Paige Metayer Bio
Paige Marjorie Metayer (born September 23, 2000) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a right back or midfielder for the Washington Spirit of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). She is widely regarded as one of the league’s emerging talents after earning the NWSL June Rookie of the Month award in 2023. Metayer came up through the youth system in Southern California and went on to play college soccer at the University of California, Berkeley, before launching her professional career in the nation’s top women’s league.
Early Life and Background
Metayer grew up in Irvine, California, and attended University High School, where she built the foundation for her future soccer career. At University High School she was twice named the girls’ soccer team’s most valuable player and also set a school record in the 400-meter dash, a mark that highlighted her speed and athletic ability across multiple sports. In 2018, the school recognized her wide-ranging impact by naming her its girls’ athlete of the year.
Outside of high school competition, Metayer played youth soccer for the So Cal Blues, an Elite Clubs National League (ECNL) side based in Southern California. With the Blues she appeared in three consecutive ECNL national playoffs and won the prestigious 2017 Surf Cup. These experiences at the club level helped sharpen her game against top youth talent across the country.
Path to Soccer
Metayer’s progression from a decorated high school athlete to a top collegiate prospect reflected her combination of technical skill and physical gifts. Her ECNL experience with So Cal Blues and her record-setting track performances convinced college recruiters that she could contribute immediately at the NCAA Division I level. Her decision to attend the University of California, Berkeley, placed her in one of the Pac-12 Conference’s most competitive women’s soccer programs.
At Cal, Metayer balanced athletics with academics, studying data science and economics while contributing steadily to the Golden Bears over four seasons. The academic environment of UC Berkeley, paired with a strong soccer culture, helped her mature as both a player and a professional. By the time she finished her college career, she had played enough matches to make the jump to the professional ranks, even though she went undrafted in the 2023 NWSL Draft.
Paige Metayer Career
Early Career (2018–2022)
Metayer began her collegiate career with the California Golden Bears in 2018 and quickly made an impact. She scored her first collegiate goal on September 17, 2018, in a match against UC Davis, signaling her ability to contribute in the attacking third. Over the course of her four seasons she appeared in 89 matches and scored nine goals while adding one assist, establishing herself as a reliable and durable presence in the Cal lineup.
Her development at Berkeley went beyond scoring. She played multiple positions across the back line and midfield, demonstrating versatility that would later attract professional scouts. By the end of her senior season, Metayer had earned a reputation as a hard-working defender and midfielder with strong aerial ability and the pace to recover defensively.
Washington Spirit Breakthrough (2023–Present)
After going undrafted in the 2023 NWSL Draft, Metayer joined the Washington Spirit during the 2023 preseason as a non-rostered invitee. Her strong preseason earned her a three-year contract with an option for an additional year, signed on March 8, 2023. She debuted for the Spirit in the team’s first match of her rookie season on March 26, starting against OL Reign and becoming one of only a handful of rookies to open the year in the starting lineup.
Metayer quickly became a fixture in the Spirit’s early-season rotation. She was the only rookie to start in the Spirit’s first three matches of 2023, although a second yellow card against Racing Louisville FC on April 1 resulted in a one-match suspension. On May 6, she scored her first professional goal in a 3–1 win against San Diego Wave FC, a milestone that confirmed her growing role in the squad.
Her summer form was even more impressive. On May 28 she scored an equalizing header in a 1–1 draw against NJ/NY Gotham FC, on June 10 she assisted on Ashley Sanchez’s match-winning goal against Angel City FC, and on June 18 she netted another equalizer in a 3–2 win over Kansas City Current. These performances led the NWSL to name Metayer its June Rookie of the Month on July 6, with the league citing her June assist, June goal, and her high number of shot-creating actions.
In August 2025, Metayer captained the Spirit for the first time in the club’s continental debut, a 7–0 away win over Salvadoran side Alianza in the 2025–26 CONCACAF W Champions Cup group stage. That leadership moment marked another step in her rise from undrafted invitee to a recognized leader within one of the NWSL’s flagship clubs.
Playing Style and Strengths
With the Washington Spirit, Metayer plays on the right side of the team’s 4–4–2 diamond formation, covering defensive duties while also serving as an aerial threat in attack. In May 2023, the American women’s soccer outlet The Equalizer described her as a U.S. national team prospect at either holding or box-to-box midfield, highlighting her pace, positioning, footwork, and tackling. Her track background continues to show in her ability to recover defensively and contest headers against larger opponents.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Metayer’s signature moments are her first professional goal against San Diego Wave FC, her June 2023 Rookie of the Month honor, and her first captaincy of the Spirit in the 2025–26 CONCACAF W Champions Cup. Going undrafted in 2023 and then becoming a regular starter for an NWSL title contender stands as one of the most compelling storylines of her early professional career.
Paige Metayer Career Wins
Across her youth, college, and professional career, Paige Metayer has collected a steady list of team and individual achievements. Her competitive résumé includes a Surf Cup title at the youth level, a four-year college career at a Pac-12 program, and a 2023 rookie campaign that ended with league-wide individual recognition.
Washington Spirit Highlights
Since joining the Spirit in 2023, Metayer has been part of a team competing annually for NWSL honors and, in 2025, competing in the CONCACAF W Champions Cup. Her first professional goal, her first captaincy in continental play, and her June 2023 Rookie of the Month award stand out as the clearest individual milestones from her time in Washington.
Other Wins and Performances
At the youth level, Metayer won the 2017 Surf Cup with So Cal Blues and helped the club reach three consecutive ECNL national playoffs. At the high school level she was a two-time girls’ soccer MVP and the 2018 girls’ athlete of the year at University High School in Irvine.
Paige Metayer Family
Family Background and Soccer Lineage
Publicly available information about Paige Metayer’s parents and extended family is limited. What is clear is that she grew up in Irvine, California, and developed her game in a region known for producing elite women’s soccer talent. Her athletic profile, which includes a school record in the 400-meter dash, suggests a household that valued multi-sport development, though specific family details have not been widely reported.
Personal Life
Metayer stands 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) tall and wears jersey number 26 for the Washington Spirit. Off the field she studied data science and economics at the University of California, Berkeley, interests that reflect a focus on life after soccer. There is no widely confirmed public information about a spouse or children at this stage of her career.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 NWSL season has marked a new chapter for Metayer within the Washington Spirit organization. After establishing herself as a dependable two-way player on the right side during her rookie contract, she has continued to feature regularly for the club while taking on added responsibility. Her first captaincy in the 2025–26 CONCACAF W Champions Cup underlined the trust the coaching staff has placed in her as a leader.
Beyond her domestic duties, Metayer’s role in the Spirit’s continental debut expanded her competitive resume to include matches outside the NWSL. Performances such as her 7–0 win over Alianza showed her ability to organize teammates and contribute in high-profile fixtures. These minutes have given her valuable experience against international opposition and have strengthened her case as a future U.S. national team candidate.
Heading into the remainder of 2025 and beyond, Metayer remains under contract with the Spirit through the 2026 season. With her combination of pace, aerial ability, and tactical discipline, she is positioned to remain a regular contributor for Washington while continuing to pursue a senior international cap. Her development arc, from undrafted invitee to first-choice starter and team captain, suggests her best years in the NWSL are still ahead.