# Sam Staab

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American soccer player (born 1997)

Sam Staab Staab with the Chicago Red Stars in 2024 Personal information Full name Samantha Keala Staab[1] Date of birth (1997-03-28) March 28, 1997 (age 29) Place of birth San Diego, California, United States Height 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m) Position Center back Team information Current team Chicago Stars Number 3 Youth career DMCV Sharks College career Years Team Apps (Gls) 2015–2018 Clemson Tigers 80 (5) Senior career* Years Team Apps (Gls) 2019–2023 Washington Spirit 93 (4) 2019–2020 → Western Sydney Wanderers (loan) 12 (2) 2024– Chicago Stars 42 (3) International career‡ 2018 United States U23 2 (0) 2024– United States 2 (0) * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 03:37, November 4, 2025 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals as of 03:37, November 4, 2025 (UTC)

**Samantha Keala Staab** (born March 28, 1997) is an American professional [soccer](/source/Association_football) player who plays as a [center back](/source/Defender_(association_football)#Centre-back) for [Chicago Stars FC](/source/Chicago_Stars_FC) of the [National Women's Soccer League](/source/National_Women's_Soccer_League) (NWSL). She was drafted by the [Washington Spirit](/source/Washington_Spirit) in [2019](/source/2019_NWSL_College_Draft) after playing collegiately for the [Clemson Tigers](/source/Clemson_Tigers_women's_soccer). Staab debuted for the [United States national team](/source/United_States_women's_national_soccer_team) in 2024.

## Early life

Staab was raised in [San Diego](/source/San_Diego), California. She is part [Hawaiian](/source/Native_Hawaiians) through one grandmother.[2] She played club soccer for the DMCV Sharks in her childhood.[3] She attended [Scripps Ranch High School](/source/Scripps_Ranch_High_School), where she played varsity soccer all four years and captained the team in her last two years.[4]

## College career

Staab attended [Clemson University](/source/Clemson_University), where she played for the [Tigers women's soccer team](/source/Clemson_Tigers_women's_soccer) from 2015 to 2018.[4] She was selected for the ACC All-Freshman team in 2015 after starting all 20 games in her first season.[5] After making the All-ACC second team in each of the next two years, she was selected to the All-ACC first team in her senior season.[6] At the time of her graduation, her 33 career assists were tied for 4th-most in school history.[7]

## Club career

### Washington Spirit

Staab was drafted 4th overall in the first round of the [2019 NWSL College Draft](/source/2019_NWSL_College_Draft) by the [Washington Spirit](/source/Washington_Spirit).[6] In April, she was signed to the Spirit's senior roster in advance of the 2019 NWSL season.[8] Staab made her professional debut on April 13, 2019, against [Sky Blue FC](/source/Sky_Blue_FC), scoring a 59th-minute goal en route to a 2–0 season-opening win for the Spirit.[9] Staab went on to appear in every minute of the Spirit's season, becoming the second-ever NWSL player to play every minute of her rookie season. She was considered one of the league's top defenders, earning a spot on the [NWSL Team of the Month](/source/NWSL_Team_of_the_Month) for May and June, and was one of three nominees for [NWSL Rookie of the Year](/source/NWSL_Rookie_of_the_Year).[10][11][12]

Staab was signed in advance of the [2019–20 W-League season](/source/2019%E2%80%9320_W-League) by the [Western Sydney Wanderers](/source/Western_Sydney_Wanderers_FC_(A-League_Women)). She made her debut for the Wanderers on November 14, 2019.[13]

In 2020, Staab played every minute of the Spirit's season.[14] In the [NWSL Challenge Cup](/source/NWSL_Challenge_Cup), she converted a header off a set piece in the 77th minute against the [Portland Thorns](/source/Portland_Thorns), scoring the Spirit's lone goal in the team's 1–1 tie.[15] In 2022, Staab played every minute of the Spirit's season once again.[16]

On April 29, 2023, Staab made her 73rd consecutive regular season start in the NWSL, breaking a record held by [Amber Brooks](/source/Amber_Brooks).[17] As of October 20, 2023, Staab has played every minute of 90 consecutive matches, completing three [iron woman](/source/Iron_man_(sports_streak)) seasons.[18] She was nominated for [NWSL Defender of the Year](/source/NWSL_Defender_of_the_Year) in the 2023 season.[19]

### Chicago Stars

Staab was traded to the [Chicago Red Stars](/source/Chicago_Stars_FC) (later named Chicago Stars FC) on January 12, 2024, the day of the [2024 NWSL Draft](/source/2024_NWSL_Draft), for the third pick of the draft.[20] On July 25, 2024, Staab was placed on the season-ending injury list after tearing her [Achilles tendon](/source/Achilles_tendon) during a match against [NJ/NY Gotham FC](/source/NJ%2FNY_Gotham_FC) on July 20.[21]

## International career

Staab attended training camp with the [United States under-19 team](/source/United_States_women's_national_under-19_soccer_team) in January 2016.[22] Staab was first selected for the [United States under-23 team](/source/United_States_women's_national_under-23_soccer_team) in March 2018 for the 2018 Thorns Spring Invitational.[23] She was called up again for the 2018 Nordic Tournament, where she was the only non-professional player selected for the U.S. roster.[24] She started all three games, and scored the game-winning goal for the United States in the final match, ensuring a first-place result in the tournament.[25]

Staab received her first [senior national team](/source/United_States_women's_national_soccer_team) call-up in May 2024, making her debut as a 61st-minute substitute in a friendly against [South Korea](/source/South_Korea_women's_national_football_team) on June 1.[26][27]

## Career statistics

### International

- *As of match played June 4, 2024*

Appearances and goals by national team and year National team Year Apps Goals United States 2024 2 0 Total 2 0

## Honors

**Individual**

- [NWSL Team of the Month](/source/NWSL_Team_of_the_Month): May, June 2019[11][12]

- [NWSL Best XI](/source/NWSL_Best_XI): [2023](/source/2023_National_Women's_Soccer_League_season#Teams_of_the_Year)[28]

- Atlantic Coast Conference Defensive Player of the Year: [2018](/source/2018_Atlantic_Coast_Conference_women's_soccer_season#ACC_Awards)[29]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** "College of Business: Bachelor of Science, Accounting". [*Commencement: Thursday, December 20, 2018*](https://www.clemson.edu/registrar/documents/graduation-programs/grad-december-2018.pdf) (PDF). [Clemson University](/source/Clemson_University). December 20, 2018. p. 19. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20220302130520/https://www.clemson.edu/registrar/documents/graduation-programs/grad-december-2018.pdf) (PDF) from the original on March 2, 2022. Retrieved July 9, 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Beyond the Game – Sam Staab"](https://clemsontigers.com/beyond-the-game-sam-staab/). *Orange: The Experience*. Clemson Tigers Athletics. September 22, 2017. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20240605014107/https://clemsontigers.com/beyond-the-game-sam-staab/) from the original on June 5, 2024. Retrieved June 4, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Homegrown Pros: Two Sharks Drafted in NWSL"](https://dmcvsharks.com/2019/01/11/homegrown-pros-two-sharks-drafted-in-nwsl/). *DMCV Sharks*. January 12, 2019. Retrieved November 30, 2021.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-CLEMbio_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-CLEMbio_4-1) ["Sam Staab"](https://clemsontigers.com/sports/womens-soccer/roster/sam-staab/). Clemson Tigers Athletics. February 4, 2015. Retrieved May 19, 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2015award_5-0)** ["Clemson Women's Soccer Program Celebrates Successful Season"](https://clemsontigers.com/clemson-womens-soccer-program-celebrates-successful-season/). Clemson Tigers Athletics. March 28, 2016. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210618181222/https://clemsontigers.com/clemson-womens-soccer-program-celebrates-successful-season/) from the original on June 18, 2021. Retrieved May 19, 2019.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-2019draft_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-2019draft_6-1) ["Clemson Women's Soccer star Sam Staab drafted in first round of NWSL draft"](https://www.independentmail.com/story/sports/2019/01/11/clemson-womens-soccer-star-sam-staab-drafted-first-round-nwsl-draft/2553563002/). *Independent Mail*. January 11, 2019. Retrieved May 19, 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2018assists_7-0)** ["Staab Earns All-America Honors, Two Other Tigers Named All-Region"](https://clemsontigers.com/staab-earns-all-america-honors-two-other-tigers-named-all-region/). Clemson Tigers Athletics. November 29, 2018. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20181130205016/http://clemsontigers.com/staab-earns-all-america-honors-two-other-tigers-named-all-region/) from the original on November 30, 2018. Retrieved May 19, 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2019AR_8-0)** ["Washington Spirit announces updated 25-player roster ahead of 2019 NWSL season"](https://washingtonspirit.com/2019/04/08/washington-spirit-announces-updated-25-player-roster-ahead-of-2019-nwsl-season/). Washington Spirit. April 8, 2019. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20190409135028/https://washingtonspirit.com/2019/04/08/washington-spirit-announces-updated-25-player-roster-ahead-of-2019-nwsl-season/) from the original on April 9, 2019. Retrieved May 19, 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2019FA_9-0)** Giambalvo, Emily (April 13, 2019). ["Washington Spirit opens new NWSL season with 2–0 win over Sky Blue FC"](https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2019/04/14/washington-spirit-opens-new-nwsl-season-with-win-over-sky-blue-fc/). *Washington Post*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20190515012851/https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2019/04/14/washington-spirit-opens-new-nwsl-season-with-win-over-sky-blue-fc/) from the original on May 15, 2019. Retrieved May 19, 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-19BRU1_10-0)** Anderson, Jason (October 17, 2019). ["Washington Spirit have multiple nominees for NWSL end-of-season awards"](https://www.blackandredunited.com/washington-spirit-womens-soccer/2019/10/17/20919933/washington-spirit-2019-nwsl-awards-aubrey-bledsoe-sam-staab-jordan-dibiasi-richie-burke). *Black and Red United*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20220814091117/https://www.blackandredunited.com/washington-spirit-womens-soccer/2019/10/17/20919933/washington-spirit-2019-nwsl-awards-aubrey-bledsoe-sam-staab-jordan-dibiasi-richie-burke) from the original on August 14, 2022. Retrieved March 1, 2021.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-19BRU2_11-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-19BRU2_11-1) Anderson, Jason (May 31, 2019). ["Four Washington Spirit players make NWSL Team of the Month for May 2019"](https://www.blackandredunited.com/washington-spirit-womens-soccer/2019/5/31/18646666/washington-spirit-nwsl-team-month-may-2019-aubrey-bledsoe-sam-staab-jordan-dibiasi-ashley-hatch). *Black and Red United*. Retrieved March 1, 2021.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-19NWSL1_12-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-19NWSL1_12-1) Purdy, Jacqueline (July 8, 2019). ["June Team of the Month"](https://web.archive.org/web/20220814090936/https://www.nwslsoccer.com/news/article/june-team-of-the-month-2). *NWSL*. Archived from [the original](https://www.nwslsoccer.com/news/article/june-team-of-the-month-2) on August 14, 2022. Retrieved March 1, 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** ["Signing news: Wanderers secure Harrison and Staab"](https://web.archive.org/web/20210322010804/https://www.w-league.com.au/news/signing-news-wanderers-secure-harrison-and-staab). *w-league.com.au*. Football Federation Australia. October 23, 2019. Archived from [the original](https://www.w-league.com.au/news/signing-news-wanderers-secure-harrison-and-staab) on March 22, 2021. Retrieved January 2, 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** ["2020 Challenge Cup Sam Staab statistics"](https://web.archive.org/web/20220814091117/https://www.nwslsoccer.com/players/samantha-staab?statsSeason=2020%20Challenge%20Cup&gamelogSeason=2020%20Challenge%20Cup). Archived from [the original](https://www.nwslsoccer.com/players/samantha-staab?statsSeason=2020%20Challenge%20Cup&gamelogSeason=2020%20Challenge%20Cup) on August 14, 2022. Retrieved March 1, 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** Anderson, Jason (July 6, 2020). ["Washington Spirit, Portland Thorns trade set piece goals in 1–1 NWSL Challenge Cup draw"](https://www.blackandredunited.com/washington-spirit-womens-soccer/2020/7/6/21314228/portland-thorns-washington-spirit-2020-nwsl-challenge-cup-recap-highlights). *Black and Red United*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210126080925/https://www.blackandredunited.com/washington-spirit-womens-soccer/2020/7/6/21314228/portland-thorns-washington-spirit-2020-nwsl-challenge-cup-recap-highlights) from the original on January 26, 2021. Retrieved March 1, 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** ["Stam Staab 2022 Season statistics"](https://www.nwslsoccer.com/players/samantha-keala-staab/stats). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20221002032058/https://www.nwslsoccer.com/players/samantha-keala-staab/stats) from the original on October 2, 2022. Retrieved October 1, 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** @NWSL (April 29, 2023). ["Sam Staab now has the most consecutive starts in league history, breaking the record held by her teammate Amber Brooks 🏁"](https://twitter.com/NWSL/status/1652466020932792320) ([Tweet](/source/Tweet_(social_media))) – via [Twitter](/source/Twitter).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** ["Washington Spirit's Sam Staab ties NWSL Iron Woman record"](https://herfootballhub.com/washington-spirit-sam-staab-ties-nwsl-iron-woman-record). October 20, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** Hruby, Emma (November 8, 2023). ["Naomi Girma Wins NWSL Defender of the Year in Back-to-Back Seasons"](https://justwomenssports.com/reads/naomi-girma-wins-nwsl-defender-of-the-year-in-back-to-back-seasons/). *[Just Women's Sports](/source/Just_Women's_Sports)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20241203201818/https://justwomenssports.com/reads/naomi-girma-wins-nwsl-defender-of-the-year-in-back-to-back-seasons/) from the original on December 3, 2024. Retrieved June 27, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-20)** Brockway, Ella (January 12, 2024). ["Spirit gets busy, deals Ashley Sanchez, Sam Staab and loads up in draft"](https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2024/01/12/washington-spirit-nwsl-draft/). *Washington Post*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-21)** Salazar, Emmanuel (July 25, 2024). ["Chicago Red Stars Medical Update on Defender, Sam Staab"](https://chicagoredstars.com/first-team/chicago-red-stars-medical-update-on-defender-sam-staab/). *Chicago Red Stars*. Retrieved July 26, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-TC19_22-0)** ["Staab Invited to U19 USWNT Camp"](https://clemsontigers.com/staab-invited-to-u19-uswnt-camp/). Clemson Tigers Athletics. January 6, 2016. Retrieved May 19, 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2018TSI_23-0)** ["Clemson's Sam Staab Back in Action with U.S. U-23 WNT"](https://www.abccolumbia.com/2018/03/09/clemsons-sam-staab-back-action-u-s-u-23-wnt/). ABC Columbia. March 9, 2018. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20220814091117/https://www.abccolumbia.com/2018/03/09/clemsons-sam-staab-back-action-u-s-u-23-wnt/) from the original on August 14, 2022. Retrieved May 19, 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2018NT_24-0)** ["U-23 WNT Headed to Norway for 2018 Nordic Tournament"](https://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2018/08/23/18/56/20180823-news-u23wnt-headed-to-norway-for-2018-nordic-tournament). U.S. Soccer. August 23, 2018. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20180824034102/https://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2018/08/23/18/56/20180823-news-u23wnt-headed-to-norway-for-2018-nordic-tournament) from the original on August 24, 2018. Retrieved May 19, 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2018NT2_25-0)** ["USA takes first place in 2018 Women's U-23 Nordic Tournament"](https://www.soccerwire.com/news/nt/international-women/usa-takes-first-place-in-2018-womens-u-23-nordic-tournament/). Soccerwire. September 4, 2018. Retrieved May 19, 2019.[*[permanent dead link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot)*]

1. **[^](#cite_ref-26)** Musarurwa, Kudzi (May 21, 2024). ["Emma Hayes names her first USWNT roster"](https://www.allforxi.com/2024/5/21/24161709/emma-hayes-names-her-first-uswnt-roster). *All for XI*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20241008144241/https://www.allforxi.com/2024/5/21/24161709/emma-hayes-names-her-first-uswnt-roster) from the original on October 8, 2024. Retrieved June 1, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-27)** Cattry, Pardeep (June 1, 2024). ["USWNT vs. South Korea score: USA win Emma Hayes' debut as Mal Swanson, Tierna Davidson record braces"](https://www.cbssports.com/soccer/news/uswnt-vs-south-korea-score-usa-win-emma-hayes-debut-as-mal-swanson-tierna-davidson-record-braces/live/). [CBS Sports](/source/CBS_Sports). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20240724123747/https://www.cbssports.com/soccer/news/uswnt-vs-south-korea-score-usa-win-emma-hayes-debut-as-mal-swanson-tierna-davidson-record-braces/live/) from the original on July 24, 2024. Retrieved June 1, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-28)** ["NWSL Announces Winners of 2023 Mastercard Best XI Awards"](https://www.nwslsoccer.com/news/nwsl-announces-winners-of-2023-mastercard-best-xi-awards). November 6, 2023. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20231225080443/https://www.nwslsoccer.com/news/nwsl-announces-winners-of-2023-mastercard-best-xi-awards) from the original on December 25, 2023. Retrieved November 7, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-awards_29-0)** ["ACC Women's Soccer: 2018 Season Awards Announced"](https://theacc.com/news/2018/11/1/acc-womens-soccer-2018-season-awards-announced.aspx). *theacc.com*. The Atlantic Coast Conference. November 1, 2018. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20181201214353/http://www.theacc.com/news/2018/11/1/acc-womens-soccer-2018-season-awards-announced.aspx) from the original on December 1, 2018. Retrieved November 1, 2018.

## External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Sam Staab](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Sam_Staab).

- [Washington Spirit player profile](https://washingtonspirit.com/team-member/sam-staab/)

- [Sam Staab](https://int.soccerway.com/players/samantha-staab/545276/) at Soccerway

v t e Chicago Stars FC – current squad 1 Naeher 3 Staab 4 Bike 5 Alozie 6 Hendrich 7 Grosso 8 Joseph 9 Swanson 10 Pinto 11 Gomes 12 Kuikka 13 Nesbeth 15 Evans 16 Hayashi 18 Chacón 20 Franklin 22 Mackiewicz 23 Johnson 24 Gareis 25 Farmer 27 Atkinson 28 Egizii 32 Wood 34 Dellarose 77 Maitane 99 Huitema Ouahabi Head coach: Sjögren

v t e 2023 NWSL Teams of the Year Best XI Campbell Girma Krieger Gorden Staab Coffey Debinha Shaw Kerolin Smith Williams Second XI Sheridan Fox Kurtz Nighswonger Vignola DeMelo McCaskill O'Sullivan Hatch Morgan Rodman

v t e Atlantic Coast Conference Women's Soccer Player of the Year Player of the Year 1987: Henry 1988: Hamilton 1989: Higgins 1990: Hamm 1991: Lilly 1992: Hamm 1993: Hamm 1994: Venturini 1995: Walbert 1996: Taylor 1997: Melde 1998: Parlow 1999: Fair 2000: Lindsey 2001: Lindsey 2002: Arrington 2003: Tarpley Offensive Player of the Year 2004: McCluskey 2005: O'Reilly 2006: Averbuch 2007: Yamaguchi 2008: Nogueira 2009: McCarty 2010: Farrelly 2011: Stengel 2012: Miller 2013: Dunn 2014: Brynjarsdóttir 2015: Doniak 2016: Shaffer 2017: Dorsey 2018: Russo 2019: Castellanos 2020: Ekić 2021: Ordóñez 2022: Cooper 2023: Echegini 2024: Lema 2025: Engle Defensive Player of the Year 2004: Huffman 2005: Ford 2006: Georges 2007: Sauerbrunn 2008: Krzysik 2009: Engen 2010: Dunn 2011: Anasi 2012: Dunn 2013: Kallman 2014: Grubka 2015: Sonnett 2016: Gibbons 2017: DeBree 2018: Staab 2019: Berkely 2020: Berkely 2021: Madril 2022: Gaetino 2023: Gaetino 2024: Roller 2025: Evans Midfielder of the Year 2014: Colaprico 2015: Connolly 2016: Shaffer 2017: Quinn 2018: Coffey 2019: Castellanos 2020: Howell 2021: Howell 2022: Albert 2023: Sentnor 2024: Graham 2025: Godfrey Goalkeeper of the Year 2022: Roque 2023: Mackiewicz 2024: Freeman 2025: Birkel

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Sam Staab](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Staab) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Staab?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.