Paige Nielsen Bio
Paige Kathleen Nielsen (born October 14, 1993) is an American professional soccer defender who plays for the Houston Dash of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). Standing 5 feet 5 inches tall and wearing jersey number 14, she is recognized for her versatility, having played both as a defender and forward at the collegiate and professional levels. Over the course of her career, she has competed in the United States, Australia, South Korea, and Cyprus, building a reputation as a dependable and adaptable player.
After being drafted by Seattle Reign FC in 2016, Nielsen embarked on an international journey that included stints with Western Sydney Wanderers, Suwon UDC, and Canberra United before returning to the NWSL with the Washington Spirit. She later joined Angel City FC as an expansion draft selection in 2021 and was traded to the Houston Dash in April 2024.
Early Life and Background
Paige Kathleen Nielsen was born on October 14, 1993, in Lincoln, Nebraska, to her mother, Kathy Nielsen. She grew up in Lincoln and attended Lincoln Southeast High School, where she was a four-year varsity soccer player. During her high school career, she set school records with 79 goals and 35 assists and was twice named to the All-State, All-Conference, and All-City soccer teams. She was also twice nominated as the Nebraska Gatorade Player of the Year in 2011 and 2012.
Outside of high school competition, Nielsen played club soccer for Toro Bravo in Omaha, Nebraska. With Toro Bravo, she helped the team win three state championships, the 2011 Midwest Regional League championship, and the 2012 National League Red Division championship. She also represented the Nebraska Olympic Development Program team from 2007 to 2010, gaining valuable experience against top regional competition.
Nielsen has often spoken about the influence of her mother, Kathy, who passed away from Hodgkin lymphoma while Nielsen was a senior in college. She has said publicly that she continues to play the game in her mother’s memory.
Path to Professional Soccer
Following her decorated youth career in Nebraska, Nielsen committed to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, joining one of the most storied programs in American collegiate soccer. During her freshman year in 2012, she appeared in 20 games and started five as the Tar Heels won the NCAA Division I Women’s Soccer Championship for the 21st time in program history.
As a sophomore, Nielsen ranked fourth on the team in goals scored, finishing the season with six goals and four assists. During her junior year in 2014, she started nine of 20 games and led the team in game-winning goals, with four of her five scores proving decisive. In her senior season, she served as team captain and wrapped up her collegiate career with 13 goals and 7 assists, demonstrating her ability to contribute both defensively and in the attack.
In January 2016, Nielsen was selected as the 25th overall pick in the 2016 NWSL College Draft by Seattle Reign FC, becoming the first Nebraskan native to be drafted by an NWSL team. She signed with the club in May 2016 and made her professional debut against the Chicago Red Stars on May 22 of that year.
Paige Nielsen Career
Early Career (2016)
Paige Kathleen Nielsen’s professional career began in unusual fashion, as she split her rookie season across multiple continents. After a brief stint with Apollon in Cyprus’s First Division, she joined the Western Sydney Wanderers for the 2016-17 Australian W-League season. With the Wanderers, she quickly established herself as a regular, starting all twelve matches for the club.
Although her time with Seattle Reign FC was short, as she was waived in July 2016, the early months of her professional career provided her with exposure to top-level competition in multiple leagues. Her willingness to move abroad to find playing time reflected the determination that would come to define her career.
Suwon UDC and Canberra United (2017–2018)
Following the conclusion of the W-League season, Nielsen signed with Suwon UDC of the WK League in South Korea for the 2017-18 campaign. The move gave her another opportunity to test herself in a different football culture and further broadened her professional experience.
In November 2018, Nielsen returned to Australia, signing with Canberra United in the W-League. She made five appearances for the club before departing in December of the same year, rounding out a two-year international chapter of her career before heading back to the NWSL.
Washington Spirit (2019–2021)
In February 2019, Nielsen signed with the Washington Spirit, returning to the NWSL after three seasons abroad. Her arrival in Washington gave her the chance to settle into a longer-term role in a league she had briefly entered back in 2016.
During her three seasons with the Spirit, Nielsen contributed as a defender and helped anchor a back line that experienced both struggles and growth. Her time in Washington marked her longest uninterrupted run in the NWSL to that point in her career.
Angel City FC Era (2022–2024)
On December 16, 2021, Nielsen was selected by Angel City FC in the 2022 NWSL Expansion Draft, becoming part of the league’s newest franchise. In her first season with the club, she made twenty appearances and sixteen starts, helping Angel City navigate their inaugural campaign, which ended with an 8-9-5 record and an eighth-place finish.
After signing a two-year contract extension in December 2022, Nielsen started all 21 matches she played during the 2023 season. On June 17, 2023, she scored the equalizing goal in a 2-1 victory over regional rival San Diego Wave FC. Angel City finished the regular season in fifth place and advanced to the playoffs for the first time in club history, though they were eliminated by Seattle Reign FC in the quarterfinals.
Houston Dash Era (2024–Present)
On April 20, 2024, Angel City FC announced that Paige Kathleen Nielsen had been traded to the Houston Dash in exchange for $50,000 in allocation money and $50,000 in transfer funds. The move gave her a fresh start with a new organization looking to rebuild its roster.
Nielsen made an immediate impact with her new club, scoring a 98th-minute goal to defeat her former team, Angel City, 1-0 on May 12, 2024. The dramatic late winner announced her arrival in Houston and set the tone for the early portion of her tenure with the Dash.
Driving Style and Strengths
Although best known as a defender, Paige Kathleen Nielsen has shown throughout her career that she can contribute in attack when needed. Her collegiate résumé of 13 goals and 7 assists reflects a willingness to step forward into offensive positions. At the professional level, she has demonstrated strong fitness, dependable one-on-one defending, and the ability to deliver timely goals, such as her 98th-minute winner against Angel City in 2024.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining moments of Nielsen’s career came in 2023, when she scored the equalizer in a 2-1 win over San Diego Wave FC and helped Angel City reach the NWSL playoffs for the first time. She is also notable as the first Nebraskan native to be drafted by an NWSL team, having been selected 25th overall by Seattle Reign FC in 2016.
Paige Nielsen Career Highlights
Across her professional career in the NWSL, W-League, WK League, and Cypriot First Division, Paige Kathleen Nielsen has accumulated a wide range of experiences with multiple clubs. While comprehensive win totals across all leagues are not fully documented, her appearances and contributions at each stop have established her as a reliable and durable defender.
Club Highlights
Nielsen’s first notable professional milestone came with the Western Sydney Wanderers in the 2016-17 W-League season, where she started all twelve matches. Her most significant NWSL chapter came with Angel City FC between 2022 and 2024, where she started every match she played during the 2023 season and helped the club qualify for the playoffs for the first time.
Other Performances
Nielsen also represented the North Carolina Tar Heels in collegiate competition, contributing to the program’s 21st NCAA Division I Women’s Soccer Championship in 2012. Her appearances in Cyprus with Apollon and in South Korea with Suwon UDC added to her international resume.
Paige Nielsen Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Paige Kathleen Nielsen was raised in Lincoln, Nebraska, by her mother, Kathy Nielsen. Kathy passed away from Hodgkin lymphoma while Paige was a senior in college, and Nielsen has publicly stated that she continues to play soccer in her mother’s memory.
Personal Life
Paige Kathleen Nielsen married Jennifer Riservato on January 22, 2022. In 2022, she also underwent emergency surgery for a blood clotting condition, a health scare that she has openly discussed as part of her personal journey. Beyond soccer, Nielsen was featured in the 2023 documentary series Angel City and appeared in the first season of The Offseason in 2024, a reality television series following NWSL players.
2025 Season Outlook
Paige Kathleen Nielsen is expected to enter the 2025 NWSL season as a member of the Houston Dash after being traded from Angel City FC in April 2024. Her early performances with the Dash, including a 98th-minute winner against her former club, suggest she will play a meaningful role in the team’s defensive structure during the new campaign.
Coming off a 2024 season in which she served as a regular starter for both Angel City and Houston, Nielsen is likely to remain a central figure in the Dash’s back line. Her experience across multiple NWSL clubs and international leagues gives her a well-rounded perspective that should benefit a Houston side looking to build consistency.
With her combination of defensive reliability, attacking contributions, and veteran leadership, Paige Kathleen Nielsen will be one of the players to watch as the 2025 NWSL season unfolds.