Joelle Anderson

Joelle Anderson
Anderson with Bay FC in 2024
Personal information
Date of birth (1998-10-06) October 6, 1998 (age 26)
Place of birth San Jose, California, U.S.
Height 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Bay FC
Number 18
Youth career
2007–2017 De Anza Force
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2017–2021 Pepperdine Waves 88 (35)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2022–2023 Houston Dash 26 (2)
2024– Bay FC 15 (3)
International career
2018 United States U19 0 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of August 2, 2024

Joelle Anderson (born October 6, 1998) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Bay FC of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL).

Early life

Anderson was born in San Jose, California, and attended the Harker School, where she played varsity soccer and scored 101 goals, the second most in school history.[1][2] She was inducted into the school's athletics hall of fame on October 13, 2023.[3] Anderson played youth club soccer with De Anza Force for a decade from 2007 through 2017.[4][5]

Pepperdine Waves

Anderson attended Pepperdine University, where she played for the Pepperdine Waves from 2017 to 2021. She was named All-West Coast Conference (WCC) in each of her five seasons. In five years, she played in 88 games, scoring 35 times and registering 24 assists.[4] Although selected by the Houston Dash in the 2021 NWSL Draft, Anderson opted to play one more season with Pepperdine before signing with Houston ahead of the 2022 NWSL season.[6][7]

Club career

Houston Dash

Anderson was drafted 26th overall in the third round of the 2021 NWSL College Draft by the Houston Dash.[8] However, she opted to play one final year with Pepperdine before joining Houston in the NWSL. Anderson signed a two-year contract with Houston on January 14, 2022.[6] Anderson made her first professional appearance on April 24, 2022, as a 56th-minute substitute in Houston's final match of the 2022 NWSL Challenge Cup group stage.[9] She earned her first of two starts in the season on July 1, 2022, in a 2-1 loss to Kansas City Current.[10] She scored her first professional goal on July 16, 2022, in a 4-1 victory against the Chicago Red Stars.[11] Anderson gained more consistent starts and minutes in the 2023 NWSL season, making 13 starts and 21 total appearances. Her lone goal of the 2023 season came in a comeback victory against defending champions Portland Thorns on May 12, 2023.[12]

Bay FC

On December 12, 2023, Anderson was acquired by NWSL expansion side Bay FC along with $25,000 in allocation money from the Houston Dash in exchange for 2024 NWSL Expansion Draft protection from Bay FC. The trade would see Anderson play for her hometown club.[13] Anderson started in Bay FC's first NWSL match, a victory away to Angel City FC on March 19, 2024.[14]

International career

Anderson was called up for a United States under-19 national team camp in February 2018.[15][16]

Personal life

Anderson is the daughter of Michelle and Peter Anderson. She has two siblings. Her brother, Jeremiah, played soccer at Westmont College.[17]

Career statistics

Club

As of March 19, 2024
Club Season League Cup[a] Playoffs[b] Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Houston Dash 2022 NWSL 8 1 1 0 0 0 9 1
2023 18 1 3 0 — 21 1
Bay FC 2024 1 0 — — 1 0
Career total 27 2 4 0 0 0 31 2
  1. ^ Includes the NWSL Challenge Cup
  2. ^ Includes NWSL Playoffs

References

  1. ^ "Harker News - The Harker School | Hall of Famer Anderson '17 makes news for Bay FC trade". December 13, 2023. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
  2. ^ Kannan, Vishnu (January 26, 2021). "Joelle Anderson ('17) selected 26th overall by the Houston Dash in the 2021 National Women's Soccer League draft". Harker Aquila. Retrieved February 26, 2024.
  3. ^ "Harker News - The Harker School | Athletic Hall of Fame inducts five alums". October 13, 2023. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
  4. ^ a b "Joelle Anderson - Women's Soccer". Pepperdine University Athletics. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
  5. ^ "Five NorCal-Grown Players Selected in Pro Drafts". NorCal Premier. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
  6. ^ a b "Houston Dash sign forward Joelle Anderson". Houston Dynamo FC. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
  7. ^ Jackson, McKenzie (February 23, 2022). "Joelle Anderson, one of Pepperdine Soccer's Best, Signs with National Soccer League Club • The Malibu Times". Retrieved February 26, 2024.
  8. ^ "Dash select Joelle Anderson & Makamae Gomera-Stevens at 2021 NWSL Draft". Houston Dynamo FC. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
  9. ^ "National Women's Soccer League Official Site | NWSL". nwslsoccer.com. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
  10. ^ "Kansas City Current 2-1 Houston Dash (Jul 1, 2022) Final Score". ESPN. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  11. ^ "National Women's Soccer League Official Site | NWSL". nwslsoccer.com. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  12. ^ "Houston Dash put a thorn in Portland's undefeated record with a 2-1 win". Houston Dynamo FC. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  13. ^ "Bay FC Acquires midfielder Joelle Anderson, $25,000 Allocation Money from Houston Dash". Bay FC. December 12, 2023. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
  14. ^ "National Women's Soccer League Official Site | NWSL". www.nwslsoccer.com. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  15. ^ "Friday Roundup: Amy LePeilbet joins Utah Royals FC staff". Equalizer Soccer. February 9, 2018. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
  16. ^ "Women's Soccer Q&A: Joelle Anderson". Pepperdine University Athletics. September 20, 2018. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
  17. ^ "Joelle Anderson - Women's Soccer". Pepperdine University Athletics. Retrieved October 28, 2024.