Marisa DiGrande explained

Marisa DiGrande
Birth Name:Marisa Marie Viggiano[1]
Birth Date:5 February 1997
Birth Place:Troy, Michigan, United States
Height:1.63m (05.35feet)
Position:Midfielder
Currentclub:Racing Louisville
Clubnumber:14
Youthclubs1:Michigan Hawks ECNL
Collegeyears1:2015–2018
College1:Northwestern Wildcats
Collegecaps1:85
Collegegoals1:5
Years1:2018
Clubs1:Motor City FC
Years2:2019–2021
Clubs2:Orlando Pride
Caps2:40
Goals2:2
Years3:2022–2023
Clubs3:Houston Dash
Caps3:40
Goals3:2
Years4:2024–
Clubs4:Racing Louisville
Caps4:0
Goals4:0
Nationalyears1:2019
Nationalteam1:United States U23
Club-Update:October 16, 2023
Nationalteam-Update:August 21, 2019

Marisa Marie DiGrande (; born February 5, 1997) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Racing Louisville FC of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL).

Early life

Coming out of high school, DiGrande ranked as the No. 25 recruit in the nation and the No. 5 recruit in the Great Lakes Region by TopDrawerSoccer.com. She played three seasons of club soccer for Michigan Hawks ECNL.[2]

Northwestern Wildcats

DiGrande attended Northwestern University from 2015 to 2018 where she got a degree in communication studies. She was named to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team after starting every game, a streak that continued through 83 games into her senior year, the third-longest streak in program history. She also ranks second all-time in program assists with 20.[3]

In the off-seasons, DiGrande played with hometown Women's Premier Soccer League side Motor City FC.[4]

Club career

Orlando Pride

DiGrande was selected in the fourth round (30th overall) of the 2019 NWSL College Draft by Orlando Pride.[5] Following preseason, she was officially signed to the team's senior roster on April 10.[6] She made her professional debut on April 27, coming on as a substitute for Dani Weatherholt against Utah Royals FC. DiGrande scored her first professional goal on July 20, 2019, the game-winner in a 1–0 win over Sky Blue FC. It was nominated for Goal of the Week.[7]

With the 2020 season disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, Orlando's scheduled was limited to four games in total as part of the Fall Series. DiGrande finished as the team's top scorer with two goals in four appearances. Ahead of the 2021 season she signed a new two-year contract with the option for an additional year.[8]

Houston Dash

On January 28, 2022, Houston Dash acquired DiGrande in a trade with Orlando in exchange for Megan Oyster, $30,000 in allocation money and a third-round pick in the 2023 NWSL Draft.[9]

Racing Louisville FC

DiGrande signed with Racing Louisville FC in December 2023.[10]

International career

DiGrande has previously been called into camp with the United States U16 and U20 youth national teams.[11] In August 2019, DiGrande was selected as part of the U23 squad to contest the Nordic Tournament against Norway, England and Sweden.[12]

Personal life

DiGrande's younger sister, Natalie Viggiano, is also a soccer player currently at the OL Reign.[13] Her father, Tom Viggiano, played and coached ice hockey at Kent State University and was inducted into the KSU Athletic Hall of Fame in 2013.[14]

Formerly Marisa Viggiano, she married Danny DiGrande in January 2024.[15]

Career statistics

Club

.[16]

ClubSeasonLeagueCup[17] PlayoffsOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Orlando Pride2019NWSL191191
20204[18] 242
202121140251
Total402400042484
Houston Dash2022NWSL2026110273
202320050250
Career total80415110421007

External links

Notes and References

  1. . Undergraduate Degrees – School of Communication: Bachelor of Arts in Communication – Candidates for degree, June 21, 2019 . One Hundred and Sixty-First Annual Commencement . . 21 . June 21, 2019.
  2. Web site: Marisa Viggiano NU profile . nusports.com.
  3. Web site: Citro . Michael . 2019 NWSL Draft: Pride Select Northwestern's Marisa Viggiano . The Mane Land . 10 January 2019.
  4. Web site: Motor City FC – 2018 Regular Season – Roster – # – Marisa Viggiano – M . www.wpslsoccer.com.
  5. Web site: NWSL Draft: Orlando Pride select Erin Greening and Marisa Viggiano . Orlando Soccer Journal . en . 10 January 2019.
  6. Web site: Citro . Michael . Orlando Pride Announce 2019 Opening Day Roster . The Mane Land . 10 April 2019.
  7. Web site: NWSL Week 14 Goal of the Week . NWSL Twitter . 23 July 2019. 23 July 2019.
  8. Web site: Orlando Pride Signs Marisa Viggiano Through 2022 Campaign . www.orlandocitysc.com.
  9. Web site: Orlando Pride Acquires Defender Megan Montefusco, 2023 NWSL Draft Pick and Allocation Money . www.orlandocitysc.com.
  10. Web site: Racing signs veteran midfielder Viggiano to free agent deal.
  11. Web site: 2019 NWSL Draft: Orlando Pride Select Marisa Viggiano . QueensCast . 2019-04-28 . 2019-04-28 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190428012212/https://queenscast.com/news-views/2019/1/11/2019-nwsl-draft-orlando-pride-select-marisa-viggiano . dead .
  12. Web site: U-23 WNT Will Travel to 2019 Nordic Tournament to Face Norway, England and Sweden . www.ussoccer.com . en.
  13. Web site: OL Reign Roster . OL Reign . 5 April 2023 . en.
  14. Web site: Seven Members to be Inducted into Varsity "K" Hall of Fame Oct. 26 . Kent State University Athletics . 6 August 2013 . en.
  15. Web site: Racing lands USWNT midfielder Taylor Flint in trade .
  16. Web site: Marisa Viggiano - Soccerway . int.soccerway.com.
  17. [NWSL Challenge Cup]
  18. [2020 National Women's Soccer League season#Fall Series|NWSL Fall Series]