{{Short description|American soccer player (born 2000)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2024}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Paige Metayer | fullname = Paige Marjorie Metayer<ref>{{cite web |title=2025/26 Concacaf W Champions Cup Club Roster |url=https://mcusercontent.com/78d3589fb61466b549ff752e5/files/60df159b-33d1-f10b-5c36-d77d8c413dc9/WCC_Rosters_combined.pdf |publisher=CONCACAF |access-date=20 August 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250820011411/https://mcusercontent.com/78d3589fb61466b549ff752e5/files/60df159b-33d1-f10b-5c36-d77d8c413dc9/WCC_Rosters_combined.pdf |archive-date=20 August 2025 |page=10 |date=7 August 2025}}</ref> | image = Paige Metayer Washington Spirit 2025 (cropped).jpg | image_size = | caption = Metayer with the Washington Spirit in 2025 | birth_name = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|2000|09|23}}<ref name="nwsl-profile">{{cite web |url=https://www.nwslsoccer.com/players/paige-metayer/stats?season=gnqacg1k5u6wlm4kd6fo4u8k |title=Paige Metayer |access-date=June 13, 2023 |publisher=National Women's Soccer League}}</ref> | birth_place = Irvine, California, United States | height = {{height|ft=5|in=10}}<ref name="nwsl-profile"/> | position = Right back, midfielder | currentclub = Washington Spirit | clubnumber = 26 | youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = So Cal Blues | youthyears2 = 2015–2018 | youthclubs2 = University High School | collegeyears1 = 2018–2022 | college1 = California Golden Bears | collegecaps1 = 89 | collegegoals1 = 9 | clubs1 = Washington Spirit | years1 = 2023– | caps1 = 50 | goals1 = 4 | club-update = 04:16, November 23, 2025 (UTC) | nationalteam-update = }} '''Paige Marjorie Metayer''' (born September 23, 2000) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a right back or midfielder for the Washington Spirit of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). She played college soccer for the California Golden Bears and began her professional career with the Spirit in 2023.
== Early life == Metayer grew up in Irvine, California, and attended University High School, where she was twice named the girls' soccer team's most valuable player and set a school record in the 400-meter dash. In 2018, the school named her its girls' athlete of the year.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ocsportszone.com/promising-futures-for-irvine-scholars/ |title=Promising futures for Irvine scholars |date=July 8, 2018 |access-date=June 13, 2023 |work=OC Sports Zone}}</ref> Metayer also played youth soccer for Elite Clubs National League (ECNL) team So Cal Blues, where she appeared in three consecutive national playoffs and won the 2017 Surf Cup.<ref name="cal-profile">{{cite web |url=https://calbears.com/sports/womens-soccer/roster/paige---metayer/21355 |title=Paige Metayer |publisher=California Golden Bears |access-date=June 13, 2023}}</ref>
== College career == Metayer played NCAA Division I women's soccer for the California Golden Bears, where she scored nine goals and registered one assist in 89 matches played.<ref name="cal-profile"/> She scored her first collegiate goal on September 17, 2018, against UC Davis.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.dailycal.org/2018/09/17/paige-metayer-shines-as-bears-aggies-end-in-a-draw |title=Paige Metayer shines as Bears, Aggies end in a draw |date=September 17, 2018 |access-date=June 27, 2023 |work=The Daily Californian |first=Adriana |last=Ghiozzi}}</ref>
At the University of California, Berkeley, Metayer studied data science and economics.<ref name="rfk-2023">{{cite interview |url=https://rfkrefugees.com/podcast/spirit-dont-lose-and-paige-metayer-interview/ |title=Spirit don't lose and Paige Metayer Interview |date=May 2, 2023 |access-date=June 27, 2023 |work=RFK Refugees |first=Paige |last=Metayer |interviewer=Jon Hoffman and Ted Meyer}}</ref>
== Club career == After going undrafted in the 2023 NWSL Draft,<ref name="ap-wasvsd">{{cite news |last=Rantz |first=Susie |date=May 7, 2023 |title=Washington Spirit, Portland Thorns remain undefeated in NWSL |url=https://apnews.com/article/spirit-thorns-pride-74264947b41304195c089a501584a732 |access-date=June 25, 2023 |work=Associated Press}}</ref> Metayer joined the Washington Spirit during the 2023 preseason as a non-rostered invitee.<ref name="rfk-2023"/><ref>{{cite press release |url=https://washingtonspirit.com/2023/01/25/washington-spirit-announces-official-preseason-roster/ |title=Washington Spirit Announces Official Preseason Roster |date=January 25, 2023 |access-date=June 13, 2023 |publisher=Washington Spirit}}</ref> On March 8, 2023, she signed a three-year contract with the team with an option for an additional year.<ref>{{cite press release |url=https://washingtonspirit.com/2023/03/08/washington-spirit-adds-to-roster-with-six-first-year-player-contracts/ |title=Washington Spirit Adds to Roster with Six First-Year Player Contracts |date=March 8, 2023 |access-date=June 13, 2023 |publisher=Washington Spirit}}</ref> She debuted for the Spirit in the team's first match of her rookie season on March 26 as a starter against OL Reign.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://thegamingsociety.com/articles/nwsl-alyssa-thompson-stats-rookies-players-to-watch |title=4 NWSL rookies to watch this year |date=March 29, 2023 |access-date=June 13, 2023 |work=Gaming Society |first=André |last=Carlisle |archive-date=June 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230614015955/https://thegamingsociety.com/articles/nwsl-alyssa-thompson-stats-rookies-players-to-watch |url-status=dead }}</ref> After being the only rookie to start in the Spirit's first three matches of the season, she received a second yellow and red card ejection and one-match suspension on April 1 in a match against Racing Louisville FC.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://thedistrictpress.com/2023/04/04/5-things-about-washington-spirits-draw-with-racing-louisville/ |title=5 things about Washington Spirit's draw with Racing Louisville |date=April 4, 2023 |access-date=June 27, 2023 |work=The District Press |first=Annie |last=Elliott}}</ref>
On May 6, she scored her first professional goal in a 3–1 win against San Diego Wave FC.<ref name="ap-wasvsd"/><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.allforxi.com/2023/5/10/23715982/unsung-heroes-an-nwsl-series-matchday-6 |title=Unsung Heroes – An NWSL Series: Matchday 6 |date=May 10, 2023 |access-date=June 13, 2023 |work=All For XI}}</ref> She also scored an equalizing header in a 1–1 draw against NJ/NY Gotham FC on May 28,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2023/05/28/washington-spirit-gotham-fc/ |title=Rookie Paige Metayer's header lifts the Spirit to a draw with Gotham FC |date=May 28, 2023 |access-date=June 13, 2023 |newspaper=The Washington Post |first=Thomas |last=Floyd}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://apnews.com/article/spirit-gotham-metayer-bruninha-6c8a8585d3cdbfe2c80feb075cd34828 |title=Rookie Metayer pulls Spirit into 1–1 draw with Gotham |date=May 28, 2023 |access-date=June 27, 2023 |work=Associated Press}}</ref> assisted on Ashley Sanchez's match-winning goal against Angel City FC on June 10,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://equalizersoccer.com/2023/06/12/nwsl-standings-results-week-11-halfway-regular-season/ |title=Halfway through the NWSL season, three points separate first from sixth |date=June 12, 2023 |access-date=June 27, 2023 |work=The Equalizer |first=Emily |last=Dulhanty}}</ref> and scored an equalizing goal in the Spirit's 3–2 win over Kansas City Current on June 18.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://fox4kc.com/sports/kansas-city-current/kc-current-skid-continues-in-loss-to-washington/ |title=KC Current skid continues in loss to Washington |date=June 18, 2023 |access-date=June 27, 2023 |work=FOX 4 |first=PJ |last=Green}}</ref> On July 6, the NWSL named Metayer its June Rookie of the Month, citing her June 10 assist and June 18 goal as well as her shot-creating actions.<ref name="nwsl-rotm-202306">{{cite press release |url=https://www.nwslsoccer.com/news/washington-spirit-midfielder-paige-metayer-named-june-rookie-of-the-month-presented-by-ally |title=Washington Spirit Midfielder Paige Metayer Named June Rookie of the Month, Presented by Ally |date=July 6, 2023 |access-date=July 6, 2023 |publisher=National Women's Soccer League}}</ref>
Metayer captained the Spirit for the first time in the club's continental debut on August 19, 2025, winning 7–0 away 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>
== Playing style == With the Washington Spirit, Metayer plays on the right side of the team's 4–4–2 diamond formation, covering defensively and serving as an aerial threat offensively.<ref name="eqz-parsons">{{cite web |url=https://equalizersoccer.com/2023/04/17/what-we-have-learned-from-mark-parsons-washington-spirit-in-the-first-three-games/ |title=What we have learned from Mark Parsons' Washington Spirit in the first three games |date=April 17, 2023 |access-date=June 27, 2023 |work=The Equalizer |first=Blair |last=Newman}}</ref> In May 2023, American women's soccer outlet ''The Equalizer'' described Metayer as a U.S. national team prospect as either a holding or box-to-box midfielder, citing her pace, positioning, footwork, and tackling.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://equalizersoccer.com/2023/05/16/top-50-uswnt-prospects-for-the-2027-world-cup-nos-40-31/ |title=Top 50 USWNT prospects for the 2027 World Cup: Nos. 40–31 |date=May 16, 2023 |access-date=June 27, 2023 |work=The Equalizer |first=Blair |last=Newman}}</ref>
== Career statistics == {{updated|March 31, 2024}} {| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" |+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition ! rowspan=2 scope="col" | Club ! rowspan=2 scope="col" | Season ! colspan=3 scope="col" | League ! colspan=2 scope="col" | Cup<ref group="lower-alpha">Includes the NWSL Challenge Cup</ref> ! colspan=2 scope="col" | Playoffs<ref group=lower-alpha>Includes NWSL Playoffs</ref> ! colspan=2 scope="col" | Total |- !Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals |- | rowspan=2 | Washington Spirit | 2023 | rowspan=2 | NWSL | 21||3||6||0|| colspan=2 |— ||27||3 |- | 2024 | 1||0|| colspan=2 |— || colspan=2 |— ||1||0 |- ! colspan=3 |Career total ! 22!!3!!6!!0!!0!!0!!28!!3 |} {{Reflist|group=lower-alpha}}
== Honors and awards == '''Washington Spirit''' *NWSL Challenge Cup: 2025<ref>{{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=2025-03-08|publisher=Washington Spirit|access-date=2025-03-08}}</ref>
'''Individual''' * NWSL Rookie of the Month: June 2023<ref name="nwsl-rotm-202306"/>
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == {{Commons category}} * {{Sports links}} * [https://washingtonspirit.com/team-member/paige-metayer/ Paige Metayer] at Washington Spirit * [https://calbears.com/sports/womens-soccer/roster/paige---metayer/21355 Paige Metayer] at California Golden Bears
{{Washington Spirit squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Metayer, Paige}} Category:2000 births Category:Living people Category:National Women's Soccer League players Category:American women's soccer players Category:California Golden Bears women's soccer players Category:Washington Spirit players Category:Soccer players from Irvine, California Category:Women's association football forwards Category:21st-century American sportswomen