| Heather Hinz | |
| Birth Date: | 27 June 2001 |
| Birth Place: | Laytonsville, Maryland, U.S. |
| Height: | 5 ft 7 in |
| Position: | Goalkeeper |
| Currentclub: | Houston Dash |
| Clubnumber: | 18 |
| Collegeyears1: | 2019–2023 |
| College1: | South Carolina Gamecocks |
| Collegecaps1: | 78 |
| Collegegoals1: | 0 |
| Years1: | 2024– |
| Clubs1: | Houston Dash |
| Caps1: | 0 |
| Goals1: | 0 |
Heather Hinz (born June 27, 2001) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for the Houston Dash of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). She played collegiately for the South Carolina Gamecocks before being drafted by the Dash in the 2024 NWSL Draft.
Hinz was born in Laytonsville, Maryland, to Laura and Lance Hinz.[1] [2] She has two older sisters, one of whom, Megan, played soccer as a goalkeeper at Michigan before turning professional and then becoming a college coach.[3] Hinz started out as a striker before being asked to play in goal because of an injury to her Olympic Development Program team's keeper.[3] She played high school soccer at Our Lady of Good Counsel and ECNL club soccer for Bethesda Union.[2]
Following one season as a backup, Hinz became the starting goalkeeper for the South Carolina Gamecocks during the abbreviated 2020 season.[2] [3] In the 2021 postseason, she had to make only three saves to upset North Carolina in the first round of the NCAA tournament and went on to record a career-high eleven saves in their quarterfinal loss to BYU.[2] [4] She led the country with 13 clean sheets in the 2022 season, part of the strong defense on a Gamecock team that ranked as high as third nationally.[5] In that year's SEC championship, she saved three penalty kicks in a semifinal shootout against Georgia and made a last-minute save to keep her shutout against Alabama in the title game, being named the tournament's most valuable player.[2] [6] [7] She recorded ten shutouts in 2023, leading her conference in save percentage and goals against average, and was recognized as the SEC Goalkeeper of the Year and first-team All-SEC.[2]
Hinz was drafted 38th overall by the Houston Dash in the third round of 2024 NWSL Draft.[8] She was signed to a one-year contract with a one-year option, becoming one of the backups for reigning Goalkeeper of the Year winner Jane Campbell.[9] [10] Hinz made her professional debut on July 28, 2024, in the group stage of the 2024 NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup, and recorded six saves in a 3–0 win over Tigres UANL.[11]