Simone Charley Bio
Simone Naomi Charley (born February 4, 1995) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a forward. A former two-sport athlete, Charley competed in soccer and track and field at Vanderbilt University, where she earned multiple All-American honors in the triple jump. She has previously played for NWSL clubs Portland Thorns FC, Angel City FC, and the Orlando Pride, as well as Australian club Canberra United FC.
Early Life and Background
Charley was born to Sharon and Bobby Charley in Boston, Massachusetts, and grew up in Hoover, Alabama. Her maternal family is originally from Montserrat. She was raised in a deeply athletic household. Her older sister, Nicole, was a triple jumper at Auburn, her older brother, Myles, competed in the triple jump and long jump at Troy, and her cousin, Damian, played American football at Vanderbilt.
Charley attended Spain Park High School, where she became one of the most decorated multi-sport athletes in Alabama. During her high school career she won nine state championships across soccer and track and field. She was named the 2011 state Gatorade Player of the Year in soccer and the 2012 Birmingham News Female Athlete of the Year, while also excelling academically.
Path to Soccer
Charley committed to Vanderbilt University, where she spent five years as a student-athlete competing in soccer, indoor track, and outdoor track. Her prolific college career led to her selection for the 2019 Southeastern Conference Class of Women’s Legends. She earned a bachelor’s degree with a double major in psychology and sociology, followed by a master’s degree in medicine, health, and society.
As a soccer player at Vanderbilt, Charley made 76 appearances and finished with 25 goals and 18 assists. She led her team in points and goals as a freshman in 2013, earning a spot on the SEC All-Freshman Team, and was named First Team All-SEC during her sophomore year. She redshirted the 2016 season and returned for her senior year in 2017, again leading the Commodores in points while earning Second Team All-SEC and All-Southeast Region recognition.
Simone Charley Career
Early Career (2013–2017)
Charley’s college track career proved equally accomplished. She set and reset Vanderbilt’s school records in the triple jump, eventually reaching a personal best of 45 feet 2.75 inches outdoors. She earned multiple NCAA First-Team All-American honors across indoor and outdoor seasons, and was recognized as a USTFCCCA All-Academic Team member.
After going undrafted in the 2018 NWSL College Draft, Charley joined the Portland Thorns FC as a non-roster invitee on the practice squad. She was signed by the club in May 2019 as a supplemental player, beginning her professional journey in earnest.
Portland Thorns Breakthrough (2019–2021)
Charley made her first professional start for Portland on May 25, 2019, against Sky Blue FC, and added two assists in her second start against the Chicago Red Stars. She scored her first professional goal during the 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup, adding a second goal during the 2020 NWSL Fall Series. On January 29, 2021, she signed a two-year contract with the Thorns.
During the 2021 season, Charley scored five goals in 19 appearances, tied for second most on the team with Christine Sinclair. After the 2019 NWSL season, she was loaned to Australian W-League side Canberra United FC, where she scored five goals in 11 appearances.
Angel City Era (2021–2023)
On December 8, 2021, Portland traded Charley and forward Tyler Lussi to Angel City FC in exchange for $100,000 in allocation money, a 2022 NWSL Draft second-round pick, and expansion draft immunity. In her 2022 season, she scored two regular-season goals and one Challenge Cup goal in 23 total appearances, while drawing two penalties.
On April 11, 2023, Angel City announced that Charley had ruptured her left Achilles tendon during a match against the Orlando Pride on April 2, placing her on the season-ending injury list. On January 22, 2024, the club confirmed she would not be returning.
Orlando Pride Era (2024–2025)
On January 24, 2024, the Orlando Pride announced the signing of Charley to a two-year contract. Just weeks later, on March 10, 2024, the club placed her on the season-ending injury list after she ruptured her right Achilles tendon during preseason training, her second such injury in roughly a year.
She returned to the field in August 2025 after going 854 days without a competitive match. On October 3, 2025, she scored her first goal in three years to help Orlando salvage a late draw with the Houston Dash. At the end of the year, Charley departed the Pride as a free agent after making nine league appearances during her one active season.
Notable Events and Milestones
Charley’s perseverance through two Achilles ruptures stands as a defining chapter of her professional career. She was elected vice president of the NWSL Players Association in 2024, reflecting her standing among her peers. In February 2026, she signed a contract with English club Newcastle United through the end of the 2025-26 Women’s Super League 2 season, signaling her continued presence at the professional level.
Simone Charley Career Wins
Charley has built a career highlighted by consistent scoring contributions across multiple clubs and leagues. Her professional goals have come in the NWSL regular season, the NWSL Challenge Cup, the NWSL Fall Series, and Australia’s W-League.
NWSL Highlights
Charley scored her first NWSL goal during the 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup, then added a second goal during the 2020 NWSL Fall Series. Her 2021 season with Portland was her most productive, with five goals in 19 appearances tying her for second on the team. She scored two regular-season goals and one Challenge Cup goal for Angel City in 2022.
Other Wins and Performances
During her loan to Canberra United FC in Australia’s W-League, Charley scored five goals in 11 appearances. She also earned nine state championships in high school across soccer and track and field, along with multiple NCAA First-Team All-American honors in the triple jump at Vanderbilt.
Simone Charley Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Charley was raised in a family with deep athletic ties. Her parents, Sharon and Bobby Charley, raised their children in Hoover, Alabama, and her maternal roots trace back to Montserrat. Her sister Nicole competed in the triple jump at Auburn, her brother Myles competed in the triple jump and long jump at Troy, and her cousin Damian played American football at Vanderbilt.
Personal Life
Charley has continued her involvement in the broader soccer community off the field, having been elected vice president of the NWSL Players Association in 2024.
2025 Season Performance
Charley’s 2025 season with the Orlando Pride centered on her long-awaited return from a second Achilles rupture. After 854 days away from competitive play, she stepped back onto the pitch in August 2025 and worked her way back into the rotation during the closing months of the campaign.
Her standout moment came on October 3, 2025, when she scored her first goal in three years to help Orlando secure a late draw against the Houston Dash. Across the season, she made nine league appearances for the Pride in her one fully active year with the club. At season’s end, she departed the Pride as a free agent.
Looking ahead, Charley signed a contract with English Women’s Super League 2 side Newcastle United in February 2026, joining the club through the end of the 2025-26 season. Her performances in 2025 set the stage for an international chapter in English football.