Kelley O’Hara was born on August 4, 1988, in Fayetteville, Georgia. She began playing soccer at a young age and quickly displayed exceptional talent. O’Hara attended Starr’s Mill High School in Fayette County, where she was an integral part of the school’s soccer team for four years. She captained the team during her junior and senior years, leading them to the 5A state title in 2006 with 20 goals and 16 assists.

During her youth, O’Hara also played for several club teams, including AFC Lightning and Peachtree City Lazers. In 2004, she joined the U.S. U-16 Women’s National Team and later that year, the U-17 team. Her performance earned her recognition, including being named the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Player of the Year and the Gatorade Georgia State Player of the Year in 2006.

Collegiate Career at Stanford University

From 2006 to 2009, O’Hara attended Stanford University, where she played for the Stanford Cardinal women’s soccer team. Her college career was marked by outstanding performance, both individually and as part of a team. In her freshman year, Stanford reached the College Cup—the national semifinals of the NCAA tournament—for the first time since 1993, defeating defending champion Portland along the way. O'Hara played a key role throughout the tournament and in the semifinal match against Notre Dame.

Although her college career ended on a disappointing note—being ejected in the 2009 College Cup final after receiving two yellow cards—her overall contributions were remarkable. She finished her Stanford career with 57 goals and 32 assists, making her one of the top scorers in the program’s history. In recognition of her collegiate excellence, she received the prestigious Hermann Trophy in 2009, awarded to the nation's top collegiate soccer player.