Caprice Ka'anohikula Dydasco (born August 19, 1993) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a right back for Bay FC of the National Women's Soccer League. She previously played for Pali Blues, the Washington Spirit, Newcastle Jets, NJ/NY Gotham FC, and the Houston Dash. She was voted the NWSL Defender of the Year while with Gotham FC in 2021. She played college soccer with the UCLA Bruins, winning the NCAA championship in 2013.

Caprice Dydasco
Dydasco with Bay FC in 2024
Personal information
Full name Caprice Ka'anohikula Dydasco[1]
Date of birth (1993-08-19) August 19, 1993 (age 31)
Place of birth Honolulu, Hawaii, United States
Height 5 ft 3 in (1.60 m)
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
Bay FC
Number 3
Youth career
Honolulu Bulls
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2011–2014 UCLA Bruins
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2013–2014 Pali Blues 17 (0)
2015–2018 Washington Spirit 58 (0)
2015–2016Newcastle Jets (loan) 12 (1)
2019–2022 NJ/NY Gotham FC 60 (1)
2022–2023 Houston Dash 28 (0)
2024– Bay FC 0 (0)
International career
2009–2010 United States U-17
2012 United States U-20
2014–2016 United States U-23 5 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 15:12, October 16, 2023 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of February 17, 2015

Early life

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The daughter of Jose and Misty Dydasco, Dydasco played soccer for Kamehameha Schools in Honolulu and the Honolulu Bulls Soccer Club. She was a youth All-American in 2009 and 2010. Her brother, Zane Dydasco, played soccer for the United States Air Force Academy.[1] Her sister True played soccer for the University of Oregon.[2]

College career

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Dydasco playing for UCLA in 2014

Dydasco was a four-year starter as a defender for the UCLA Bruins from 2011 to 2014. She appeared in 94 games and scored five goals and had 23 assists. As a junior she helped UCLA to win their first NCAA championship.[1][2]

Club career

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Pali Blues, 2013–2014

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Dydasco played for the semi-professional Pali Blues in 2013 and 2014. In March 2014, playing in the midfield for the United States women's national under-23 soccer team, she assisted on the game-winning goal to win the Six Nations Tournament in Spain.[1] In March 2015 Dydasco started all three of the matches of the United States under-23 team at a tournament in La Manga Club, Spain.

Washington Spirit, 2015–2019

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On January 16, 2015, Dydasco was drafted to play for the Washington Spirit in the National Women's Soccer League. She was the nineteenth player picked in the draft. She is "known for speed" and was described by Spirit coach Mark Parsons as "the most attacking defender out there."[3] She played in six matches for the Spirit in 2015.

In 2016, Dydasco started in 12 regular season and both post season matches for the Spirit.[4] In the NWSL championship on October 9, Dydasco suffered a torn ACL (Anterior cruciate ligament injury) and was unable to join the Newcastle Jets for the 2016–2017 season.[4]

Dydasco signed a new contract with the Spirit on June 14, 2017.[5] After missing the first part of the 2017 season as she was still recovering from injury, Dydasco make her return to the field on June 24 against the Portland Thorns.[6]

Loan to Newcastle Jets

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On October 8, 2015, Dydasco joined Australian W-League club Newcastle Jets on loan for the 2015–16 season.[7]

NJ/NY Gotham, 2019–2022

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In January 2019, Dydasco was traded to Sky Blue FC along with teammates DiDi Haracic and Estelle Johnson for the third overall and 29th picks of the 2019 NWSL College Draft.[8]

On October 6, 2021, Dydasco made her 100th regular-season appearance in the NWSL.[9]

Following five appearances on the NWSL Team of the Month lists during the 2021 season, Dydasco was named as the NWSL Defender of the Year on November 15, 2021.[10] She was also named to the NWSL Best XI alongside teammates Kailen Sheridan and Margaret Purce as part of the 2021 NWSL awards.[9] She appeared in every match for Gotham FC, playing over 2000 minutes, notching five assists, and scoring her first career goal.[11]

Dydasco signed a new two-year contract with Gotham FC prior to the start of the 2022 season.[12]

Houston Dash, 2022–2023

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On August 19, 2022, Gotham FC traded Dydasco to the Houston Dash in exchange for $120,000 in allocation money, and an additional $10,000 for every postseason match she plays for the Dash, up to a total of $150,000.[13] Playing in her third game of the 2023 season for the Dash, Dydasco passed the 10,000 minute mark, making her the 32nd player in the league to achieve this accomplishment.[14]

Bay FC

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On November 21, 2023, NWSL expansion side Bay FC signed Dydasco as a free agent, making her their second ever player and first ever free agent signing.[15]

International career

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Dydasco began playing for U.S. national soccer teams at the age of 14. She was a starter on the United States women's national under-17 soccer team in 2009, but was injured and unable to compete in the 2010 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup.[1]

Personal life

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Dydasco is of Guamanian descent through her father, and is of Japanese, Chinese, and Korean descent through her mother.[16][17][18]

Honors

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Individual

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "Caprice Dydasco". UCLA Bruins.
  2. ^ a b Merk, Carson A. (June 8, 2020). "For Caprice Dydasco, soccer is truly the family sport". Beautiful Game Network. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
  3. ^ "Spirit's draft-day moves bring renewed depth – Equalizer Soccer". January 19, 2015.
  4. ^ a b "Caprice Dydasco — Washington Spirit". washingtonspirit.com. October 13, 2016.
  5. ^ "Washington Spirit signs defender Caprice Dydasco to new contract". June 14, 2017. Retrieved July 20, 2018.
  6. ^ "CAPRICE DYDASCO". Retrieved July 20, 2018.
  7. ^ "Dydasco, Oyster, and Raso Loaned to Australian Teams". Washington Spirit. October 8, 2015.
  8. ^ "Sky Blue FC bolsters roster with addition of Dydasco, Haracic and Johnson". skybluefc.com. January 10, 2019. Archived from the original on January 20, 2019. Retrieved January 12, 2019.
  9. ^ a b "NJ/NY Gotham FC Back Caprice Dydasco Named 2021 NWSL Defender of the Year". nwslsoccer.com. January 15, 2021.
  10. ^ "National Women's Soccer League Official Site | NWSL". www.nwslsoccer.com. November 15, 2021. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
  11. ^ "NJ/NY Gotham FC Back Caprice Dydasco Named 2021 NWSL Defender of the Year". nwslsoccer.com. January 15, 2021.
  12. ^ FC, Gotham (January 10, 2022). "Defender of the Year Caprice Dydasco Signs Two-Year Contract with NJ/NY Gotham FC". NJ/NY Gotham FC. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
  13. ^ "Dash acquire defender Caprice Dydasco from NJ/NY Gotham FC". Dynamo Theory. August 19, 2022. Retrieved August 19, 2022.
  14. ^ "Houston Dash earn draw against reigning NWSL Champion Portland Thorns". www.HoustonDynamoFC.com. Houston Dash. April 15, 2023. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  15. ^ "Bay FC Continues to Build its Roster and Signs Defensive Powerhouse Caprice Dydasco". Bay FC. November 21, 2023. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  16. ^ "Hawaii's own Caprice Dydasco is making waves in the NWSL". August 18, 2022.
  17. ^ "Mixed Asian Media–Caprice Dydasco Brings Hawaii's Unique Diversity to Gotham FC".
  18. ^ Yang, Steph. "API players in U.S. Soccer reflect on identity and belonging".
  19. ^ "NJ/NY Gotham FC Back Caprice Dydasco Named 2021 NWSL Defender of the Year". National Women's Soccer League. November 15, 2021. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  20. ^ "NWSL Announces the Winners of Mastercard Inaugural 2021 Best XI Awards". October 17, 2021. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
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