Christen Westphal

Christen Westphal
Westphal with the San Diego Wave in 2024
Personal information
Full name Christen Joan Westphal[1]
Date of birth (1993-09-02) September 2, 1993 (age 31)
Place of birth Brecksville, Ohio, United States
Height 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)
Position(s) Right-back
Team information
Current team
 Houston Dash
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2012–2015 Florida Gators 96 (4)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2016–2017 Boston Breakers 26 (1)
2018–2019 Reign FC 16 (0)
2020–2021 Portland Thorns 15 (0)
2022–2024 San Diego Wave 59 (0)
2025– Houston Dash 0 (0)
International career
2014–2016 United States U23
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of December 14, 2024

Christen Joan Westphal (born September 2, 1993) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a right-back for the Houston Dash of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). She previously played for San Diego Wave FC, Portland Thorns FC, Seattle Reign FC, the Boston Breakers, as well as the United States national under-23 team. She played college soccer for the Florida Gators.

Collegiate career

Westphal attended the University of Florida where she played as a center back for the Florida Gators women's soccer team from 2012–15. Her senior year, TopDrawerSoccer named her one of the top 10 women's soccer defenders in the NCAA's Division 1.[2] The same year she was named Southeastern Conference Soccer Defender of the Year.[3] Westphal was named to the All-SEC team every year of her collegiate career, and was named to the SEC first team three consecutive years.[3] Her senior year, she led the Gators (and tied for first in the SEC) in assists with 10 and was named as a Hermann Trophy semifinalist.[4][5]

Club career

Boston Breakers, 2016–17

Westphal was drafted by Boston Breakers in the first round of the 2016 NWSL College Draft.[6][7][8] She signed with Boston in March 2016 and made her debut on April 16, 2016, against Washington Spirit.[9][10] During her rookie season, she was a starting defender in 7 of the 13 games in which she played and scored one goal.[11] The goal against the Western New York Flash was nominated for Goal of the Week.[12] During the 2017 season, Westphal started in all 13 games that she played and recorded an assist. A right foot injury endured in a match against Seattle on July 15 ended her season prematurely.[11] The Breakers finished the 2017 season in ninth place with a 4–13–7 record.[11]

Reign FC, 2018–19

Westphal was selected by the Reign FC in the 2018 NWSL dispersal draft after Boston folded unexpectedly ahead of the 2018 season.[13]

Portland Thorns, 2020–21

Westphal was out of contract after the 2019 season, and her NWSL rights were traded to Portland Thorns.[14]

San Diego Wave, 2022–2024

Immediately after the 2022 NWSL Expansion Draft, it was announced that San Diego Wave acquired the rights to Westphal and Amirah Ali from Portland via trade. San Diego had passed on several picks, instead negotiating the trade.[15]

Houston Dash, 2025–

On December 10, 2024, the San Diego Wave traded Westphal to the Houston Dash in exchange for a 2025 international roster spot and $14,000 in allocation money plus performance-based incentives.[16]

International career

Westphal has represented the United States on the under-23 national team. She competed at the 2015 Four Nations Tournament in Norway and helped the U.S. win the tournament.[17]

Personal life

Westphal is in a relationship with Madison Pogarch.[18] They announced their engagement in July 2024.[19]

Career statistics

Club

As of December 14, 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup[a] Playoffs[b] Continental[c] Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Boston Breakers 2016 NWSL 13 1 — — — — 13 1
2017 13 0 — — — — 13 0
Total 26 1 — — — — 26 1
Reign FC 2018 NWSL 12 0 — 0 0 — — 12 0
2019 4 0 — 0 0 — — 4 0
Total 16 0 — 0 0 — — 16 0
Portland Thorns FC 2020 NWSL —[d] 6 0 —[d] — 4[e] 0 10 0
2021 15 0 4 0 0 0 — — 19 0
Total 15 0 10 0 0 0 — 4 0 29 0
San Diego Wave FC 2022 NWSL 22 0 6 0 2 0 — — 30 0
2023 22 0 5 0 1 0 — — 28 0
2024 15 0 1 0 — 3 0 3[f] 0 22 0
Total 59 0 12 0 3 0 3 0 3 0 80 0
Houston Dash 2025 NWSL 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Career total 116 1 22 0 3 0 3 0 7 0 151 1
  1. ^ Includes the NWSL Challenge Cup
  2. ^ Includes NWSL Playoffs
  3. ^ Includes CONCACAF W Champions Cup
  4. ^ a b The 2020 NWSL regular season and playoffs were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
  5. ^ Includes NWSL Fall Series
  6. ^ Includes NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup

Honors

Portland Thorns

San Diego Wave

References

  1. ^ "2024/25 Concacaf W Champions Cup Club Roster" (PDF). CONCACAF. August 16, 2024. p. 7. Retrieved August 18, 2024.
  2. ^ "Christen Westphal, Florida | College Soccer". TopDrawerSoccer.com. Retrieved April 23, 2019.
  3. ^ a b "Savannah Jordan & Christen Westphal SEC Soccer Players of the Year". Florida Gators. Retrieved April 23, 2019.
  4. ^ "Westphal Does It All". Florida Gators. Retrieved April 23, 2019.
  5. ^ "Three Named MAC Hermann Trophy Semifinalists". Big12Sports.com. December 2015. Retrieved April 23, 2019.
  6. ^ Duke, J. J. (February 17, 2016). "Christen Westphal: A Gator Heads North". Our Game Magazine. Retrieved April 23, 2019.
  7. ^ "UF soccer player lands first round draft pick with Boston Breakers – WCJB TV-20". Archived from the original on May 13, 2016. Retrieved April 23, 2016.
  8. ^ "Emily Sonnett is first overall pick; View full outcome of the 2016 NWSL College Draft". Women's Soccer United. January 15, 2016.
  9. ^ "Christen Westphal Signs with Boston Breakers". Florida Gators.
  10. ^ "Breakers sign defender Christen Westphal – Boston Breakers". Archived from the original on May 7, 2016. Retrieved April 23, 2016.
  11. ^ a b c VAVEL.com (November 14, 2017). "Boston Breakers re-sign defender Christen Westphal for the 2018 NWSL season". VAVEL. Retrieved April 22, 2019.
  12. ^ National Women's Soccer League (June 29, 2016), Goal of the Week Nominee: Christen Westphal - Week 10, retrieved April 23, 2019
  13. ^ Ltd, Simplestream. "National Women's Soccer League". www.nwslsoccer.com. Retrieved February 2, 2018.
  14. ^ "Thorns FC acquire rights to defender Christen Westphal in 2020 NWSL Draft day trade with Reign FC". Portland Timbers. January 17, 2020. Archived from the original on October 30, 2020. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
  15. ^ "San Diego Wave FC acquire rights to Amirah Ali and Christen Westphal". LAG Confidential. December 16, 2021.
  16. ^ FC, Houston Dynamo. "Houston Dash Acquire Christen Westphal in Trade with San Diego Wave FC | Houston Dynamo". Houston Dynamo FC. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
  17. ^ "2015 Four Nations Tournament". www.ussoccer.com. Retrieved April 23, 2019.
  18. ^ "A Greater Meaning to Pride: Christen Westphal and Madison Pogarch". June 30, 2023.
  19. ^ @maddiepogarch (July 12, 2024). "Upgraded to the lifetime subscription 💍" – via Instagram.
  20. ^ Snipes, Tyler (August 22, 2021). "The Portland Thorns are WICC Champions!". International Champions Cup. Archived from the original on October 5, 2021. Retrieved October 5, 2021.
  21. ^ "San Diego Wave claim 2023 NWSL Shield". CONCACAF. October 17, 2023. Retrieved October 19, 2023.
  22. ^ "San Diego Wave FC Defeat 1-0 NJ/NY Gotham FC in 2024 UKG NWSL Challenge Cup". March 16, 2024.
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