Sarah Gorden Bio
Sarah L. Gorden (born September 13, 1992) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a center back and captains Angel City FC of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). She previously spent six seasons with the Chicago Red Stars, where she developed into one of the league’s most reliable defenders. A two-time NWSL Best XI selection, Gorden has built her reputation on durability, defensive organization, and leadership at the back.
Early Life and Background
Sarah L. Gorden was born on September 13, 1992, in Elk Grove Village, Illinois. She is the adopted daughter of Jeff and Sue Gorden, both of whom were student athletes at DePaul University. Gorden began playing soccer at the age of four, and her early speed on the pitch encouraged her to join her high school track team as well.
While attending James B. Conant High School, she played as a defender for Eclipse Select Soccer Club. Her experience in that competitive youth environment, combined with her track background, helped shape the athletic profile that would later define her professional career.
Path to Soccer
Gorden attended DePaul University from 2011 to 2015, following the athletic path of her parents. At DePaul, she majored in journalism and also competed as a hurdler on the track team during her first two years. She scored her first collegiate goal on September 11, 2011, against Minnesota.
Gorden did not compete in the 2013 season due to pregnancy, but returned to the Blue Demons in 2014 to lead the team’s defense to a conference title and consecutive NCAA tournament appearances, allowing the fewest goals in the Big East Conference. In 2014, she was named to the All-Big East second team, and the program set a school record with a 20-game undefeated streak that was tied with No. 1-ranked UCLA for longest in the nation. In 2015, she was named Big East Defensive Player of the Week four times and earned All-Big East first team honors.
Sarah Gorden Career
Early Career (2016–2017)
Gorden was drafted by the Chicago Red Stars in the third round, as the 22nd pick overall, during the 2016 NWSL College Draft. She became the first DePaul Women’s Soccer player to be selected in an NWSL draft. She made her professional debut in the season opener against the Houston Dash, subbing in for Alyssa Mautz in the 83rd minute.
Her transition to the professional ranks was supported by the defensive foundation she had built at DePaul, and she quickly settled into the center back role with the Red Stars.
Chicago Red Stars Era (2016–2021)
Gorden spent her first six NWSL seasons with the Chicago Red Stars, growing into a central figure in the team’s back line. In January 2021, she signed a two-year contract renewal with the club, signaling her continued importance to the franchise.
On October 29, 2021, Gorden became Chicago’s first Iron Woman by playing every minute of the 2021 NWSL season. That same year, she finished second in voting for NWSL Defender of the Year behind Caprice Dydasco, capping a defining stretch with the Red Stars.
Angel City FC Era (2022–Present)
On December 3, 2021, Gorden’s rights were traded to Angel City FC ahead of the upcoming expansion draft. After missing the entire 2022 season due to an ACL injury, she returned to play every minute of the 2023 regular season, earning iron woman honors for the second time in her career during Angel City’s run to their first playoff appearance. She was also named to the NWSL Best XI and nominated for Defender of the Year at the conclusion of the season.
On December 19, 2023, Gorden signed a new contract with Angel City that would keep her at the club until 2026, with a mutual option for 2027. Ahead of the 2024 season, she was named Vice Captain, and she regularly captained Angel City matches after captain Ali Riley suffered a season-ending injury.
Driving Style and Strengths
Gorden’s game is built on positional discipline, anticipation, and the speed she developed as a young track athlete. She pairs consistent tackling with a high passing accuracy, and she thrives when asked to organize a back line over the course of a full match.
Notable Events and Milestones
Her signature milestones include becoming Chicago’s first Iron Woman in 2021, earning a second iron woman designation with Angel City in 2023, and reaching her 100th NWSL regular-season appearance as captain on April 21, 2024, in a 2–1 home victory over the North Carolina Courage.
Sarah Gorden Career Wins
Across her NWSL career, Sarah L. Gorden has built a résumé defined more by consistency than by championship hardware, earning league-wide recognition through Best XI selections and Defender of the Year consideration.
Angel City FC Highlights
With Angel City FC, Gorden played every minute of the 2023 regular season and helped the club reach its first playoff appearance. She was named to the NWSL Best XI and was nominated for Defender of the Year. In 2024, she captained Angel City to the top of Group D and a spot in the NWSL x LIGA MX Femenil Semifinals in Kansas City, Missouri.
She was named to the NWSL Team of the Month in both July and August 2024, recording four tackles won in July and helping her club record one clean sheet in August.
Other Wins and Performances
At the college level, Gorden led DePaul to a conference title and consecutive NCAA tournament appearances, anchoring the nation’s stingiest Big East defense in 2014. She was also part of a 20-game undefeated streak that tied UCLA for the longest in the nation that season.
Sarah Gorden Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Sarah L. Gorden is the adopted daughter of Jeff and Sue Gorden. Both of her parents were student athletes at DePaul University, which influenced her decision to attend the same school and continue the family’s athletic tradition.
Personal Life
Gorden gave birth to a son, Caiden, in 2014. In September 2020, she launched HoodSpace, a nonprofit organization. She has continued to balance motherhood, community work, and her professional soccer career.
2025 Season Performance
Entering the 2025 NWSL season, Sarah L. Gorden remains a central figure for Angel City FC under a contract that runs through 2026. Her 2024 form, which included two consecutive NWSL Team of the Month honors and regular captaincy duties, suggests she will continue to anchor the back line.
Angel City’s leadership group will lean on her experience as one of the league’s established iron women, and her 100th NWSL regular-season appearance marked a clear shift into a veteran leadership role. The club will look to her defensive organization and steady passing to build on the playoff experience gained in 2023.
With her contract extension and the mutual option for 2027 already in place, Gorden’s outlook for 2025 is built on continuity. She is positioned to remain a fixture in the starting XI and a leading voice in the locker room as Angel City pushes deeper into postseason contention.
