Taylor Smith (soccer, born 2007)
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Taylor Ava Smith[1] | ||
| Date of birth | October 14, 2007[2] | ||
| Height | 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m) | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Fort Lauderdale United | ||
| Number | 23 | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2024– | Fort Lauderdale United | 23 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of May 3, 2025 | |||
Taylor Ava Smith (born October 14, 2007) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Fort Lauderdale United FC of the USL Super League.
Career
Early life
Raised in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Smith began playing soccer around age six, often playing with boys growing up.[3] She joined the varsity team at NSU University School in Davie, Florida, in eighth grade.[4] In her freshman season, she scored 17 goals and added 24 assists as she captained the team to the state finals in 2023.[2] After posting 24 goals and 33 assists and returning to the state semifinals as a sophomore, she was named the Miami Herald's Broward 4A-2A Girls' Soccer Player of the Year in 2024.[5]
Fort Lauderdale United
Smith joined newly formed local team Fort Lauderdale United FC as an academy player before the USL Super League's inaugural season.[6] She was the youngest player on the team at 16 years of age.[2][7] She made her professional debut on September 6, 2024, coming on as a second-half substitute for Nia Christopher in the team's second game, a 2–1 loss to the Carolina Ascent.[8] She became a starter and contributed to a run of nine games unbeaten that put the team at the top of the standings during the spring.[6][9] On March 20, 2025, the team announced that they had signed Smith to her first professional contract, making her the league's first academy player to turn professional and the youngest professional player in the league.[6]
References
- ^ "Team Captain, Taylor Smith, Leads NSU University School's Soccer Team to the State Championship". KTXL. March 13, 2023. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
- ^ a b c "Taylor Smith". Fort Lauderdale United FC. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
- ^ Fort Lauderdale United [@ftlutd]; (April 30, 2025). "She grew up in this city. Now she's playing for it". Retrieved May 5, 2025 – via Instagram.
- ^ "Super Signings Recap: July 1-12". USL Super League. July 12, 2024. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
- ^ Fernandez, Andre (March 28, 2024). "NSU University School's Taylor Smith is the Broward 4A-2A Girls Soccer Player of the Year". Miami Herald. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
- ^ a b c "Taylor Smith Becomes Super League's First Academy Player to Earn Pro Contract". Fort Lauderdale United FC. March 20, 2025. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
- ^ Walker, Heather; Hall, Darcelle. "Two teen soccer players help boost South Florida's first professional women's soccer team". WSVN. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
- ^ Taylor Smith at Soccerway
- ^ "Fort Lauderdale draws with Spokane, extends unbeaten streak to 9 matches". Fort Lauderdale United FC. March 22, 2025. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
External links
- Taylor Smith at Soccerway.com