Christen Press

Collegiate Success and Early Achievements

Press gained early recognition through her achievements in youth and collegiate soccer. During her time at Stanford University, she became the school's all-time leading scorer with 71 goals and was awarded the prestigious 2010 Hermann Trophy, which honors the top player in college soccer. Despite impressive personal success, her team fell short of a national title, finishing as runners-up in the NCAA College Cup for two consecutive years.

Although highly talented, Press was never selected for the U.S. Youth National Teams during high school, a fact that fueled her determination and commitment to growth. Her drive to improve her game was evident in her transition from college to professional soccer.

Professional Debut and Rising Career

Press began her professional career in 2011 with MagicJack in the Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) league. She scored eight goals during her rookie season, ranking third in the league and earning her the Rookie of the Year honor. However, despite her strong performance, she was not immediately selected for the senior national team.

Motivated by this setback, she returned to California in the offseason to continue training and refining her skills. Press made it a personal goal to develop a well-rounded playing style that could earn her a place on the United States Women's National Team.