Wikipedia

Ali Riley

Alexandra Lowe Riley MNZM (born 30 October 1987) is a professional footballer who plays as a defender for Angel City of the American National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). Born in the United States, she represents the New Zealand national team.[4] She captains both her club and national teams. As a collegiate athlete, she captained the Stanford soccer team to two NCAA semi-finals and one final.

Ali Riley
MNZM
Ali Riley in 2019
Personal information
Full name Alexandra Lowe Riley[1]
Date of birth (1987-10-30) 30 October 1987 (age 37)[1]
Place of birth Los Angeles, California, U.S.[2]
Height 1.64 m (5 ft 5 in)[1]
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
 Angel City
Number 5
Youth career
1998–2004 Westside Breakers
2004–2006 Real So Cal
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2006–2009 Stanford Cardinal 83 (7)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2009 Pali Blues 7 (0)
2010 FC Gold Pride 23 (0)
2011 Western New York Flash 15 (0)
2012–2018 Rosengård 132 (4)
2018–2019 Chelsea 9 (0)
2019–2020 Bayern Munich 3 (0)
2020–2021 Orlando Pride 20 (0)
2020 → Rosengård (loan) 17 (1)
2022– Angel City 44 (3)
International career‡
2006 New Zealand U20 11 (5)
2007– New Zealand 163[3] (2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 26 April 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 19 February 2024

Early life

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Born in Los Angeles, California to parents John Graham Riley and Beverly Fong Lowe, Riley attended St. Matthew's Parish School in Pacific Palisades and Harvard-Westlake School in North Hollywood, California. She was named captain of the soccer team during her senior season and was a two-time Mission League Offensive MVP as well as a two-time first-team San Fernando Valley selection. As a senior, she helped lead the Wolverines to the 2006 Southern Section Division I final and was named to the All-CIF Southern Section Division I first team. Riley also competed for local soccer clubs LA Breakers FC[5] (formerly Westside Breakers) and Real SoCal (formerly SoCal United).[6]

Stanford University

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Riley attended Stanford University and played for the Stanford Cardinal from 2006 to 2009. During her freshman year, she started in fifteen of the eighteen matches she played. She played forward and scored four goals with two assists. As a sophomore, she played sixteen games and started in fourteen of them. She scored two goals and had two assists. During her junior year, Riley converted from her position at forward to an outside back and she has played almost exclusively at left or right full-back ever since, As a senior, Riley started in each of the twenty-four games and scored one goal with one assist.[6]

Club career

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FC Gold Pride

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In January 2010, Riley was selected as the tenth pick in the first round of the 2010 WPS Draft by FC Gold Pride. While she played on her natural right wing-back position for the NZ Women's National Team, she played professionally as a left wing-back and had three assists in the 2010 run to the WPS championship by FC Gold Pride. Riley won the WPS Rookie of the Year award.

Western New York Flash

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Riley signed for Western New York Flash for the 2011 season, becoming a free agent after FC Gold Pride failed to find financial backers.[7]

In the 2011 season Riley was a finalist for Defender of the year as the Flash swept both the league season title and then won the 2011 WPS Championship.

In 2012, Riley re-signed with Western New York Flash for the 2012 season, however, the league folded before play began.

LdB FC Malmö/FC Rosengård

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With the suspension of the WPS, she signed in 2012 with LdB FC Malmö, the 2011 Damallsvenskan champions. In her first game (the Supercupen), she assisted on the winning goal. She played her first full season in the Damallsvenskan in 2013. With LdB FC Malmö she finished top of the table.

In September 2013 Riley re-signed with LdB FC Malmö (since December 2013 renamed FC Rosengård) for the 2014 and 2015 seasons. FC Rosengård again won gold in the Damallsvenskan in 2014.

In March 2015 she played both at full-back and forward in her second Supercupen victory with Rosengård. In September 2015 she re-signed with Rosengård. The team went on to win the Damallsvenskan for the third straight year, earning Riley her fifth league championship in her eight-year career.

Chelsea

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On 26 June 2018, it was announced that Riley would be leaving Rosengård in July to join Chelsea in the English FA Women's Super League.[8]

Bayern Munich

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On 18 July 2019, Riley moved to Bayern Munich of the Frauen-Bundesliga.[9]

Orlando Pride

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On 10 February 2020, Ali Riley returned to the US and signed a one-year contract with an option for an additional year for the Orlando Pride.[10][11] The season was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic with the NWSL eventually scheduling a smaller schedule 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup tournament.[12][13] However, on 22 June 2020, the team withdrew from the tournament following positive COVID-19 tests among both players and staff.[14]

Loan to FC Rosengård

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On 13 July 2020, having been unable to feature for the Pride, Riley returned to Sweden to be with her partner during the pandemic and rejoined Rosengård on loan.[15]

Angel City FC, 2022–

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On 27 January 2022, Riley was traded to Angel City FC in exchange for $15,000 in allocation money and a third-round pick in the 2023 NWSL Draft. As a result of the trade, she was able to play in her hometown for the first time in her career.[16] During the club's inaugural season, Riley was a starting defender in 19 of the 20 games she played and recorded 1,591 minutes on the pitch.[17] The club finished their first season in eighth place with a 8–9–5 record.[18]

During the 2023 season, Riley started 15 of the 19 games she played.[17] She scored her first goal for the club during a 2–2 draw against Chicago Red Stars on 17 September.[19] Angel City finished in fifth place during the regular season and advanced to the playoffs for the first time[20] where they were eliminated by OL Reign in the quarter final match.[21] Angel City announced on 22 August 2024 that Riley would be placed on the Season-Ending Injury (SEI) list due to a chronic and persistent leg injury that had kept her out for the majority of the 2024 season and forced her to miss the 2024 Olympics.[22]

International career

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Riley playing for New Zealand in May 2011

Being US-born to a New Zealand father, Riley represented New Zealand at the 2006 Women's U-20 World Cup finals.[23] She made her senior debut in a 5–0 loss to Australia on 6 February 2007,[24] and represented New Zealand at the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup in China,[25] where they lost 5–0 to Brazil, 2–0 to Denmark and 2–0 to China.[26]

Riley also played every minute for the New Zealand squad in the 2008 Summer Olympics where they drew with Japan (2–2) before losing to Norway (1–0) and the United States (4–0).[27] Riley's first international goal was scored in the final of the OFC Women's Nations Cup as New Zealand qualified for the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup with an 11–0 win over Papua New Guinea.[28]

On 27 June 2011, Riley earned her 50th A-international cap in a 2–1 loss to Japan in New Zealand's opening group stage match at the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup.[29] In the final seconds of extra time in the match v. Mexico she assisted on the tying goal that gave the Football Ferns their first point in a World Cup group stage.

In the 2012 Olympics Riley played every minute of the Football Ferns' four games. In the preliminary round games the Ferns lost 1–0 to Great Britain and Brazil and beat Cameroon 3–1. This was the first victory by a NZ football team in the Olympics. With the victory the Ferns advanced to the second round based on goal differential. In the quarter-final the Ferns played the USA losing 2–0.

In 2013 Riley started for New Zealand in a series of games establishing the Football Ferns as a growing force in international competition. The Ferns won the Vallais Cup beating #4 Brazil 1–0 and #16 China 4–0 and also had ties playing #10 Australia, #3 Japan and #1 USA.

She featured in all New Zealand's three matches at the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada.[30]

In the 2016 Rio Olympics Riley played every minute of the Football Ferns' three games. The Ferns lost 2–0 to USA, 3–0 to France and beat Colombia 1–0.

Riley has been the captain of the Football Ferns since the 2017 Cyprus Cup.

In April 2019, Riley was named to the final 23-player squad for the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup.[31]

On 20 July 2023, Riley captained New Zealand in the country's first World Cup victory ever. In the opening game of the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup, New Zealand beat Norway 1–0.[32]

On July 4, 2024, Riley was initially named to the New Zealand 18-player squad for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris but had to withdraw on July 24, 2024, just days before the start of the competition due to injury.[33][34]

Other work

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Media

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Kelley O'Hara and Riley host the Just Women's Sports pregame show before the 2022 NWSL Championship.

In 2021 Riley started hosting an Off the Ball show for sports website Just Women's Sports.[35][36]

Books

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In 2023, Riley released a cookbook featuring plant-based recipes titled Girls Gone Veg with her former Orlando Pride teammate Toni Pressley.[37]

Personal life

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Riley is of Chinese descent.[38] Her father John Riley is a native New Zealander and her mother Bev Lowe is Chinese-American. They first met when both worked with the RAND Corporation.[39]

Riley became engaged to her fiancee Lucas Warrer Nilsson in March 2024.[40]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of match played 26 April 2024.[41]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup[a] Continental[b] Other[c] Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Pali Blues 2009 USL W-League 7 0 — — 3 0 10 0
FC Gold Pride 2010 WPS 23 0 — — 1 0 24 0
Western New York Flash 2011 15 0 — — 1 0 16 0
Total 45 0 — — 5 0 50 0
Rosengård 2012 Damallsvenskan 19 0 1 0 5 0 1 0 26 0
2013 20 1 — 3 0 — 23 1
2014 19 1 — 6 0 — 25 1
2015 21 1 5 0 6 0 1 0 33 1
2016 22 0 4 0 6 0 1 0 33 0
2017 21 1 5 0 4 0 — 30 1
2018 10 0 5 0 — — 15 0
Total 132 4 20 0 30 0 3 0 185 4
Chelsea 2018–19 FA WSL 9 0 1 0 2 0 4 2 16 2
Bayern Munich 2019–20 Bundesliga 3 0 1 0 3 0 — 7 0
Orlando Pride 2020[d] NWSL — — — — —
2021 20 0 4 0 — — 24 0
Total 32 0 6 0 5 0 4 2 47 2
Rosengård (loan) 2020 Damallsvenskan 17 1 1 0 — — 18 1
Angel City FC 2022 NWSL 20 2 6 0 — — 26 2
2023 18 1 4 0 — 1 0 19 1
2024 5 0 — — — 5 0
Total 43 3 10 0 — 1 0 50 3
Career total 269 8 37 0 35 0 13 2 354 10
  1. ^ Includes the Svenska Cupen, FA Cup, DFB-Pokal, NWSL Challenge Cup
  2. ^ Includes the UEFA Champions League
  3. ^ Includes the USL W-League playoffs, WPS playoffs, Svenska Supercupen, FA League Cup, NWSL Playoffs
  4. ^ The 2020 Season ended up cancelled due to Covid-19 and Riley didn't take part in the NWSL Challenge Cup before leaving for Sweden

International goals

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New Zealand score listed first, score column indicates score after each Riley goal.
International goals by date, venue, opponent, score, result and competition
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition Ref.
1 8 October 2010 North Harbour Stadium, Auckland, New Zealand   Papua New Guinea 1–0 11–0 2010 OFC Championship [42]
2 6 September 2022 Titan Stadium, Fullerton   Philippines 2–1 2–1 Friendly

Honours

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FC Gold Pride

Western New York Flash

FC Rosengård (formerly LdB FC Malmö)

New Zealand

Individual

  • Nike Junior Women's Player of the Year 2006
  • Nike National Women's Player of the Year 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011
  • Oceania Football Confederation Women's Player of the Year 2009, 2010
  • FIFPRO World XI short-list (55 players): 2016, 2017[43]
  • IFFHS OFC Woman Team of the Decade 2011–2020[44]
  • WPS Rookie of the Year: 2010
  • WPS All Pro selection (First XI): 2010, 2011[45]
  • Damallsvenskan All Star Selection (First XI): 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017
  • All-Pac-10 freshman first team: 2006
  • TopDrawerSoccer.com Team of the Season: 2009
  • All-Pacific Region first team: 2009
  • All-Pac-10 first team: 2009
  • Pac-10 women's soccer Scholar-Athlete of the Year: 2009
  • Stanford University, Pat Strathairn Best Competitive Athlete Award: 2010

Orders

References

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  1. ^ a b c "List of Players – 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup" (PDF). Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Retrieved 20 June 2015.
  2. ^ "NZ Football – HOME". www.nzfootball.co.nz.
  3. ^ "Football Ferns squad revealed for World Cup". The New Zealand Herald. 29 April 2019.
  4. ^ "Caps 'n' Goals, New Zealand Women's national representatives". The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website. Retrieved 11 June 2009.
  5. ^ "LA Breakers FC".
  6. ^ a b "Ali Riley player profile". Stanford University. Archived from the original on 19 February 2012. Retrieved 23 February 2013.
  7. ^ "Western New York snaps up Riley". NZ Football. 13 December 2010. Archived from the original on 25 July 2011.
  8. ^ "Ali Riley: Chelsea Women to sign New Zealand defender from FC Rosengard". BBC Sport. 26 June 2018. Retrieved 9 July 2018.
  9. ^ "CHELSEA WOMEN DEPARTURE AS ALI RILEY MOVES TO BAYERN MUNICH". Chelsea FC. 18 July 2019. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
  10. ^ "Orlando Pride Signs New Zealand Women's National Team Defender Ali Riley". www.orlandocitysc.com.
  11. ^ Rosen, Haley (10 February 2020), Ali Riley talks her return to the US, Just Women's Sports
  12. ^ "NWSL, CPL delay start of 2020 seasons due to Covid-19". SportBusiness. 21 March 2020.
  13. ^ "NWSL announces 2020 Challenge Cup presented by P&G and Secret". www.nwslsoccer.com. Archived from the original on 1 November 2020. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  14. ^ "Orlando Pride Statement Regarding 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup Participation". www.orlandocitysc.com.
  15. ^ "Orlando Pride Defender Ali Riley Loaned to FC Rosengård". Orlando City SC. 13 July 2020. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  16. ^ "Orlando Pride Acquire 2023 Draft Pick, Allocation Money from Angel City FC". www.orlandocitysc.com.
  17. ^ a b "A. Riley". SoccerWay. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  18. ^ "2022 Angel City FC". Soccerway. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  19. ^ "Ali Riley and Jun Endo score as Angel City plays Chicago to draw". Los Angeles Times. 18 September 2023. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  20. ^ "Angel City FC season preview: Aiming to become contenders". Los Angeles Daily News. 15 March 2024. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  21. ^ Yang, Steph; Olsen, Emily. "Reign edge Angel City in NWSL quarterfinals as Rose Lavelle returns in Megan Rapinoe's final home game". The Athletic. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  22. ^ "Ali Riley placed on Season-Ending Injury List". angelcity.com. 22 August 2024. Retrieved 22 August 2024.
  23. ^ "Sixty seconds with: Ali Riley". Herald on Sunday. 15 May 2016. Retrieved 11 September 2018.
  24. ^ "Caps 'n' Goals, New Zealand Women's national representatives". The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website. Retrieved 22 September 2008.
  25. ^ "New Zealand Squad List, 2007 Women's World Cup". FIFA. Archived from the original on 13 July 2008. Retrieved 22 September 2008.
  26. ^ "Tournament Statistics – New Zealand". FIFA. Archived from the original on 13 July 2008. Retrieved 24 September 2008.
  27. ^ "Olympic Football Squads Named". New Zealand Olympic Committee. 4 July 2008. Archived from the original on 5 July 2008. Retrieved 4 July 2008.
  28. ^ "Football Ferns reach World Cup in style". NZFootball.com. 8 October 2010. Archived from the original on 25 July 2011.
  29. ^ "Football Ferns move on". Archived from the original on 3 July 2011. Retrieved 3 July 2011.
  30. ^ "FIFA player's stats". FIFA. Archived from the original on 24 October 2012. Retrieved 28 June 2015.
  31. ^ "Football Ferns squad revealed for World Cup". 28 April 2019 – via www.nzherald.co.nz.
  32. ^ McIntyre, Doug (20 July 2023). "New Zealand makes history with country's first World Cup victory ever". Fox Sports. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
  33. ^ friendsoffootballnz_irqgpj (3 July 2024). "Football Ferns squad named for Olympic Games in Paris". Friends of Football. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
  34. ^ Garrick, Omar; Linehan, Meg. "New Zealand's Ali Riley ruled out of Paris Olympics". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
  35. ^ Hruby, Emma (28 June 2022). "Off the Ball with Ali Riley launches third season with new flavor". Just Women's Sports. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
  36. ^ Louie, Jesse (8 April 2021). "Off the Ball with Ali Riley, Ep 1: Marta Magic". Just Women's Sports. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
  37. ^ "On Her Mark: Soccer pros discuss new 'Girls Gone Veg' cookbook". NBC Sports Boston. 28 November 2023. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
  38. ^ "NWSL preseason preview: Ali Riley on reckoning with her identity and inspiring Asian-American girls to play". 17 March 2021.
  39. ^ Culpepper, Chuck. "Ali Riley, the California-born co-captain of New Zealand, welcomes the world," The Washington Post, Monday, July 17, 2023. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  40. ^ "Instagram".
  41. ^ "Ali Riley player profile". Soccerway. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
  42. ^ "OFC 2010 final New Zealand 11 – 0 Papua New Guinea". Archived from the original on 3 March 2016.
  43. ^ "FIFPRO 2017 Voting on World Best XI". Archived from the original on 29 March 2018. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
  44. ^ "IFFHS WOMAN TEAM – OFC – OF THE DECADE 2011–2020". IFFHS. 31 January 2021.
  45. ^ "WPS announces best XI of 2011". WPS. 7 September 2011. Archived from the original on 14 January 2012. Retrieved 7 September 2011.
  46. ^ "New Year Honours 2024: the full list". The New Zealand Herald. 30 December 2023. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
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