| Riley Parker | |
| Fullname: | Riley Grace Mattingly Parker |
| Birth Name: | Riley Grace Mattingly[1] |
| Birth Date: | 31 March 2000[2] |
| Birth Place: | Dallas, Texas, United States[3] |
| Position: | Forward |
| Currentclub: | Tampa Bay Sun |
| Clubnumber: | 31 |
| Youthyears1: | 2015–2018 |
| Youthclubs1: | Edward S. Marcus High School |
| Youthyears2: | –2017 |
| Youthclubs2: | Solar SC |
| Collegeyears1: | 2019–2022 |
| College1: | Alabama Crimson Tide |
| Collegecaps1: | 74 |
| Collegegoals1: | 25 |
| Clubs1: | SouthStar FC |
| Years1: | 2019 |
| Clubs2: | Alabama FC |
| Years2: | 2022 |
| Goals2: | 5 |
| Clubs3: | Racing Louisville |
| Years3: | 2023 |
| Caps3: | 0 |
| Goals3: | 0 |
| Clubs4: | → Tigres (loan)[4] |
| Years4: | 2023 |
| Caps4: | 8 |
| Goals4: | 2 |
| Clubs5: | Tampa Bay Sun |
| Years5: | 2024– |
| Caps5: | 0 |
| Goals5: | 0 |
| Club-Update: | April 29, 2024 |
Riley Grace Mattingly Parker (; born March 31, 2000) is an American professional women's soccer player who plays as a forward for USL Super League club Tampa Bay Sun.
Parker was born and raised in Dallas, Texas,[3] and attended Edward S. Marcus High School in Flower Mound, Texas. As a child, she appeared on an episode of the children's television show Barney & Friends.[5]
Parker played youth soccer for Elite Clubs National League (ECNL) club Solar SC,[6] reaching the state conference championship in 2015, 2016, and 2017, and placing third at the 2015 ECNL National finals. She also played high school soccer at Edward S. Marcus High School, where she was named the team's most valuable player in 2016 and 2017.[3]
Parker committed to playing for the University of Alabama in 2015.
On February 19, 2021, in the first half of the first match of the 2021 spring season, Parker tore her right anterior cruciate ligament, which forced her to miss both the spring and fall seasons.[7] She graduated magna cum laude in 2021 with a bachelors of arts in communication and information sciences.[1]
After redshirting her senior season, Parker scored 17 goals in her final season as a graduate player, setting an Alabama single-season record. The Crimson Tide reached a program-best No. 1 national ranking during the season[8] and advanced to the Women's College Cup semi-finals for the first time.[9] [10] Riley also served as team captain during her final season.[11]
In October 2022, Parker was named to the All-Southeastern Conference first team and SEC Forward of the Year.[12] In November 2022, she was named one of 15 semifinalists for the Hermann Trophy.[13]
While still attending the University of Alabama, Parker played for Women's Premier Soccer League clubs SouthStar FC in 2019 and Alabama FC in 2022.[14] [15]
Racing Louisville FC selected Parker with the 31st-overall pick in the 2023 NWSL Draft.[10]
On February 1, 2023, before the start of the 2023 NWSL season, Racing signed Parker to a one-year contract with an option for an additional year.[16] The following day, the club loaned her to Tigres UANL of Liga MX Femenil for the 2023 Torneo Clausura.[17]
On August 17, 2023, she was waived by Racing Louisville.[18]
Parker debuted for Tigres on March 5, 2023, against Club Léon as a 59th-minute substitute for Belén Cruz. After earning a yellow card for an altercation with Léon player Ruth Bravo, who made contact with Tigres forward Mia Fishel during a substitution,[19] Parker scored the first goal of her professional career in the second minute of second-half stoppage time.[20] [21]
Tigres finished second in the Clausura and reached the Liguilla semi-finals before losing to eventual champions Club América.[22]
Parker signed with the Tampa Bay Sun on April 29, 2024, ahead of the inaugural USL Super League season.[23]
Parker married former Alabama Crimson Tide football wide receiver John Parker in 2022.[15]