{{Short description|American soccer player and executive (born 1986)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2016}} {{Use American English|date=November 2021}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Yael Averbuch West | image = Yael Averbuch West Gotham NC Courage Mar 21 2026-180 (cropped).jpg | upright = | caption = Averbuch in 2026 | fullname = Yael Averbuch West | birth_name = Yael Friedman Averbuch<ref name=unc_bio/> | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1986|11|3}} | birth_place = [[New York, New York]], United States | height = {{height|ft=5|in=10}} | position = [[Midfielder]], [[Defender (association football)|defender]] | currentclub = [[Gotham FC]] (general manager) | youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = Monclair Kangaroos | youthyears2 = | youthclubs2 = Montclair Mavericks | youthyears3 = | youthclubs3 = Ramapo Wildcats | collegeyears1 = 2005–2008 | college1 = [[North Carolina Tar Heels women's soccer|North Carolina Tar Heels]] | collegecaps1 = 77 | collegegoals1 = 26 | years1 = 2002–2004 | clubs1 = [[New Jersey Lady Stallions]] | caps1 = 16 | goals1 = 3 | years2 = 2009–2010 | clubs2 = [[Sky Blue FC]] | caps2 = 41 | goals2 = 1 | years3 = 2011 | clubs3 = [[Western New York Flash]] | caps3 = 14 | goals3 = 0 | years4 = 2012 | clubs4 = [[WFC Rossiyanka]] | caps4 = | goals4 = | years5 = 2012–13 | clubs5 = [[Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC]] | caps5 = 30 | goals5 = 8 | years6 = 2014 | clubs6 = [[Washington Spirit]] | caps6 = 22 | goals6 = 1 | years7 = 2015–2017 | clubs7 = [[FC Kansas City]] | caps7 = 63 | goals7 = 6 | years8 = 2018 | clubs8 = [[Reign FC]] | caps8 = 1 | goals8 = 0 | nationalyears1 = 2002 | nationalteam1 = United States U-16 | nationalcaps1 = | nationalgoals1 = | nationalyears2 = 2003 | nationalteam2 = [[United States women's national under-17 soccer team|United States U-17]] | nationalcaps2 = | nationalgoals2 = | nationalyears3 = 2003–2004 | nationalteam3 = United States U-19 | nationalcaps3 = 15 | nationalgoals3 = 2 | nationalyears4 = | nationalteam4 = [[United States women's national under-20 soccer team|United States U-20]] | nationalcaps4 = | nationalgoals4 = | nationalyears5 = | nationalteam5 = United States U-21 | nationalcaps5 = | nationalgoals5 = | nationalyears6 = 2008 | nationalteam6 = [[United States women's national under-23 soccer team|United States U-23]] | nationalcaps6 = | nationalgoals6 = | nationalyears7 = 2007–2013 | nationalteam7 = [[United States women's national soccer team|United States]] | nationalcaps7 = 26 | nationalgoals7 = 1 | medaltemplates = | manageryears1 = 2021 | managerclubs1 = [[NJ/NY Gotham FC]] (interim general manager) | manageryears2 = 2021– | managerclubs2 = [[Gotham FC]] (general manager) | club-update = August 11, 2022 | nationalteam-update = November 10, 2013 }}
'''Yael Averbuch West''' (born '''Yael Friedman Averbuch'''; November 3, 1986) is an American [[association football|soccer]] executive and former professional player who is the general manager of [[Gotham FC]] of the [[National Women's Soccer League]] (NWSL). She was previously the founding president of the [[National Women's Soccer League Players Association]] (NWSLPA).
Averbuch played [[college soccer]] for the [[North Carolina Tar Heels women's soccer|North Carolina Tar Heels]], winning two [[NCAA Division I women's soccer tournament|national championship]]s and earning [[List of NCAA Division I women's soccer First-Team All-America teams|first-team All-American]] honors twice. She was picked third overall by Sky Blue FC (later known as Gotham FC) in the [[2009 WPS Draft]] and won WPS championships with Sky Blue and the [[Western New York Flash]]. After the WPS folded, she made a brief stint with [[WFC Rossiyanka]] and played for [[Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC]]. In 2014, she was allocated to the NWSL's [[Washington Spirit]], then signed with [[FC Kansas City]] and won the [[2015 NWSL Championship|NWSL Championship]] in her debut season in 2015. She retired with the [[Seattle Reign FC|Seattle Reign]] in 2018. Internationally, she played for the [[United States women's national soccer team|United States]] at every youth level and represented the senior national team from 2007 to 2013, earning 26 [[cap (association football)|cap]]s and scoring 1 goal.
Averbuch helped create the NWSLPA in 2017 and was president until 2019. She was named general manager of Gotham FC in 2021. Under her leadership, the club won the [[2023 NWSL Championship|2023]] and [[2025 NWSL Championship]]s.
==Early life== Yael Averbuch, who is [[Jewish]], was born in [[New York City]]. She is the daughter of Gloria Averbuch and Paul Friedman. Her middle name Friedman is her father's last name and her last name Averbuch is her mother's maiden name.<ref name=unc_bio>{{cite web|title=Yael Averbuch player profile|url=http://www.goheels.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=3350&ATCLID=205672346|access-date=January 19, 2013|archive-date=November 4, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104051200/http://www.goheels.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=3350&ATCLID=205672346|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Yael]] is a common Hebrew name taken from the biblical book of Judges. Yael killed the enemy general Sisera.<ref name=Women>{{cite web|title = The Shalvi/Hyman Encyclopedia of Jewish Women| date=June 23, 2021 |url = https://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/jael-bible|access-date = 12 Aug 2024|archive-date = September 24, 2024|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240924073329/https://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/jael-bible|url-status = live}}</ref><ref name=Aish>{{cite web |title = Hebrew & Jewish Girl Names |date = January 2007 |url = https://aish.com/hebrew-and-jewish-names-for-girls/ |access-date = August 12, 2024 |archive-date = June 15, 2024 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240615131711/https://aish.com/hebrew-and-jewish-names-for-girls/ |url-status = live }}</ref> The word Yael can also be translated as [[ibex]], [[mountain goat]], or as the verb "to go up".<ref name=Aish/>
Averbuch grew up in [[Montclair, New Jersey]], where she attended [[Montclair High School (New Jersey)|Montclair High School]], graduating in 2005.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.ussoccer.com/teams/wnt/a/yael-averbuch.aspx| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090905070221/http://www.ussoccer.com/Teams/WNT/A/Yael-Averbuch.aspx| archive-date = 2009-09-05| title = Yael Averbuch - U.S. Soccer}}</ref> Yael attained High Honor Roll status all four years in high school. She did not play high school soccer, concentrating on club soccer instead. She was named an [[NSCAA]] [[All-American]] and [[USYSA]] [[All-American]] as a sophomore, junior and senior. As a junior and senior, she was named Parade All-American.<ref name=unc_bio />
===University of North Carolina=== [[File:Yael Averbuch (310392485).jpg|thumb|right|150px|Averbuch as a Tar Heel]] During her career as a center midfielder at the [[University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill]], Averbuch set a record starting 105 consecutive games. She was a two-time captain and was selected first-team All-Performer the [[Atlantic Coast Conference]], one of the most competitive conferences in the country.<ref name=isr_0812>{{cite web|title=Yael Averbuch: The Face of Jewish Women's Soccer|url=http://www.israelsportsradio.com/blog-testing/#.UPszCydERBk|access-date=January 19, 2013|archive-date=February 16, 2013|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130216072046/http://www.israelsportsradio.com/blog-testing/%23.UPszCydERBk|url-status=dead}}</ref> She helped the Tar Heels win two [[NCAA Division I Women's Soccer Championship|NCAA Women's College Cup]] titles in 2006 and 2008. In 2006 and 2007, she earned NSCAA All-America first team status. In 2008, she was named to the NSCAA All-America second team and earned NSCAA Scholar-Athlete of the Year and NCAA VIII Award honors.<ref name=wny_bio>{{cite web|title=Yael Averbuch player profile |url=http://www.womensprosoccer.com/wny/players/bios/yael-averbuch |publisher=Western New York Flash |access-date=January 19, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110822223433/http://www.womensprosoccer.com/wny/players/bios/yael-averbuch |archive-date=August 22, 2011 }}</ref>
As a freshman in 2005, Averbuch started all 25 games. She scored three of her four goals off direct kicks as the team's free kick and corner kick specialist. She was named to the Soccer America and Soccer Buzz first-team freshman All-America teams after notching seven assists and four goals in her first season with the Tar Heels. She was also named the Soccer Buzz Southeast Region Freshman of the Year and was tapped for the All-Southeast Region Second Team and Southeast Region All-Freshman Team. Averbuch was recognized by the ACC as an Academic All-Conference player and as a member of ACC All-Freshmen Team. She was named to the Duke adidas Classic All-Tournament Team as well as the 2005–06 ACC Honor Roll.<ref name=unc_bio />
In 2006, Averbuch was Carolina's second-leading scorer with 39 points and led the team in game-winning goals with seven. She was named national player of the year by both Soccer Buzz and Top Drawer Soccer and was a finalist for both the Missouri Athletic Club Hermann Trophy and the Honda Soccer Award. She set an [[National Collegiate Athletic Association|NCAA]] record for fastest goal scored in a game when she scored four seconds into the match at Yale on the direct kick at midfield to start the game. Averbuch assisted on both goals against UCLA in the NCAA semifinals and was named the ACC's Offensive Player of the Year, Soccer Buzz's Southeast Region player of the year, first-team All-ACC, and All-ACC Academic for a second straight year. She was also named to ESPN The Magazine's women's soccer third-team Academic All-America.<ref name=unc_bio />
During her junior year in 2007, Averbuch appeared in and started every game for the Tar Heels. She was fourth on the team with 18 points, collected six goals and six assists for the season, and led the team in shots taken with 88. She was named to the ESPN The Magazine/College Sports Information Directors of America Academic All-District Team and was a second-team ESPN The Magazine All-America selection. She was named ACC's Scholar-Athlete of the Year for women's soccer and was an All-ACC Academic Team selection, first-team All-ACC and All-ACC Tournament selection. She was also a finalist for Soccer Buzz Player of the Year and a MAC [[Hermann Trophy]] semifinalist. She made three first-team All-America Teams as named by the NSCAA coaches, Soccer America and Soccer Buzz and was an Umbro/Soccer News Net Player of the Year Award finalist. Averbuch was also a Soccer Buzz and NSCAA first-team All-Southeast Region selection as well as Jewish Sports Review All America.<ref name=unc_bio />
==Club career== ===New Jersey Lady Stallions=== Averbuch played for the [[New Jersey Lady Stallions]] in the [[USL W-League (1995–2015)|W-League]] from 2002 to 2004. At just 14 years of age, she became the youngest player at that time to appear in the [[USL W-League (1995–2015)|W-League]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/18/sports/soccer/18goal.html|title=Goal – After Rocky Start, Sky Blue Is Two Wins From WPS Title|date=August 17, 2009|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=October 29, 2009 | first=Jack | last=Bell}}</ref>
=== Sky Blue FC === Averbuch was selected in the first round of the 2009 WPS Draft (4th overall) by her home state team, [[Sky Blue FC]]. During the 2009 season, she started 14 of 18 games and assisted [[Keeley Dowling]]'s game-winning goal in the WPS Semifinal against the [[Saint Louis Athletica]]. The team went on to beat the [[Los Angeles Sol]] 1–0 to clinch the [[2009 Women's Professional Soccer Playoffs|2009 WPS Championship]].<ref name=wny_bio />
In 2010, Averbuch returned to Sky Blue, playing in 23 games, starting 19 and scoring one goal.<ref name=uss_bio>{{cite web|title=Yael Averbuch player profile|url=http://www.ussoccer.com/Teams/WNT/A/Yael-Averbuch.aspx|publisher=US Soccer|access-date=January 19, 2013|archive-date=January 27, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130127023913/http://www.ussoccer.com/Teams/WNT/A/Yael-Averbuch.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref>
===Western New York Flash === In 2011, Averbuch signed with the [[Western New York Flash]].<ref name=uss_bio /> She made 14 appearances with eight starts, playing a total of 751 minutes, helping her team win the [[2011 Women's Professional Soccer Playoffs#WPS Championship|2011 WPS Championship]] in penalties by scoring the winning penalty kick against the [[Philadelphia Independence]].
===WFC Rossiyanka=== After the end of the [[2011 WPS season]] and suspension of the league, Averbuch headed to [[Moscow, Russia]] for a month to join [[WFC Rossiyanka]] for the quarterfinal of the [[UEFA Champions League]]. She, along with [[Kia McNeill]] and [[Leigh Ann Robinson]], were brought in by the coach to help strengthen the team as it prepared to face Germany's [[1. FFC Turbine Potsdam]] in the UEFA Women's Champions League.<ref>{{cite news|last=Averbuch|first=Yael|title=What Now?|url=http://goal.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/04/04/what-now/|newspaper=The New York Times|date=April 4, 2012|access-date=January 20, 2013|archive-date=December 30, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121230141129/http://goal.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/04/04/what-now/|url-status=live}}</ref> Averbuch made two appearances for the team.<ref>{{cite web|title=2011/2012 FK ROSSIYANKA Roster|url=https://int.soccerway.com/teams/russia/rossiyanka-moskovskaya-oblast/|publisher=Soccer Way|access-date=January 20, 2013}}</ref>
===Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC=== In 2012, Averbuch signed with [[Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC]] in Sweden. She made 16 appearances and scored 7 goals across all competitions for Göteborg in 2012. Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC won the 2012 [[Svenska Cupen (women)|Svenska Cupen]] by defeating [[Tyresö FF]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Kopparbergs/Goteborg FC 2012 roster|url=https://int.soccerway.com/teams/sweden/kopparbergs-goteborg-football-club/|publisher=Soccer Way|access-date=January 20, 2013}}</ref> Averbuch returned to Göteborg in 2013, where she won the 2013 [[Svenska Supercupen (women)|Svenska Supercupen]].
===Washington Spirit, 2014=== Averbuch was acquired by the [[Washington Spirit]] in the [[National Women's Soccer League]] ahead of the [[2014 National Women's Soccer League season|2014 NWSL season]], she was an allocated player by [[U.S. Soccer]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thevoyageurs.org/forums/topic/26144-2014-nwsl-allocation-list/|title=2014 nwsl allocation list|access-date=March 24, 2019|date=January 3, 2014|archive-date=March 24, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190324214503/https://www.thevoyageurs.org/forums/topic/26144-2014-nwsl-allocation-list/|url-status=dead}}</ref> She appeared in 23 games for Washington as they qualified for the [[NWSL playoffs]] for the first time.
====Loan to Apollon==== Averbuch went on loan to [[Apollon Ladies F.C.|Apollon]] following the 2014 NWSL season.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/08/sports/soccer/5-things-ive-learned-in-cyprus.html|title=5 Things I've Learned in Cyprus|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=March 24, 2019|date=October 7, 2014|last1=Averbuch|first1=Yael}}</ref>
===FC Kansas City, 2015–2017=== Averbuch became a free agent in the NWSL after losing her allocation following the 2014 season. On November 7, 2014, she signed with [[FC Kansas City]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://equalizersoccer.com/2014/11/07/yael-averbuch-signs-fc-kansas-city/|title=Averbuch signs with NWSL champs FC Kansas City|access-date=March 24, 2019|date=November 7, 2014}}</ref> Averbuch made 20 appearances for the club and scored 2 goals. [[FC Kansas City]] won the [[2015 National Women's Soccer League season|NWSL championship]] in 2015.
She returned to FCKC for the [[2016 National Women's Soccer League season|2016 NWSL season]], she scored 3 goals in 20 games, but [[FC Kansas City]] finished in 6th place a failed to qualify for the play-offs.<ref name="stats">{{cite web|url=https://us.soccerway.com/players/yael-averbuch/76143/|title=Y.AVERBUCH|access-date=March 24, 2019|archive-date=April 1, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190401132706/https://us.soccerway.com/players/yael-averbuch/76143/|url-status=live}}</ref>
In 2017, Averbuch played in 23 games and scored 1 goal, FCKC missed the playoffs for the second straight season. After the [[2017 National Women's Soccer League season|2017 NWSL season]] concluded [[FC Kansas City]] ceased operations. [[Utah Royals FC]] entered the league and all FCKC player contracts were transferred over to the new franchise.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sbnation.com/soccer/2017/11/20/16655490/real-salt-lake-nwsl-fc-kansas-city|title=FC Kansas City ceases operations, contracts transferred to Real Salt Lake NWSL team|date=November 20, 2017|access-date=March 24, 2019|archive-date=March 24, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190324214505/https://www.sbnation.com/soccer/2017/11/20/16655490/real-salt-lake-nwsl-fc-kansas-city|url-status=live}}</ref> At the [[2018 NWSL College Draft]] Averbuch was traded to the [[Seattle Reign]] in exchange for [[Diana Matheson]], reuniting her with former [[FC Kansas City]] head coach [[Vlatko Andonovski]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsl.com/post/2018/01/18/canadian-wnt-diana-matheson-joins-utah-royals-fc|title=Canadian WNT Diana Matheson Joins Utah Royals FC|access-date=March 24, 2019|date=January 18, 2018|archive-date=November 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109034548/https://www.rsl.com/post/2018/01/18/canadian-wnt-diana-matheson-joins-utah-royals-fc|url-status=live}}</ref>
Averbuch was instrumental in the creation of the [[National Women's Soccer League Players Association]] in May 2017.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.foxsports.com/soccer/story/new-nwsl-players-association-union-uswnt-analysis-explained-051517|title=What does the new NWSL Players Association mean for players and the league?|date=May 15, 2017|work=Fox Sports|access-date=January 10, 2019|first=Caitlin|last=Murray|archive-date=January 10, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190110235013/https://www.foxsports.com/soccer/story/new-nwsl-players-association-union-uswnt-analysis-explained-051517|url-status=live}}</ref> She served as president and the NWSLPA was officially recognized as the exclusive bargaining representative of NWSL Players in November 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nwslsoccer.com/news/article/nwsl-nwslpa-reach-voluntary-recognition-agreement|title=NWSL, NWSLPA reach voluntary recognition agreement|access-date=March 24, 2019|date=November 17, 2018|archive-date=March 24, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190324214505/http://www.nwslsoccer.com/news/article/nwsl-nwslpa-reach-voluntary-recognition-agreement|url-status=dead}}</ref>
===Seattle Reign, 2018=== Averbuch was only able to play in one game for the Reign in 2018 as she battled ulcerative colitis. She announced prior to the [[2019 National Women's Soccer League season|2019 NWSL season]] that she was suspending her playing career due to this illness.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sounderatheart.com/seattle-reign/2019/3/2/18247533/yael-averbuch-reign-fc-playing-career-pause-illness|title=Yael Averbuch hits pause on her playing career due to illness|access-date=March 24, 2019|date=March 2, 2019|archive-date=March 23, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190323164438/https://www.sounderatheart.com/seattle-reign/2019/3/2/18247533/yael-averbuch-reign-fc-playing-career-pause-illness|url-status=dead}}</ref> Averbuch would remain involved with the NWSLPA as she was named executive director for 2019.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.soccertoday.com/nwsls-new-player-association-director-yael-averbuch/|title=Yael Averbuch Will Serve As NWSL Players Association Executive Director For 2019|date=March 5, 2019|access-date=March 24, 2019|archive-date=March 24, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190324214506/https://www.soccertoday.com/nwsls-new-player-association-director-yael-averbuch/|url-status=live}}</ref>
==International career== [[File:Yael Averbuch with flag.jpg|thumb|right|Averbuch in 2013]] Averbuch played for the United States at every level of the youth national teams, starting with the U-16 women's national team in 2002 and U-17 team in 2003 before joining the U-19 team later in 2003. She finished her U-19 career with 15 caps and two goals and was a member of the U.S. team that finished third at the 2004 FIFA U-19 Women's World Cup in Thailand, where she played in two matches. She played for the [[United States women's national under-23 soccer team|U.S. U-23s]] in 2008, captaining the team to a Nordic Cup title in Sweden.{{Citation needed|date=December 2024}}
Averbuch earned her first two senior team caps in 2007, coming off the bench in two matches at the [[Four Nations Tournament (women's football)|Four Nations Tournament]] in China, playing against England (on January 28, 2007) and China. In 2009, she was called upon to start at outside midfield against Germany in the USA's 1–0 victory in October in Augsburg, her only match of the year. In 2010, she played in 10 matches while starting five and scoring one goal.{{Citation needed|date=December 2024}}
Averbuch's first goal for the [[United States women's national soccer team]] occurred during a [[2010 CONCACAF Women's Gold Cup]] qualifier against Costa Rica on November 1, 2010, in Cancun, Mexico. She played in three matches during the Women's World Cup qualifying matches, starting two.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2014/03/17/11/18/us-wnt-beats-costa-rica-to-top-group |title=U.S. Women's National Team Beats Costa Rica 4-0 to Top Group B at CONCACAF Women's World Cup Qualifying in Cancun, Mexico - U.S. Soccer<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=February 13, 2016 |archive-date=March 8, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160308173519/http://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2014/03/17/11/18/us-wnt-beats-costa-rica-to-top-group |url-status=live }}</ref>
==Managerial career== ===NJ/NY Gotham FC, 2021–=== Following the firing of general manager [[Alyse LaHue]] on July 9, 2021,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://justwomenssports.com/alyse-lahue-out-as-gotham-fc-general-manager/ |title=Alyse LaHue out as Gotham FC general manager |date=July 16, 2021 |access-date=August 11, 2022 |publisher=Just Women's Sports |first=Emma |last=Hruby |archive-date=August 11, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220811182058/https://justwomenssports.com/alyse-lahue-out-as-gotham-fc-general-manager/ |url-status=live }}</ref> [[NJ/NY Gotham FC]] of the [[National Women's Soccer League]] named Averbuch as the club's interim general manager on August 3, 2021.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://justwomenssports.com/yael-averbuch-west-named-interim-gm-of-gotham-fc/ |title=Yael Averbuch West named interim GM of Gotham FC |date=August 3, 2021 |access-date=August 11, 2022 |publisher=Just Women's Sports |first=Emma |last=Hruby |archive-date=August 10, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220810110406/https://justwomenssports.com/yael-averbuch-west-named-interim-gm-of-gotham-fc/ |url-status=live }}</ref> On December 7, 2021, Gotham FC made her appointment permanent.<ref name="gm">{{cite news |url=https://justwomenssports.com/nwsl-uswnt-gotham-fc-yael-averbuch-west/ |title=Gotham FC names Yael Averbuch West permanent general manager |date=December 7, 2021 |access-date=August 11, 2022 |publisher=Just Women's Sports |first=Emma |last=Hruby |archive-date=August 11, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220811183600/https://justwomenssports.com/nwsl-uswnt-gotham-fc-yael-averbuch-west/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Averbuch has since overseen the tenure of coach [[Scott Parkinson]], starting with his hiring on August 31, 2021,<ref name="gotham_itv">{{cite news |last1=Yang |first1=Steph |title=Gotham FC's new head coach and assistant hires begin another new era for the club |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/2800336/2021/08/31/gotham-fc-scott-parkinson-hire/ |access-date=August 11, 2022 |work=[[The Athletic]] |date=August 31, 2021}}</ref> and the mutual termination of his contract on August 11, 2022.<ref>{{cite tweet |user=GothamFC |author=NJ/NY Gotham FC |author-link=NJ/NY Gotham FC |number=1557778779065532417 |title=Club News |access-date=11 August 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media |people=Sandra Herrera and Lisa Roman |date=11 August 2022 |title=LIVE: Gotham FC and HC Scott Parkinson Part Ways {{!}} NWSL Weekend Preview |type=Video |language=en |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LV8M_qtUjdc |access-date=11 August 2022 |series=Attacking Third |publisher=[[CBS Sports]] |archive-date=August 11, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220811180325/https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=LV8M_qtUjdc |url-status=live }}</ref>
==Journalism career== Averbuch has written for ''The New York Times'' and ''Our Game Magazine''.<ref>{{cite news |last=Averbuch |first=Yael |url=http://goal.blogs.nytimes.com/author/yael-averbuch/ |title=Yael Averbuch |work=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=October 31, 2011 |archive-date=October 6, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111006182243/http://goal.blogs.nytimes.com/author/yael-averbuch/ |url-status=live }}</ref> She now writes her own blog.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.ourgamemagazine.com/ |title=Furthering women's soccer like no magazine has done before |publisher=Our Game Magazine |access-date=October 31, 2011 |archive-date=October 29, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111029082804/http://www.ourgamemagazine.com/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
==Personal life== Averbuch's hometown is [[Montclair, New Jersey]]. Her younger sister, Shira, was a midfielder for [[Stanford University]]<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.goheels.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=3350&ATCLID=205672346|title=Yael Averbuch – University of North Carolina Athletics|date=January 22, 2009|publisher=[[North Carolina Tar Heels women's soccer|North Carolina Tar Heels]]|access-date=October 29, 2009|archive-date=November 4, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104051200/http://www.goheels.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=3350&ATCLID=205672346|url-status=live}}</ref> and represented the Team USA in July 2013 in the [[2013 Maccabiah Games|19th Maccabiah Games]] in Israel<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.maccabiusa.com/sports/sports-explorer/soccer/124.html|title=USA Soccer Team – Maccabiah Games|date=July 12, 2013|publisher=Maccabi USA|access-date=October 6, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131003080921/http://maccabiusa.com/sports/sports-explorer/soccer/124.html|archive-date=October 3, 2013|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref> and is a current employee of [[Soccer United Marketing]].
In 2016 Averbuch founded Techne Futbol, a soccer training app which provides a personal training program for soccer players.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.soccernation.com/techne-check-up/|title=ONE ON ONE WITH TECHNE FUTBOL FOUNDER YAEL AVERBUCH|access-date=March 25, 2019|date=August 9, 2017|archive-date=March 25, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190325194601/https://www.soccernation.com/techne-check-up/|url-status=live}}</ref>
On April 27, 2019, Averbuch married former [[Davidson College]] midfielder, Aaron West, in a ceremony in North Carolina.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.zola.com/wedding/yaelaaron|title=Yael Averbuch and Aaron West's Wedding Website|access-date=25 January 2020|archive-date=January 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200126001053/https://www.zola.com/wedding/yaelaaron|url-status=live}}</ref> Their daughter, Aria Adrienne West, was born on September 29, 2020.<ref>{{cite instagram |user=yaelaverbuch |postid=CF2R1-fggPa |title=''No title.'' |date=October 2, 2010 |access-date=April 24, 2023}}</ref>
== Career statistics == {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" ! colspan=3 | {{fbw|USA}} |- !Year!!Apps!!Goals |- |2007||2||0 |- |2008||–||– |- |2009||1||0 |- |2010||10||1 |- |2011||3||0 |- |2012||–||– |- |2013||10||0 |- !Total||26||1 |}
:''Scores and results list the United States' goal tally first.'' {| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" ! # !! Date !! Venue !! Opponent !! Score !! Result !! Competition |- | 1. || November 1, 2010 || [[Estadio Andrés Quintana Roo]], [[Cancún]], Mexico || {{fbw|CRC}} || {{center|3–0}} || {{center|4–0}} || [[2010 CONCACAF Women's Gold Cup]] |}
==Honors and awards== * Set an NCAA record for the fastest goal scored in a game when she scored four seconds into the match at Yale in 2006 on a shot taken directly after the kickoff touch.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F00D1EFB3D550C758CDDA00894DE404482|title=US Cleats Leave Mark on Scandinavia's Welcome|date=September 6, 2006|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=October 29, 2009|first=Jack|last=Bell|archive-date=November 6, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106231454/http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F00D1EFB3D550C758CDDA00894DE404482|url-status=live}}</ref> (video<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BmN5rz92kxY |title=Fastest Goal in Soccer History |publisher=YouTube |date=September 5, 2006 |access-date=October 31, 2011 |archive-date=December 22, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111222213858/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BmN5rz92kxY |url-status=live }}</ref>) * Averbuch, who is Jewish, was named a first-team All-American on the ''[[Jewish Sports Review]]'''s 2006 Women's College Division I All-America Soccer Team.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cstv.com/sports/w-soccer/stories/011507aac.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110622005155/http://www.cstv.com/sports/w-soccer/stories/011507aac.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 22, 2011 |title=Averbuch Named to ''Jewish Sports Review'' All-America Team: Soccer Buzz National Player of the Year is one of 12 players on first-team squad |publisher=Cstv.com |date=January 15, 2007 |access-date=June 1, 2010}}</ref> * She was also honored in the [[National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame and Museum]] on April 29, 2007.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.jewishsports.org/jewishsports/detail.asp?sp=214|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100227163606/http://www.jewishsports.org/jewishsports/detail.asp?sp=214|url-status=usurped|archive-date=February 27, 2010|title=Honoree details – Yael Averbuch|publisher=Jewish Sports Hall of Fame|access-date=January 6, 2010}}</ref> * ACC (Atlantic Coast Conference) Scholar-Athlete of the Year for women's soccer, 2007 & 2008.<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite news|author=17 Yael Averbuch |url=http://tarheelblue.cstv.com/sports/w-soccer/mtt/averbuch_yael00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061016013615/http://tarheelblue.cstv.com/sports/w-soccer/mtt/averbuch_yael00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 16, 2006 |title=Player Bio: Yael Averbuch – University of North Carolina |publisher=Tarheelblue.cstv.com |date=November 3, 1986 |access-date=October 31, 2011}}</ref> * Was one of three finalists for the MAC [[Hermann Trophy]] award in 2006 for top college player in the country.<ref name="autogenerated1"/> * Received the NCAA VIII award, given to 8 seniors nationwide for athletic/academic/community achievements.<ref name="autogenerated1"/> * Retired her UNC college jersey number in Spring, 2009.<ref name="autogenerated1"/>
'''University of North Carolina''' *[[NCAA Division I Women's Soccer Championship]]: 2006, 2008
'''Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC''' *[[Svenska Cupen (women)|Svenska Cupen]]: 2012 *[[Svenska Supercupen (women)|Svenska Supercupen]]: 2013
'''FC Kansas City''' *[[NWSL Playoffs|NWSL Championship]]: [[2015 National Women's Soccer League season|2015]]
'''United States''' *[[Algarve Cup]]: [[2010 Algarve Cup|2010]], [[2011 Algarve Cup|2011]], [[2013 Algarve Cup|2013]]
==See also== {{Portal|Women's association football|Sports|Association football|Biography}} * [[List of Jews in sports#Football (Association; Soccer)|List of select Jewish football (association; soccer) players]] * [[All-time Sky Blue FC roster]] * [[List of recipients of Today's Top 10 Award]] * [[Fastest goals in association football]] * [[List of University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill alumni]] {{clear}}
==References== {{Reflist|30em}}
==External links== {{Commons category|Yael Averbuch-West}} * {{FIFA player|212326}} * [http://www.ussoccer.com/Teams/WNT/A/Yael-Averbuch.aspx US Soccer player profile] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130127023913/http://www.ussoccer.com/Teams/WNT/A/Yael-Averbuch.aspx |date=January 27, 2013 }} * [http://www.goheels.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=3350&ATCLID=205672346 North Carolina player profile] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104051200/http://www.goheels.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=3350&ATCLID=205672346 |date=November 4, 2013 }} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20110822223433/http://www.womensprosoccer.com/wny/players/bios/yael-averbuch Western New York Flash player profile] * [http://www.goteborgfc.se/Fotboll/KGFC.nsf/0/EBA52C618C01EEF1C1257A5600535CD1 Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC player profile] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121010022752/http://www.goteborgfc.se/fotboll/kgfc.nsf/0/EBA52C618C01EEF1C1257A5600535CD1 |date=October 10, 2012 }} * [http://berkshiresocceracademy.com/about/yael-averbuch/ Yael Averbuch - Visiting Pro at Berkshire Soccer Academy for Girls] * [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BmN5rz92kxY Video of Yael Averbuch fastest goal in NCAA history] * [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNa7eNFHZS8 Video of Yael Averbuch juggling] * [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5Pcdy0D4Kk Video of Yael Averbuch scoring a goal in WPS game] * {{Facebook|YaelAverbuch}} * {{soccerway|yael-averbuch/76143}} * [https://www.yaelaverbuch.com/blog Yael Averburch West] blog
{{Gotham FC}} {{Atlantic Coast Conference Women's Soccer Player of the Year navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Averbuch West, Yael}} [[Category:1986 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:American women's soccer players]] [[Category:Damallsvenskan players]] [[Category:BK Häcken FF players]] [[Category:North Carolina Tar Heels women's soccer players]] [[Category:Gotham FC players]] [[Category:USL W-League (1995–2015) players]] [[Category:Western New York Flash players]] [[Category:Expatriate women's footballers in Sweden]] [[Category:Expatriate women's footballers in Russia]] [[Category:WFC Rossiyanka players]] [[Category:Montclair High School (New Jersey) alumni]] [[Category:Parade High School All-Americans (girls' soccer)]] [[Category:Soccer players from Montclair, New Jersey]] [[Category:Soccer players from New York City]] [[Category:Jewish American soccer players]] [[Category:Apollon Ladies F.C. players]] [[Category:Women's association football midfielders]] [[Category:Washington Spirit players]] [[Category:FC Kansas City players]] [[Category:United States women's international soccer players]] [[Category:National Women's Soccer League players]] [[Category:New Jersey Wildcats players]] [[Category:Seattle Reign FC players]] [[Category:21st-century American Jews]] [[Category:21st-century American sportswomen]] [[Category:Women's Professional Soccer players]] [[Category:Gotham FC non-playing staff]] [[Category:National Women's Soccer League executives]] [[Category:Sports labor leaders]] [[Category:American women trade unionists]] [[Category:American trade union leaders]] [[Category:Women trade union leaders]] [[Category:National Women's Soccer League Players Association executive directors]] [[Category:United States women's youth international soccer players]] [[Category:21st-century American trade unionists]]