Danielle Marie Weatherholt (born March 17, 1994) is an American professional

soccer Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a team sport played between two teams of 11 Football player, players who almost exclusively use their feet to propel a Ball (association football), ball around a rectangular f ...

player who plays as a

midfielder In the sport of association football, a midfielder takes an Glossary of association football terms#O, outfield position primarily in the middle of the pitch. Midfielders may play an exclusively defensive role, breaking up attacks, and are in t ...

for the

North Carolina Courage The North Carolina Courage are an American professional Association football, soccer team based in Cary, North Carolina, that competes in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). It was founded on January 9, 2017, after Stephen Malik acqui ...

in the

National Women's Soccer League The National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) is a women's professional Association football, soccer league and the highest level of the United States soccer league system#Women's leagues, United States soccer league system (alongside the USL Supe ...

(NWSL). She can also play as a

center back In the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to stop attacks during the game and prevent the opposition from scoring. Defenders fall into four main categories: centre-backs, full-backs, sweepers ...

left back In the sport of association football, a defender is an Glossary of association football terms#O, outfield player whose primary role is to stop attacks during the game and prevent the opposition from scoring. Defenders fall into four main categ ...

. She played college soccer at

Santa Clara University Santa Clara University is a private university, private Jesuit university in Santa Clara, California, United States. Established in 1851, Santa Clara University is the oldest operating institution of higher learning in California. The university' ...

and was drafted by the

Orlando Pride The Orlando Pride are an American professional Association football, soccer team based in Orlando, Florida, that competes in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). The Pride began play in the 2016 National Women's Soccer League season, 2016 ...

in the

2016 NWSL College Draft The 2016 NWSL College Draft was the fourth annual meeting of National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) franchises to select eligible college players. It was held on January 15, 2016, at the National Soccer Coaches Association of America Convention ...

. She has also played for

Melbourne Victory Melbourne Victory Football Club is an Australian professional soccer club based in Melbourne, Victoria. Competing in the country's premier men's competition, the A-League Men, under licence from Australian Professional Leagues (APL), Victory ...

OL Reign Seattle Reign FC is an American professional Association football, soccer team based in Seattle, Washington, that competes in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). Founded in 2012, it is one of eight inaugural members of the NWSL. Since J ...

, and

Angel City FC Angel City Football Club is an American professional Association football, soccer team based in Los Angeles, California, that competes in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). The formation of the team was announced on July 21, 2020; it beg ...

Early life

Weatherholt was born to Doug and Gail Weatherholt in

Laguna Beach, California Laguna Beach (; ''Laguna'', Spanish language, Spanish for "Lagoon") is a city in Orange County, California, United States. Located in Southern California along the Pacific Ocean, this seaside resort city has a mild year-round climate, scenic c ...

. She was raised with her two brothers in

Capistrano Beach, California Capistrano Beach or Capo Beach is a coastal neighborhood in the city of Dana Point in Orange County, California. It is bordered by San Clemente to the south and Doheny State Beach to the north. Capistrano Beach is situated along the coast o ...

, where she attended San Clemente High School. At San Clemente High School, Weatherholt played on the women's varsity soccer team for four years. Weatherholt played club soccer for Southern California Club for nine years, seven of which she served as team captain. She played for Cal South State Team in 2011–2012 when she was ranked #5 in Southern California and #19 nationally by

Top Drawer Soccer TopDrawerSoccer.com (TDS) is an American soccer website that is dedicated to youth soccer in the United States. Specifically, the website focuses on Academy soccer, high school soccer, and college soccer in the United States. The website was lau ...

. During her time playing for Southern California Club, Weatherhiolt contributed to the acquisition of the following awards: 2011 ODP National Champions, 2011 U17 Far West Regional Champions, 2011 First Team ODP All Stars, 2011 NSCAA Youth All American Team, 2011 NSCAA High School Girls All-Region VIII Team, 2010 ODP Thanksgiving Interregional Team, 2010 U17 San Diego Surf College Cup Finalist, 2009–10 ODP Region IV Finalists and 2009–10 Region IV Champions

Playing career

Santa Clara Broncos (2012–15)

Weatherholt attended

from 2012 to 2015 where she majored in Liberal Studies and Pre-Teaching. During her freshman year she started all 22 games and was named to the All-WCC Honorable Mention, WCC All-Freshman team as well as to the Top Drawer Soccer Freshman Team of the Year. During her sophomore year she played in all 22 games and helped the Broncos to the Round of 16 of the

2013 NCAA Division I Women's Soccer Tournament The 2013 NCAA Division I women's soccer tournament (also known as the 2013 Women's College Cup) was the 32nd annual single-elimination tournament to determine the national champion of NCAA Division I women's collegiate soccer. The semifinals an ...

. Her junior year saw her start all 20 games for he Broncos where she was named All-WCC Honorable Mention and WCC All-Academic Honorable Mention. Weatherholt started all 21 games of her senior year. She once again made the WCC All-Academic Honorable Mention as well as the Third Team All-West Region, First Team All-WCC and NSCAA Scholar Second Team All-West Region.

Orlando Pride (2016–2019)

In January 2016, Weatherholt was selected by

in the fourth-round (31st overall pick) of the

. She signed with the club in April 2016. She went on to play 12 appearances her first year at the club. She had her contract option exercised for the 2017 season where she made 19 appearances and scored one goal. She was offered a new contract for the 2018 season. During that season Weatherholt played 23 games for the club, tied for the most in the season for any Orlando Pride player alongside

Shelina Zadorsky Shelina Laura Zadorsky (born October 24, 1992) is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays as a centre-back for Women's Super League club West Ham United and the Canada national team. She previously played for Australian W-League club Pe ...

. Her contract option exercised for the 2019 season.

Loan to Melbourne Victory (2018–2019)

On October 16, 2018, the

announced they had signed Weatherholt on loan for the 2018–2019 W-League season. She made 12 appearances as the team won the Premiership title, marking Weatherholt's first professional trophy.

Reign FC (2020–2021)

On January 22, 2020, Weatherholt was traded to

Reign FC Seattle Reign FC is an American professional soccer team based in Seattle, Washington, that competes in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). Founded in 2012, it is one of eight inaugural members of the NWSL. Since June 2024, the Reign ar ...

in exchange for Reign's natural second-round pick in the 2021 NWSL College Draft.

Angel City FC (2022–2023)

Weatherholt got selected by

in the 2022 NWSL Expansion Draft She was named to the team's 25 player preseason roster before the 2022 Season. She made 41 regular season appearances across two seasons in Los Angeles, winning 185 duels, 47 tackles and creating 10 chances.

North Carolina Courage (2024–present)

On January 16, 2024,

announced they had signed Weatherholt to a two-year contract until 2025 as she was a free agent at the conclusion of the 2023 season. She scored on her club debut off the bench against the

Houston Dash The Houston Dash are an American professional soccer team based in Houston, Texas, that competes in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). The Dash began play in the 2014 season. The team plays its home games at Shell Energy Stadium. His ...

on the opening matchday on March 16, 2024. She played variously as a

defensive midfielder In the sport of association football, a midfielder takes an outfield position primarily in the middle of the pitch. Midfielders may play an exclusively defensive role, breaking up attacks, and are in that case known as defensive midfielders. ...

, or

depending on the Courage's need; head coach Sean Nahas said "That's why we brought her here. She is basically a Swiss Army knife". She made 21 appearances with 8 starts as the Courage finished the season in fifth place.

International career

In April 2015, Weatherholt was called up to the

United States women's national under-23 soccer team The U-23 Women’s Youth National Team, operated under the auspices of U.S. Soccer, plays a pivotal role in bridging the significant gap between college soccer and the development of players for the full Women’s National Team. It functions as ...

training camp.

Personal life

In July 2024, Weatherholt was one of five active NWSL players who represented the

NWSL Players Association The National Women's Soccer League Players Association (often known as NWSL Players Association or NWSLPA) is the officially recognized union of players in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). History The NWSLPA was formed in May 2017 un ...

at the final negotiations in Philadelphia that updated the league's collective bargaining agreement through 2030.

Career statistics

Honors

Melbourne Victory W-League Premiership: 2018–19

References

External links

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Dani Weatherholt
at

Dani Weatherholt
at

Santa Clara Broncos The Santa Clara Broncos are athletic teams that represent Santa Clara University. The school colors are red and white. The nicknames for teams is The Broncos and the student fans are referred to as the "Ruff Riders". The Broncos compete in the ...

(archived)
Danielle Weatherholt
at U.S. Soccer (archived) {{DEFAULTSORT:Weatherholt, Dani 1994 births Living people American women's soccer players Orlando Pride draft picks Orlando Pride players Seattle Reign FC players San Clemente High School (California) alumni Sportspeople from Laguna Beach, California Sportspeople from San Clemente, California Santa Clara Broncos women's soccer players Soccer players from Orange County, California Women's association football midfielders American expatriate women's soccer players Expatriate women's soccer players in Australia American expatriate sportspeople in Australia People from Dana Point, California Melbourne Victory FC (women) players Angel City FC players North Carolina Courage players National Women's Soccer League players 21st-century American sportswomen