Lo'eau LaBonta explained

Lo'eau LaBonta
Fullname:Lo'eau Kaiulani LaBonta[1]
Birth Date:18 March 1993
Birth Place:Rancho Cucamonga, California, United States
Position:Midfielder
Currentclub:Kansas City Current
Clubnumber:10
Collegeyears1:2011–2014
College1:Stanford Cardinal
Collegecaps1:78
Collegegoals1:22
Years1:2015
Clubs1:Sky Blue FC
Caps1:6
Goals1:0
Years2:2016–2017
Clubs2:FC Kansas City
Caps2:22
Goals2:2
Years3:2017–2019
Clubs3:WS Wanderers (loan)
Caps3:21
Goals3:1
Years4:2018–2020
Clubs4:Utah Royals
Caps4:42
Goals4:2
Years5:2021–
Clubs5:Kansas City Current
Caps5:61
Goals5:12
Pcupdate:March 24, 2024

Lo'eau Kaiulani LaBonta (born March 18, 1993) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for the Kansas City Current in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL).

LaBonta previously played for Sky Blue FC, FC Kansas City, Utah Royals, and Australian club Western Sydney Wanderers FC.

College soccer

LaBonta attended Stanford University from 2011 to 2014, and was part of the NCAA National Championship winning team in the 2011 NCAA Division I women's soccer tournament.[2]

Club career

Sky Blue FC, 2015

Sky Blue FC drafted LaBonta from Stanford with the 37th overall pick in the 2015 NWSL College Draft. She made six appearances before Sky Blue FC waived her and Meg Morris in July 2015 to make room on the roster for players returning from the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup.[3] [4]

FC Kansas City, 2016–2017

FC Kansas City signed LaBonta in May 2016.[5] She debuted for FCKC against the Orlando Pride shortly thereafter, and soon earned a regular starting position with the team. FCKC head coach Vlatko Andonovski cited her tenacity in winning possession from opponents for her increased playing time.[6]

Western Sydney Wanderers, 2017–2019 (loan)

In October 2017, LaBonta joined Australian club Western Sydney Wanderers.[7] She played every match for the Red & Black, scoring one goal. She returned to the Wanderers for the 2018–19 season and appeared in 9 games.[8]

Utah Royals FC, 2018–2020

After FC Kansas City ceased operations after the 2017 season, LaBonta was officially added to the roster of the Utah Royals FC on February 8, 2018.[9] LaBonta appeared in 16 games for the Royals in the 2018 NWSL season.

She returned to Utah for the 2019 season and scored her first goal for the club on April 21, in a 1–0 win over the Washington Spirit.[10] LaBonta was named to the NWSL Team of the Month for August, she had 1 goal and 2 assists during the month of August.[11]

Kansas City Current, 2021–present

LaBonta followed the transfer of player-related assets to the Kansas City expansion team Kansas City Current after the Utah Royals FC folded. She coined the Current chant "KC Baby" as the new team was finding an identity.[12]

LaBonta has earned the nickname "Celly Queen" for her elaborate celebrations after scoring goals.[13] Her celebration went viral after she converted a penalty kick against Angel City FC on August 19, 2022. After scoring, LaBonta began moving toward the corner flag and walking as if she had injured her hamstring only to start twerking. Players in different sports imitated the celebration, including Travis Kelce and Alexander Mattison.[14] [15] [16]

In the first away game of the 2024 season, she converted a penalty in the 71st minute for a 2–1 win against San Diego Wave.[17] She scored her first career brace in a 4–1 win at the Portland Thorns on June 23, 2024.[18]

Personal life

LaBonta was born in Rancho Cucamonga, California.[19] LaBonta is married to retired Sporting Kansas City player Roger Espinoza.[19]

While attending Stanford, she earned a degree in engineering.[19]

Career Statistics

last updated October 21, 2023

ClubDivisionSeasonLeague (includes playoffs)Domestic CupTotal
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Sky Blue FCNWSL20166060
FC Kansas City2017222222
Utah Royals2018160160
201922250272
2020005050
Kansas City Current202119130221
202223871309
202317250222
202421--21
Total1301620114617
WS Wanderers (loan)W-League2017-2018121121
2018-20199090
Total21100211
Career Total1511720116718

Honors

Individual

External links

Notes and References

  1. Stanford, California . School of Engineering – Bachelor of Science: Degrees Conferred March 31, 2016 . 125th Commencement . . 39 . June 12, 2016 . June 28, 2022 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220628084437/https://stacks.stanford.edu/file/gm024qk2555/gm024qk2555.pdf . June 28, 2022.
  2. Web site: Stanford's Lo'eau LaBonta Seizing Opportunity To Go Out A Champion. July 3, 2018. November 15, 2014.
  3. Web site: Sky Blue FC Waives LaBonta, Morris to Make Room for Foord, Kerr. July 2, 2015. July 2, 2017. Sky Blue FC. June 14, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180614172327/http://www.skybluefc.com/sky-blue-fc-waives-labonta-morris-to-make-room-for-foord-kerr/. dead.
  4. Web site: Player Profile – Lo'eau LaBonta. FC Kansas City. May 25, 2017. July 2, 2017. Rachel. Gaylor.
  5. Web site: Blues Sign Midfielder Lo'eau LaBonta. OurSportsCentral. FC Kansas City. May 28, 2016. July 2, 2017.
  6. Web site: Development of young players a bright spot in FC Kansas City's down year. The Kansas City Star. September 10, 2016. July 2, 2017. Ashley. Scoby. November 7, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201107082840/https://www.kansascity.com/sports/mls/fc-kansas-city/article101112492.html. dead.
  7. Web site: LaBonta joins the Wanderers. Western Sydney Wanderers. October 19, 2017.
  8. Web site: LeBonta returns to the Red & Black. September 20, 2018.
  9. Web site: Utah Royals FC officially welcomes five additions to 2018 NWSL roster. July 3, 2018. February 8, 2018.
  10. Web site: L.LABONTA. April 21, 2019.
  11. Web site: August Team of the Month. September 15, 2019. September 5, 2019.
  12. News: Kansas City Current midfielder Lo'eau LaBonta signs new contract. 2024-01-31. Kansas City Current. 2024-07-10.
  13. News: More Than the Celly Queen: Lo'eau LaBonta Has Built Something Special in Kansas City. Moore. Lela. 2023-03-24. Bleacher Report. 2024-07-10.
  14. Web site: Chiefs' Travis Kelce channels KC Current's Lo'EAU LaBonta . September 15, 2023 .
  15. Web site: A professional soccer star faked an injury after scoring to set up an epic twerking goal celebration . .
  16. Web site: MSN . .
  17. Web site: 2024-03-24 . Kansas City Current extinguish San Diego Wave in first regular season road match . 2024-03-25 . Sunflower State Radio Network . en-US.
  18. News: Lo'eau LaBonta scored twice as KC Current beat Portland Thorns and remain undefeated in NWSL. Rantz. Susie. 2024-06-23. Associated Press. 2024-07-10.
  19. Web site: Kansas City's Soccer Star Is a Twerking, Goal-Scoring Late Bloomer. Bachman. Rachel. Wall Street Journal. October 28, 2022. October 29, 2022. en.
  20. Web site: November 3, 2022 . NWSL Announces Winners of Mastercard Best XI Awards . October 25, 2022 . NWSL Soccer.