Crystal Thomas
FullnameCrystal Elaine Marie Thomas[1]
Birth dateJanuary 18, 1994 (age 32)[2]
Birth placeElgin, Illinois, United States
Height1.63 m (5 ft 4 in)
PositionForward
Collegeyears 12012–2013
College 1Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Collegecaps 146
Collegegoals 113
Collegeyears 22014–2016
College 2Georgetown Hoyas
Collegecaps 247
Collegegoals 219
Years 12017
Clubs 1Washington Spirit
Caps 11
Goals 10
Years 22017
Clubs 2Medkila IL
Caps 210
Goals 21
Years 32018
Clubs 3Valur
Caps 318
Goals 35
Years 42019–2020
Clubs 4Washington Spirit
Caps 413
Goals 43
Years 52019–2020
Clubs 5→ Perth Glory (loan)
Caps 510
Goals 52
Years 62021
Clubs 6Orlando Pride
Caps 69
Goals 60
Years 72022–2023
Clubs 7Hibernian
Caps 710
Goals 74
Nationalyears 12013
Nationalteam 1United States U20
Nationalyears 22017
Nationalteam 2United States U23
Club-updateMay 1, 2023

Crystal Elaine Marie Thomas (born January 18, 1994) is a former American soccer player who most recently played for Hibernian in the Scottish Women's Premier League.

Early life

Thomas grew up in Chicago and graduated from Wheaton Academy in West Chicago. She helped the school claim a state title in 2009 as well as three Class 2A super-sectional and sectional titles (2009–11), and four regional titles (2009–12). As a senior in 2012 she tied a school record, scoring 36 goals, and was an all-state first team selection.[3]

Thomas played club soccer with Chicago Sockers, helping the team win a pair of Illinois State Cup titles in 2010 and 2011. She also spent time with the Olympic Development Program Region II team, captaining at both the regional and state levels.[4][5]

College

Thomas began playing college soccer at the University of Notre Dame in 2012. As a freshman, Thomas appeared in all of the Fighting Irish's 24 matches including 19 starts. She scored a team-leading 10 goals as well as registering two assists as Notre Dame claimed the Big East Conference regular season title. At the end of the year she was named to the Big East All-Rookie team and was a Big East second-team selection.[4][6] After two seasons with Notre Dame, Thomas transferred to Georgetown in 2014. She scored the game-winning overtime goal to beat George Washington in her Hoyas debut but then suffered a torn hamstring and was redshirted for the season.[7] After nine months out, Thomas returned to play a further 46 games in the next two seasons, scoring 18 goals and 8 assists,[8] and earned Big East second-team honors both years.[9][10] She most notably scored the only goal in Georgetown's 1–0 NCAA quarter-final win over Santa Clara to send the Hoyas to their first ever College Cup in 2016.[11]

Club career

Washington Spirit

Thomas registered for the 2017 NWSL College Draft but was not selected.[12] She signed a professional contract with Washington Spirit in April 2017 having spent preseason on trial with the team.[13] She made her pro debut and only appearance of the 2017 season on April 29 as a 65th-minute substitute during a 1–0 defeat to Houston Dash.[14] On May 19, 2017, Thomas was waived by Washington.[15]

Medkila

In June 2017, Thomas signed with the Norwegian Toppserien team Medkila IL. She made 10 appearances during the 2017 Toppserien season, scoring one goal in a defeat to Kolbotn on October 28 as Medkila finished in last place and were relegated.[16]

Valur

Thomas moved to Iceland to sign for Valur ahead of the 2018 Úrvalsdeild season. She played in all 18 league games, scoring five goals, and scored another two goals in three Icelandic Cup appearances.[17]

Return to Washington

After two years in Scandinavia, Thomas returned to the NWSL and re-signed with Washington Spirit on May 23, 2019.[18] During the 2019 season she scored three goals and was named NWSL Player of the Week for week 20 after scoring a goal and an assist in a 3–0 win away at Orlando Pride on October 5.[19][20]

During the 2019–20 NWSL offseason, Thomas joined Perth Glory for the 2019–20 W-League season.[21]

With the 2020 NWSL season disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Spirit's schedule was limited to nine games.[22] Thomas featured in one game during the 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup and a further three games during the Fall Series, scoring once, an 88th-minute equalizer in a 1–1 tie with Chicago Red Stars on September 26.[23] She was waived and placed on the offseason re-entry wire as part of the team's end of season roster moves in December 2020.[24]

Orlando Pride

On February 23, 2021, after a short trial period during preseason, Thomas signed a one-year contract with Orlando Pride.[25] She made her debut on May 1, 2021, as an 82nd-minute substitute for Sydney Leroux in a 0–0 draw with North Carolina Courage in the team's last 2021 NWSL Challenge Cup group game.[26] Thomas' contract expired at the end of the season and she released to the waiver wire.[27]

Hibernian

On May 4, 2022, Thomas signed with Scottish Women's Premier League team Hibernian ahead of the 2022–23 season.[28] During a match against Heart of Midlothian in November 2022, she suffered a concussion. While preparing to return from the injury, she suffered a setback on a flight home.[29] Thomas did not make another appearance that season and left Hibernian at the end of her contract in June 2023.[30][31]

International career

Thomas has been called up to training camps for both the United States under-20 and under-23 teams.[32][33]

Career statistics

Club summary

.[34][16][17][35]

ClubSeasonLeagueCup[a]OtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Washington Spirit2017NWSL10——10
Medkila IL2017Toppserien10100—101
Valur2018Úrvalsdeild18532—217
Washington Spirit2019NWSL133——133
2020—103[b]141
Total1331031174
Perth Glory (loan)2019–20W-League102——102
Orlando Pride2021NWSL9010—100
Hibernian2022SWPL138138
Career total741952318222
  1. ^ Includes the Norwegian Cup, Icelandic Cup and NWSL Challenge Cup
  2. ^ 2020 Fall Series

Honors

Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Georgetown Hoyas

References

  1. ^
  2. ^ "Crystal Thomas". worldfootball.net. HEIM:SPIEL Medien GmbH & Co. KG. Retrieved 15 June 2024.
  3. ^ Cren, Matt Le (November 27, 2020). "She's got the Spirit: Elgin's Crystal Thomas thrives from Wheaton to Notre Dame to Georgetown to pro ranks with Washington". chicagotribune.com
  4. ^ "Crystal Thomas". Notre Dame Fighting Irish - Official Athletics Website. 9 July 2018.
  5. ^ "Sockers FC Chicago - Crystal Thomas". www.sockersfcchicago.com. Retrieved 2020-01-26.
  6. ^ "2012 Women's Soccer Postseason Awards Announced". www.bigeast.com
  7. ^ Cren, Matt Le (July 20, 2016). "Elgin's Crystal Thomas sits, learns while recovering from hamstring strain". chicagotribune.com
  8. ^ "Crystal Thomas - Women's Soccer". Georgetown University Athletics
  9. ^ "BIG EAST 2015 Women's Soccer Annual Awards Announced". www.bigeast.com
  10. ^ "BIG EAST Announces 2016 Women's Soccer Regular-Season Awards". www.bigeast.com
  11. ^ Gordon, Jennifer (November 26, 2016). "Crystal Thomas' strike leads Georgetown to the College Cup – Equalizer Soccer"
  12. ^ "NWSL Reveals Preliminary List of Eligible Players for the 2017 College Draft". Women's Soccer United. January 5, 2017. Archived from the original on May 2, 2017.
  13. ^ "Washington Spirit sign Crystal Thomas". www.nwslsoccer.com. Archived from the original on August 13, 2022. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
  14. ^ "Washington Spirit falls 1-0 to Houston Dash in defensive battle". Washington Spirit. April 29, 2017.
  15. ^ Anderson, Jason (May 19, 2017). "Washington Spirit release Crystal Thomas". Black And Red United
  16. ^ "Crystal Thomas - Profil" (in Norwegian). Norges Fotballforbund
  17. ^ "Leikmaður - Crystal Thomas" (in Icelandic). www.ksi.is
  18. ^ "Washington Spirit sign forward Crystal Thomas". Washington Spirit. May 23, 2019.
  19. ^ "Week 20 Player of the Week: Crystal Thomas, Washington Spirit". www.nwslsoccer.com. October 8, 2019.
  20. ^ "Orlando Pride vs. Washington Spirit". www.nwslsoccer.com
  21. ^ "Glory land versatile forward Thomas". Perth Glory FC. November 13, 2019.
  22. ^ "NWSL, CPL delay start of 2020 seasons due to Covid-19". SportBusiness. March 21, 2020.
  23. ^ Anderson, Jason (26 September 2020). "Recap: Late Thomas goal gives Spirit 1-1 draw at Chicago Red Stars". Black And Red United
  24. ^ Small, Jordan (December 22, 2020). "Washington Spirit Waive Six Players". Washington Spirit
  25. ^ "Orlando Pride Signs Forward Crystal Thomas Ahead of 2021 Campaign". www.orlandocitysc.com
  26. ^ "North Carolina Courage vs. Orlando Pride". www.nwslsoccer.com. Archived from the original on May 2, 2021. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  27. ^ "Orlando Pride Exercises Options on Nine Players Following 2021 Season". www.orlandocitysc.com
  28. ^ "Crystal Thomas becomes a Hibee!". Hibernian FC
  29. ^ "Team News Update Ahead Of Spartans (H)". Hibernian FC. 2023-01-21. Retrieved 2025-02-23.
  30. ^ McPartlin, Patrick (2023-06-16). "Bowie the latest Hibs Women addition as recruitment pattern starts to emerge". Edinburgh Evening News. Retrieved 2025-02-23.
  31. ^ McPartlin, Patrick (2023-07-02). "New deal for Hibs Women forward as another player exit takes total summer departures to nine". Edinburgh Evening News. Retrieved 2025-02-23.
  32. ^ "Five Notre Dame Soccer Players Head To U.S. Under-20 Women's National Team Camp". Notre Dame Fighting Irish - Official Athletics Website. June 26, 2013.
  33. ^ "U.S. U-23 Women's National Team set for first 2017 training camp". SoccerWire
  34. ^ "Crystal Thomas NWSL profile". National Women's Soccer League
  35. ^ "Crystal Thomas - Soccerway profile". Soccerway