| Sarah Gorden | |
| Fullname: | Sarah L. Gorden[1] |
| Birth Date: | 13 September 1992 |
| Birth Place: | Elk Grove Village, Illinois |
| Position: | Center back |
| Currentclub: | Angel City |
| Clubnumber: | 11 |
| Youthclubs1: | Eclipse Select SC |
| Collegeyears1: | 2011–2015 |
| College1: | DePaul Blue Demons |
| Collegecaps1: | 77 |
| Collegegoals1: | 1 |
| Clubs1: | Chicago Red Stars |
| Years1: | 2016–2021 |
| Caps1: | 76 |
| Goals1: | 0 |
| Clubs2: | Angel City |
| Years2: | 2022– |
| Caps2: | 31 |
| Goals2: | 0 |
| Club-Update: | August 6, 2024 |
Sarah L. Gorden (born September 13, 1992) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a center back for Angel City FC of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL).
The adopted daughter of Jeff and Sue Gorden, Sarah Gorden began playing soccer at age four. When she began playing competitively, her speed on the pitch inspired her to join her high school track team.[2] While attending James B. Conant High School she played as a defender for the Eclipse Select Soccer Club.
Gorden attended DePaul university from 2011 to 2015, following in the footsteps of her parents who were both student athletes at DePaul. Gorden majored in journalism and competed as a hurdler on the track team for her first two years of university in addition to playing soccer.[3]
She scored her first collegiate goal on September 11, 2011, against Minnesota.[4]
Gorden did not compete in the 2013 season due to pregnancy.[5] She returned to the Blue Demons in 2014 to lead the team's defense to a conference title and an NCAA tournament appearance while allowing the fewest goals in the Big East Conference.[6] In 2014, Gorden was named to the All-Big East second team.[7] In 2015, Gorden was named Big East Defensive Player of the Week four times,[8] and was named to the All-Big East first team.[9]
Gorden was drafted by Chicago Red Stars in the 3rd round of the 2016 NWSL College Draft.[10] She made her professional debut in the season opener against the Houston Dash, subbing in for Alyssa Mautz in the 83rd minute of play.[11]
In January 2021, Gorden was signed to a two-year contract renewal with Chicago Red Stars.[12]
On October 29, 2021, Gorden became Chicago's first Iron Woman by playing every minute of the 2021 NWSL season.[13] She came second in voting for NWSL Defender of the Year behind Caprice Dydasco.[14]
On December 3, 2021, Gorden's rights were traded to Angel City FC ahead of the upcoming expansion draft.[15] After missing the entire 2022 season due to an ACL injury, Gorden went on to return and play every minute of the 2023 regular season, becoming an iron woman for the second time in her career in the team's run to their first playoff appearance. She also named in the NWSL Best XI and nominated for Defender of the Year at the conclusion of the season.[16] [17]
On December 19, 2023, it was announced that Gorden has signed a new contract with Angel City which would keep her at the club until 2026 with a mutual option for 2027.[18] For the 2024 season, Gorden was named as Vice Captain of the team. On April 21, 2024, Gorden made her 100th NWSL appearance as captain in Angel City's home match against North Carolina Courage which finished as a 2–1 victory.[19]
Gorden received her first call-up to the United States women's national soccer team in December 2019.[20] In October 2020, Gorden was again called up to the United States national team.[21]
She gave birth to a son, Caiden, in 2014.[5]
In September 2020, Gorden launched a nonprofit organization, HoodSpace.[22]
| Season | League | Cup | Playoffs | Other | Total | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| Chicago Red Stars | 2016 | NWSL | 4 | 0 | – | – | – | 4 | 0 | ||||
| 2017 | 5 | 0 | – | – | – | 5 | 0 | ||||||
| 2018 | 17 | 0 | – | – | – | 17 | 0 | ||||||
| 2019 | 23 | 0 | – | 2 | 0 | – | 26 | 0 | |||||
| 2020 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | – | – | 9 | 0 | |||||
| 2021 | 24 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | – | 31 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 74 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 5 | 0 | – | 92 | 0 | ||||
| Angel City FC | 2022 | NWSL | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | 0 | 0 | |||
| 2023 | 22 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 29 | 0 | |||
| 2024 | 14 | 0 | 4 | 0 | – | 1 | 0 | 19 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 36 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 48 | 0 | |||
| Career total | 109 | 0 | 22 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 139 | 0 | |||
Individual