the 2024 CONCACAF W Gold Cup with the United States senior team, where she also earned Player of the Match honors in a group-stage win over the Dominican Republic. In October 2025, she scored her second brace for the United States in a friendly against Portugal.
Olivia Moultrie Family
Family Background and Soccer Lineage
Moultrie was raised by her parents, K.C. and Jessica Moultrie, both of whom participated in college athletics. Their athletic background contributed to the family environment that supported her early development in soccer. The family has been closely involved in her career, including the decision to relocate from California to Wilsonville, Oregon, when she joined the Portland Thorns.
Personal Life
Moultrie is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and was homeschooled from fifth grade onward to allow her to focus on soccer. She currently resides in Wilsonville, Oregon, where she has lived since joining the Portland Thorns academy. She is active on social media, with verified accounts on Instagram and X (formerly Twitter).
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 NWSL season marked a breakthrough year for Olivia Moultrie with the Portland Thorns. She played in all 26 league games, leading the team in scoring with 8 goals, including 2 direct free kicks. On October 4, 2025, she became the youngest player in Thorns history to score twice in a single match, recording a brace in a 2-1 comeback win over Bay FC.
On September 15, 2025, she set the NWSL record for most goals scored by a teenager with 14 goals, surpassing Jaedyn Shaw. Her consistent form throughout the season was recognized on November 2, 2025, when she was awarded the Supporters’ Player of the Year by Rose City Riveters. These performances underlined her growth into one of the league’s most influential attacking midfielders.
Internationally, Moultrie continued to contribute for the United States, scoring her second senior brace in a friendly against Portugal on October 26, 2025. Her strong form at both club and international level positioned her as a central figure for the Thorns heading into the 2026 season, where she opened the year with two game-winning goals and an assist, earning a spot on the March NWSL Team of the Month.
