Kelsey Turnbow (born January 10, 1999) is an American retired professional soccer player who played as a forward for San Diego Wave FC of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). She began her professional career with Wave FC following an accomplished collegiate career with Santa Clara.
 Turnbow with the San Diego Wave in 2023 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | January 10, 1999 | ||
| Place of birth | Scottsdale, Arizona, U.S. | ||
| Height | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) | ||
| Position(s) | Forward | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | San Diego Wave FC | ||
| Number | 6 | ||
| College career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2017–2021 | Santa Clara Broncos | 102 | (56) |
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2022–2023 | San Diego Wave FC | 28 | (0) |
| International career | |||
| 2017–2018 | United States U20 | 6 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Early life
editTurnbow played high school soccer for Central Valley High School in Spokane Valley, Washington and Pinnacle High School in Phoenix, Arizona. She also regularly played for the U.S. youth national teams.[1]
Santa Clara
editTurnbow helped Santa Clara win the 2020 NCAA Women's Division I championship, scoring in regulation and the penalty kick shootout in the final,[2] and was named the 2020–21 College Cup Offensive Most Outstanding Player. She had previously been named the 2017 West Coast Conference Freshman of the Year among other accolades.[3] Following the title, Turnbow was named the TopDrawerSoccer National Player of the Year.[4] Although the team fell in the semifinals of the 2021 College Cup, Turnbow was named a MAC Hermann Trophy finalist and First Team All-American.[2]
Club career
editIn the second round of the 2021 NWSL Draft, with the 18th overall pick, the Chicago Red Stars selected Turnbow from Santa Clara.[5] However, Turnbow opted not to join the Red Stars for the 2021 NWSL season and returned to Santa Clara, where she led the team to the semifinals of the 2021 NCAA College Cup.[6]
San Diego Wave FC
editIn December 2021, the San Diego Wave Futbol Club announced it had acquired the rights to Mexican international Katie Johnson, Makenzy Doniak, and Turnbow in a trade with the Chicago Red Stars.[7] Turnbow made her club debut in March 2022 as a starter in Wave FC's inaugural match against Angel City FC.[8]
Turnbow recorded her first professional assist on April 17, 2022, during the 2022 NWSL Challenge Cup, on a goal by Jodie Taylor against Portland Thorns,[9] and her first league assist on May 15, also to Taylor, against the Red Stars.[10]
ESPN writer Jeff Kassouf included Turnbow as part of the league's best-ever rookie class, and cited her as a key midfielder and frequent leader of San Diego's pressing attack.[11]
Turnbow announced her retirement on January 26, 2024, as she was pursuing a career in Commercial Real Estate in Nashville, Tennessee.[12]
Honors
editSanta Clara Broncos
San Diego Wave
Individual
- 2017 West Coast Conference Freshman of the Year[3]
- 2020–21 NCAA College Cup Offensive Most Outstanding Player[2]
- MAC Hermann Trophy finalist (2021)[2]
- TopDrawerSoccer.com women's Player of the Year (2021)[4]
References
edit- ^ Reed, Justin (October 26, 2019). "Hedge, Turnbow return home". The Spokesman-Review. p. B5. Retrieved April 21, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c d e Braun, Jessa (March 15, 2022). "For San Diego's Kelsey Turnbow, the wait to turn pro was worth it". Just Women's Sports. Retrieved April 21, 2022.
- ^ a b "Kelsey Turnbow". Santa Clara. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
- ^ a b "Women's Postseason Top 100 released | College Soccer". TopDrawerSoccer.com. Retrieved April 21, 2022.
- ^ Goldner, Lindsay (January 14, 2021). "Chicago Drafts Five, Acquires 2021 International Spot in 2021 NWSL Draft". Chicago Red Stars. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
- ^ Herrera, Sandra (December 9, 2021). "NWSL trade window winners and losers: Red Stars have plenty of work to do, Wave FC off to quick start". CBSSports.com. Retrieved April 21, 2022.
- ^ "San Diego Wave FC Acquires Rights to Katie Johnson, Makenzy Doniak and Kelsey Turnbow in Trade With Chicago Red Stars – San Diego Wave Fútbol Club". sandiegowavefc.com. December 2, 2021. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
- ^ Herrera, Sandra (March 20, 2022). "Angel City FC vs. San Diego Wave: Three things we learned from inaugural game for NWSL's newest teams". CBSSports.com. Retrieved April 21, 2022.
- ^ "Portland Thorns FC vs. San Diego Wave Match Report – Sunday April 17, 2022". fbref.com. FBRef. April 17, 2022. Retrieved July 7, 2022.
- ^ "San Diego Wave vs. Chicago Red Stars Match Report – Sunday May 15, 2022". fbref.com. FBRef. May 15, 2022. Retrieved July 7, 2022.
- ^ Jeff Kassouf (June 15, 2022). "NWSL's 2022 rookies are the best the league has ever had, and there are a few reasons for it". ESPN. Retrieved July 7, 2022.
- ^ "Instagram".
- ^ "San Diego Wave claim 2023 NWSL Shield". CONCACAF. October 17, 2023. Retrieved October 19, 2023.