{{Short description|American soccer player (born 2007)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2023}} {{Infobox football biography |name = Chloe Ricketts |image = Chloe Ricketts Boston v San Diego Apr 3 2026-74 (cropped).jpg |image_size = |alt = |caption = Ricketts with the Boston Legacy in 2026 |full_name = Chloe Cathleen Ricketts<ref>{{cite web |url=http://chloericketts.com/default.aspx |title=This is Chloe Ricketts – #39 Soccer/Futsal |access-date=June 21, 2023 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230621141244/http://chloericketts.com/default.aspx |archive-date=June 21, 2023}}</ref> |birth_date = {{birth date and age|2007|05|23}}<ref name="WS1">{{cite web |url=https://washingtonspirit.com/team-member/chloe-ricketts/ |title=Chloe Ricketts |publisher=Washington Spirit |access-date=March 21, 2023}}</ref> |birth_place = |height = {{height|ft=5|in=1}} |position = Midfielder, forward |currentclub = Boston Legacy |clubnumber = 11 |youthyears1 = 2017–2018 |youthclubs1 = Michigan Hawks |youthyears2 = 2020–2022 |youthclubs2 = Michigan Tigers |years1 = 2022 |clubs1 = AFC Ann Arbor |caps1 = 11 |goals1 = 2 |years2 = 2023–2025 |clubs2 = Washington Spirit |caps2 = 22 |goals2 = 0 |years3 = 2025 |clubs3 = Houston Dash |caps3 = 1 |goals3 = 0 |years4 = 2026– |clubs4 = Boston Legacy |caps4 = 0 |goals4 = 0 |nationalyears1 = 2023 |nationalteam1 = United States U17 |nationalcaps1 = 1 |nationalgoals1 = 1 |nationalyears2 = 2025– |nationalteam2 = United States U20 |nationalcaps2 = 5 |nationalgoals2 = 0 |medaltemplates = |club-update = November 2, 2025 |nationalteam-update = December 2, 2025 }} '''Chloe Cathleen Ricketts''' (born May 23, 2007) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder or forward for Boston Legacy FC of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). She signed with the Washington Spirit at age 15 in 2023, becoming the first player to use the NWSL Under-18 Entry Mechanism.
==Early life== Ricketts grew up in Dexter, Michigan.<ref name="WS1"/> In 2017 and 2018, she won back-to-back state championships with the Michigan Hawks.<ref name="CRteams">{{cite web |url=http://chloericketts.com/teams.aspx |title=Chloe Ricketts Past and Present Teams |work=chloericketts.com |access-date=March 28, 2023}}</ref> She later became a regular player for a boys' team, the Michigan Tigers, where she won multiple state and regional championships, culminating with the under-15 US Youth Soccer National Championships in 2022.<ref name="mlive-afcaaw">{{cite news |url=https://www.mlive.com/sports/ann-arbor/2022/05/best-player-in-the-world-afc-ann-arbor-soccer-teen-has-lofty-career-goals.html |title='Best player in the world': AFC Ann Arbor soccer teen has lofty career goals |date=May 23, 2022 |access-date=May 16, 2023 |publisher=MLive Media Group}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.usyouthsoccer.org/2022-national-championships-finals-recap1/ |title=2022 National Championships: Finals Recap |publisher=United States Youth Soccer Association |date=July 24, 2022 |access-date=March 28, 2023}}</ref> She also played ECNL soccer for Solar SC and GA soccer for the Michigan Jaguars.<ref name="CRteams" /><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.topdrawersoccer.com/club-soccer-articles/ricketts-signs-with-washington-spirit_aid51838 |title=Ricketts Signs with Washington Spirit |date=March 3, 2023 |access-date=May 16, 2023 |work=TopDrawerSoccer.com |first=Travis |last=Clark}}</ref>
Ricketts played for AFC Ann Arbor in the 2022 USL W League season, becoming the club's youngest-ever player in the league at age 14.<ref name="mlive-afcaaw"/><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.afcannarbor.com/latestnews/2022/1/11/chloe-ricketts-becomes-youngest-player-to-join-afc-ann-arbor-at-14 |title=Chloe Ricketts Becomes Youngest Player to Join AFC Ann Arbor at 14 |last=Makuch |first=Ryan |date=January 11, 2022 |publisher=AFC Ann Arbor |access-date=March 28, 2023}}</ref> She became the youngest player to score in the USL W League, netting 2 goals in 11 appearances.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.uslwleague.com/news_article/show/1226000 |title=USL W League Fans' Choice Goal of the Week – Week 1+2 |date=May 18, 2022 |publisher=USL W League |access-date=March 28, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.uslwleague.com/stats/team_instance/7224091?subseason=800787&tab=team_instance_player_stats&tool=4844128 |title=AFC Ann Arbor - 2022 Regular Season - Player Statistics |access-date=May 16, 2023 |publisher=USL W League}}</ref> Before signing with the Washington Spirit, she was the 25th-best prospect in ''TopDrawerSoccer''{{`s}} rankings of 2025 college recruiting class.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.topdrawersoccer.com/club-soccer-articles/ricketts-signs-with-washington-spirit_aid51838|title=Ricketts Signs with Washington Spirit|date=March 3, 2023|last=Clark|first=Travis|website=TopDrawerSoccer|access-date=2025-06-25}}</ref>
==Club career== ===Washington Spirit=== Washington Spirit general manager Mark Krikorian invited Ricketts to the team's training camp in the 2023 preseason.<ref name="WP24">{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2024/06/07/nwsl-teen-players/|title=As teens swarm women's soccer, 'we have to be really careful'|last1=Maese|first1=Rick|last2=Brockway|first2=Ella|date=2024-06-07|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=2025-06-25}}</ref> He said she "came in and she competed very, very well from the beginning and had an edge to her".<ref name="WP24"/> On March 2<!--per <ref name="WS1"/>-->, 2023, at the age of 15 years and 283 days, Ricketts signed her first professional contract with the Spirit, penning a three-year deal with an option to extend an additional year.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://washingtonspirit.com/blog/2023/03/03/washington-spirit-signs-youngest-ever-player-to-nwsl-contract/|title=Washington Spirit Signs Youngest-Ever Player to NWSL Contract|date=2023-03-03|publisher=Washington Spirit|access-date=2025-06-25}}</ref> It was the first signing under the NWSL's recently introduced Under-18 Entry Mechanism, a process established several years after Olivia Moultrie's antitrust lawsuit against the league for its minimum age requirement.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://frontofficesports.com/chloe-ricketts-15-youngest-signed-player-nwsl-history-washington-spirit/ |title=Chloe Ricketts, 15, Becomes Youngest Signed Player in NWSL History |last=Greenberg |first=Doug |date=March 7, 2023 |work=Front Office Sports |access-date=March 21, 2023}}</ref> Ricketts was briefly the youngest player to sign in the NWSL, surpassing Moultrie's record, before Melanie Barcenas joined the San Diego Wave later in the month.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://apnews.com/article/nwsl-youngest-player-melanie-barcenas-fff5c3889e36a6036c7efd076bf206a2 |title=Melanie Barcenas youngest player ever to sign with NWSL team |publisher=Associated Press |date=March 21, 2023 |access-date=March 21, 2023}}</ref>
Ricketts made her professional debut on April 15, 2023, playing 24 minutes off the bench and recording a shot attempt during a 2–1 win against the North Carolina Courage.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.mlive.com/sports/2023/04/michigan-teen-soccer-star-chloe-ricketts-nearly-scores-in-nwsl-debut-with-washington-spirit.html |title=Michigan teen soccer star Chloe Ricketts nearly scores in NWSL debut with Washington Spirit |last=Wickliffe |first=Greg |date=April 17, 2023 |work=mlive.com |access-date=April 24, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://washingtonspirit.com/2023/04/15/recap-spirit-win-2-1-and-unbeaten-through-three-games/ |title=Spirit win, 2-1, unbeaten through three games for second time in franchise history |date=April 15, 2023 |publisher=Washington Spirit |access-date=April 24, 2023}}</ref> On July 28, she scored her first professional goal in the NWSL Challenge Cup against Gotham FC, the last in a 4–2 win. Ashley Hatch fed Ricketts a through ball that she tapped in with her left foot, which made her the youngest NWSL player to score a goal at 16 years and 2 months, surpassing Moultrie.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://washingtonspirit.com/blog/2023/07/29/recap-spirit-prevails-4-2-in-comeback-victory-versus-gotham-fc/ |title=Recap: Spirit prevails, 4-2, in comeback victory versus Gotham FC |date=July 29, 2023 |publisher=Washington Spirit |access-date=July 29, 2023}}</ref> She made 17 appearances, starting 7, in all competitions in the 2023 season, logging 615 minutes.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://fbref.com/en/players/32b99c02/matchlogs/2023/Chloe-Ricketts-Match-Logs|title=Chloe Ricketts 2023 Match Logs|website=FBref.com|access-date=2025-06-25}}</ref> The Spirit placed eighth in the league, one point below the playoff line, and head coach Mark Parsons was fired after the season.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://wtop.com/local-sports/2023/10/washington-spirit-fires-mark-parsons-after-1-season/|title=Washington Spirit fires Mark Parsons after 1 season|last=Umaña|first=José|publisher=WTOP-FM|access-date=2025-06-25}}</ref>
Ricketts's playing time dried up the following season under new coaches Adrián González and Jonatan Giráldez. She made only four appearances, totaling 20 minutes on the field, in the 2024 season.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/03/07/nwsl-challenge-cup-washington-spirit-orlando-pride/|title=In title game rematch, Spirit rallies to top Pride for Challenge Cup crown|last=Floyd|first=Thomas|date=2025-03-07|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=2025-06-25}}</ref><ref name="D25">{{cite news|url=https://thedistrictpress.com/2025/06/26/washington-spirit-decline-chloe-rickettss-option-for-2026-other-roster-updates/|title=Washington Spirit decline Chloe Ricketts’s option for 2026, other roster updates|last=Elliott|first=Annie|date=2025-06-26|website=The District Press|access-date=2025-06-25}}</ref> She was on the bench for the 2024 NWSL Championship, where the second-place Spirit lost 1–0 to the NWSL Shield–winning Orlando Pride.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://fbref.com/en/players/32b99c02/matchlogs/2024/Chloe-Ricketts-Match-Logs|title=Chloe Ricketts 2024 Match Logs|website=FBref.com|access-date=2025-06-25}}</ref>
thumb|right|Ricketts playing for the Spirit in 2025 On March 7, 2025, with the squad depleted by injuries, Ricketts started and played 61 minutes in the 2025 NWSL Challenge Cup against the Orlando Pride.<ref name="CC25"/> She was the youngest NWSL player to start a final.<ref>{{cite tweet|number=1898432528194691521|user=OptaJack|author=OptaJack⚽️|author-link=Opta Sports|title=17-288 - At 17 years, 288 days old Friday, @WashSpirit's Chloe Ricketts became the youngest player ever to start a final (all competitions) for an #NWSL team. Primetime.|date=2025-03-08|access-date=2025-06-25}}</ref> After a 1–1 draw, Washington won the championship rematch 4–2 on penalties.<ref name="CC25">{{cite news|url=https://washingtonspirit.com/blog/2025/03/08/recap-short-handed-spirit-wins-2025-nwsl-challenge-cup/|title=Recap: Short-Handed Spirit Wins 2025 NWSL Challenge Cup|date=2025-03-07|publisher=Washington Spirit|access-date=2025-06-25}}</ref> The following week, she made her third career regular-season start in the season opener, a 2–1 win over the Houston Dash.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/03/14/washington-spirit-houston-dash-nwsl/|title=Spirit opens by taking all three points on the road in Houston|date=2025-03-14|last=Brockway|first=Ella|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=2025-06-25}}</ref> She possibly scored the winning goal with a shot that struck the crossbar, but it was officially credited to Ashley Hatch who finished off the rebound.<ref name="D25"/> On June 25, the Spirit announced that Ricketts's fourth-year contract option had been declined, making her a free agent for the 2026 season.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://washingtonspirit.com/blog/2025/06/25/washington-spirit-announces-midseason-roster-updates/|title=Washington Spirit Announces Midseason Roster Updates|date=2025-06-25|publisher=Washington Spirit|access-date=2025-06-25}}</ref> On August 19, in her first appearance since May, she scored a goal in the Spirit's continental debut, a 7–0 away win over Salvadoran club Alianza in the 2025–26 CONCACAF W Champions Cup group stage.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://thedistrictpress.com/2025/08/20/four-things-we-loved-about-washington-spirits-7-0-win-over-alianza-fc/|title=Four things (we loved) about Washington Spirit's 7–0 win over Alianza FC|last=Elliott|first=Annie|date=2025-04-20|website=The District Press|access-date=2025-08-20}}</ref>
===Houston Dash===
On October 1, 2025, the Spirit traded Ricketts to the Houston Dash in exchange for {{USD|15,000}} in intra-league transfer funds.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.houstondynamofc.com/houstondash/news/houston-dash-announce-two-roster-additions|title=Houston Dash Announce Two Roster Additions|publisher=Houston Dash|access-date=2025-10-01|date=2025-10-01}}</ref> She made one appearance for the Dash, coming on as a late substitute, in the November 2 season finale against the Portland Thorns.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://fbref.com/en/players/32b99c02/matchlogs/2025/Chloe-Ricketts-Match-Logs|title=Chloe Ricketts 2025 Match Logs|website=FBref.com|access-date=2025-11-17}}</ref>
===Boston Legacy===
The same day she was traded to the Dash, NWSL expansion team Boston Legacy announced that Ricketts had agreed to a three-year contract with the club, beginning in 2026, with the mutual option for another year.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://bostonlegacyfc.com/blogs/press/boston-legacy-football-club-signs-chloe-ricketts|title=Boston Legacy Football Club Signs Chloe Ricketts|publisher=Boston Legacy FC|access-date=2025-10-01}}</ref>
==International career== Ricketts trained with the United States under-15 and under-16 teams in 2022.<ref>{{cite press release |url=https://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2022/03/us-under-15-wynt-will-bring-36-players-to-march-training-camp-in-chula-vista-calif |title=U.S. under-15 women's youth national team will bring 36 players to March training camp in Chula Vista, Calif. |date=March 14, 2022 |access-date=May 16, 2023 |publisher=United States Soccer Federation}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release |url=https://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2022/10/us-u16-wynt-set-to-gather-at-nike-headquarters-in-portland-oregon |title=U.S. under-16 women's youth national team set to gather at Nike Headquarters in Portland, Oregon |date=October 18, 2022 |access-date=May 16, 2023 |publisher=United States Soccer Federation}}</ref> Three years later, she trained with the under-18 team before making her under-20 debut at the 2025 CONCACAF Women's U-20 Championship, helping the United States qualify for the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-03-27 |title=Washington Spirit's Chloe Ricketts Called Up to U.S. Under-18 Women’s Youth National Team |url=https://washingtonspirit.com/blog/2025/03/27/washington-spirits-chloe-ricketts-called-up-to-u-s-under-18-womens-youth-national-team/ |access-date=2025-03-30 |publisher=Washington Spirit |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2025/05/under-20-wnt-puerto-rico-3-1-2025-concacaf-womens-u-20-championship-qualifies-2026-fifa-u-20-womens-world-cup-|title=U.S. Under-20 WNT Downs Puerto Rico 3-1 in Second Match of 2025 Concacaf Women's U-20 Championship and Qualifies for 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup|date=2025-06-01|publisher=United States Soccer Federation|access-date=2025-06-25}}</ref>
==Off the field== ===Endorsements=== In March 2023, at age 15, Ricketts signed a multiyear endorsement deal with the sportswear company Adidas, becoming the youngest American female soccer player to do so.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.clickondetroit.com/sports/2023/03/29/dexter-teen-becomes-youngest-professional-female-soccer-player-to-sign-with-adidas/ |title=Dexter teen becomes youngest professional female soccer player to sign with adidas |last=Johncox |first=Cassidy |date=March 29, 2023 |work=clickondetroit.com |publisher=WDIV-TV |access-date=March 29, 2023}}</ref>
==Honors and awards== '''Washington Spirit''' *NWSL Challenge Cup: 2025<ref name="CC25"/>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category}} * {{Sports links}}
{{Boston Legacy FC squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ricketts, Chloe}} Category:2007 births Category:Living people Category:American women's soccer players Category:Women's association football midfielders Category:Women's association football forwards Category:AFC Ann Arbor (women) players Category:Washington Spirit players Category:USL W League players Category:National Women's Soccer League players Category:Soccer players from Michigan Category:People from Dexter, Michigan Category:Sportspeople from Washtenaw County, Michigan Category:United States women's youth international soccer players Category:21st-century American sportswomen Category:Houston Dash players Category:Boston Legacy FC players