Talia Gabarra

Talia Gabarra
Personal information
Full name Talia Lily Gabarra[1]
Date of birth (2001-03-15) March 15, 2001[2]
Place of birth Annapolis, Maryland, U.S.[2]
Height 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)[3]
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Linköping FC
Number 17
Youth career
Maryland United FC
Bethesda SC
Washington Spirit Academy
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2019–2023 UCF Knights 40 (2)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2025– Linköping FC 0 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of July 2, 2025

Talia Lily Gabarra (born March 15, 2001) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Damallsvenskan club Linköping FC. She played college soccer for the UCF Knights before being selected in the fourth round of the 2024 NWSL Draft by the Orlando Pride.

Early life

Gabarra was born and raised in Annapolis, Maryland.[3][4] She played club soccer for Maryland United FC and Bethesda SC before spending two years with the Washington Spirit's academy team.[5] She attended Broadneck High School, where she played both varsity soccer and lacrosse. With the soccer team, Gabarra was once named All-State, twice All-Metro, and three times as team MVP.[4] She also won one state championship with Broadneck in 2019.[6] Gabarra's high school career ended on a negative note, as she missed her final year of soccer after sustaining a herniated disk and knee injury.[5][7]

College career

After spending 13 months in recovery,[5] Gabarra took to the field with the UCF Knights for the first time on September 15, 2019. She made an immediate impact, recording her first college goal and assist in the 5–0 victory over Stetson.[8] She played three games more in her freshman year to make a total of 4.[3] Gabarra's sophomore season was pushed to the spring of 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic; once it rolled around, she made 1 start in 6 appearances.[3] In the fall of 2021, Gabarra played in all 16 of UCF's games, setting a career-high for herself. She seemed slated to have another promising campaign in 2022, but a serious injury in preseason sidelined her for the entirety of the year.[4] Instead, she watched on as UCF made it to the second round of the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2014.[9] In her fifth year of college, Gabarra made 11 consecutive starts to begin the season.[3] She played in both of the Knights' Big 12 tournament matches[4] as UCF were defeated in the semifinals by BYU.[10]

Club career

The Orlando Pride selected Gabarra as the last pick of the 2024 NWSL Draft (56th overall).[4] With the NWSL Draft being abolished after 2024, she became the final draft pick in National Women's Soccer League history.[11] Gabarra reported to the Pride's preseason training camp, but ultimately did not make Orlando's final roster.[12]

Linköping FC

On March 29, 2025, Gabarra signed her first professional contract with Swedish team Linköping FC.[13] With Linköping in the thick of financial turmoil, the club's sports manager Mia Eriksson elected to forgo her own salary in order to accomodate for Gabarra's wages.[14][15]

Personal life

Gabarra's parents both have strong ties to professional soccer. Her father, Jim Gabarra, is a former player and coach who has managed teams including Sky Blue FC and the Washington Spirit.[4] Her mother, Carin Jennings-Gabarra, won gold at the 1996 Olympics with the United States women's national team.[3] Gabarra's brother, Tyler Gabarra, played college soccer for the NC State Wolfpack before spending time with various professional teams.[13]

Career statistics

Club

As of July 2, 2025
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup[a] Playoffs Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Linköping FC 2025[16] Damallsvenskan 0 0 0 0 — 0 0
Career total 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
  1. ^ Includes Svenska Cupen

References

  1. ^ "University of Central Florida Commencement" (PDF). University of Central Florida. p. 42. Retrieved July 2, 2025.
  2. ^ a b "Orlando Pride Selects Ally Lemos No. 9 Overall in 2024 NWSL Draft". Orlando City SC. January 13, 2024. Retrieved July 2, 2025.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "Talia Gabarra - Women's Soccer 2023". UCF Athletics - Official Athletics Website. Retrieved July 2, 2025.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Rollins, Sean (January 13, 2024). "2024 NWSL Draft: Orlando Pride Select UCF Midfielder Talia Gabarra at No. 56". The Mane Land. Retrieved July 2, 2025.
  5. ^ a b c Worgo, Tom (September 3, 2019). "Talia Gabarra". What's Up? Media. Retrieved July 2, 2025.
  6. ^ Burden, Brian (November 24, 2017). "Broadneck's Talia Gabarra named girls soccer player of the year". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved July 2, 2025.
  7. ^ Fominykh, Katherine. "Looking to the future". Maryland Gazette. Retrieved July 2, 2025.
  8. ^ "Knights Win Third in a Row". UCF Athletics - Official Athletics Website. Retrieved July 2, 2025.
  9. ^ "2022 UCF Women's Soccer by UCF Knights". UCF Knights. Retrieved July 2, 2025.
  10. ^ "Women's Soccer Falls in Big 12 Semis to No. 7 BYU, 4-1". UCF Athletics - Official Athletics Website. Retrieved July 2, 2025.
  11. ^ "NWSL's college draft eliminated with new CBA: What happens next and what does it mean for prospects?". CBS Sports. August 22, 2024. Retrieved July 2, 2025.
  12. ^ "Orlando Pride Announces 2024 Preseason Roster". Orlando City SC. Retrieved July 2, 2025.
  13. ^ a b "Välkommen till Linköping FC – Talia Gabarra!". Linköping FC. Retrieved July 2, 2025.
  14. ^ "Linköping Sports Manager Waives Salary to Sign Midfielder Talia Gabarra". Sweden Herald. Retrieved July 2, 2025.
  15. ^ "Linköping värvar nytt – personal avstår lön". Sportbladet (in Swedish). March 29, 2025. Retrieved July 2, 2025.
  16. ^ "Linköping Stats, All Competitions". FBref.com. Retrieved July 2, 2025.
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