Aly Wagner


Alyson Kay "Aly" Wagner is a sports broadcaster and retired American soccer midfielder who last played for Los Angeles Sol of Women's Professional Soccer and the United States women's national soccer team. She is a two-time Olympic gold medalist and two-time FIFA Women's World Cup bronze medalist. She has worked for Fox Sports, CBS and ESPN as a soccer analyst. She is the first woman to call a FIFA Men's World Cup game on U.S television, serving as the analyst alongside Derek Rae for Iran's 1–0 win against Morocco on June 15, 2018.

Early life

Born and raised in San Jose, California, Wagner attended Hillbrook School, and later, Presentation High School and was a four-year varsity starter on the soccer team. She helped the Panthers win the Central Coast Championship as a sophomore and senior. She was named CCS Player of the Year as a junior and senior and was selected as League MVP during her freshman, sophomore and junior years. As a senior, she was named NSCAA All-American, Parade All-American, Parade Magazine High School Player of the Year, and the Gatorade National High School Player of the Year. She was also named as the Northern California Student-Athlete of the Year and Presentation Scholar Athlete of the Year the same year.

Santa Clara Broncos, 1998–2002

Wagner began playing with the United States women's national soccer team in 1998, while still a freshman at Santa Clara University. She played in 23 games for the Broncos, starting 21, and scored 10 goals with 12 assists. She was named Second-Team NSCAA All-American, First-Team All-WCC and the WCC Freshman of the Year.
In 2001, she led Santa Clara to the NCAA Women's Soccer Championship, scoring the only goal in Santa Clara's 1–0 victory over perennial powerhouse North Carolina.
Wagner was awarded the 2002 Hermann Trophy as the top collegiate soccer player in the country and the Today's Top VIII Award as a member of the Class of 2002. She also won the Honda Sports Award as the nation's top soccer player.

Playing career

Club

Wagner was the number one pick at the 2003 WUSA Draft by the San Diego Spirit. The team finished in third place during the 2003 WUSA season with a record. She played in all 20 matches during the season, scored two goals and recorded four assists. After advancing to the playoffs, the Spirit was defeated by the Atlanta Beat 2–1 in the semifinals with Wagner scoring the Spirit's lone goal. Wagner was named to the All-WUSA Second Team following the season.
At the conclusion of the 2003 season, Wagner was traded to the Boston Breakers, shortly before the WUSA suspended operations. She made her debut for the Breakers in a June 19, 2004 exhibition match against the Washington Freedom in Blaine, Minnesota.
In 2005, Wagner scored twice in three games for Olympique Lyonnais in the French First Division.
In 2009, Wagner began playing midfielder for the Los Angeles Sol of Women's Professional Soccer.
On January 14, 2010, Wagner announced her retirement from professional soccer due to injuries.

International

Wagner competed for the United States women's national soccer team from 1999 to 2008. She made appearances in 131 international matches, scored 21 goals and made 42 assists.
At the 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup in the United States, Wagner made four appearances including three group-stage matches and the semi-final match. In 2004, she was selected for the Athens Olympics. She played in four matches including three group-stage matches and the semi-final match, helping the U.S. win gold. On July 30, 2006, she became the 18th U.S. women's national team player to reach 100 caps during a friendly match against Canada.
In 2007, Wagner was selected by head coach Greg Ryan for the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup in China and competed in the third-place play-off match against Norway.
Despite undergoing a double hernia operation in early 2008, Wagner was selected to play at the 2008 Summer Olympics and made one appearance as a substitute in a group-stage match against New Zealand.

International goals


Goal		DateHome
away
neutral		LocationOpponentLineupGoal
in
match		MinAssist
/pass		ScoreResultCompetition
goal 11999-04-29homeCharlotte1 of 151Sara WhalenFriendly
goal 22000-01-13awayAdelaideunknown1 of 1unknownHeather AldamaAustralia Cup
goal 32000-04-05homeDavidsonStart1 of 153Danielle SlatonFriendly
goal 42000-06-08neutralNewcastle1 of 188Christie WelshPacific Cup
goal 52000-07-07homeCentral IslipStart1 of 124Mary-Frances MonroeFriendly
goal 62002-01-12homeCharleston1 of 175unassistedFriendly
goal 72002-09-29homeUniondale1 of 164Kate SobreroU.S. Cup
goal 82002-10-27homePasadenaStart1 of 15Kristine LillyWorld Cup qualifier: Group A
goal 92003-03-14neutralOlhão1 of 185unassistedAlgarve Cup: Group A
goal 102003-03-18neutralSanto Antonio1 of 118unassistedAlgarve Cup: Group A
goal 112003-09-01homeCarson1 of 117Cindy ParlowFriendly
goal 122003-09-07homeSan Jose1 of 185penaltyFriendly
goal 132004-02-27neutralHerediaStart1 of 112Cindy ParlowOlympic qualifier
goal 142004-03-03awaySan JoseStart1 of 15Kristine LillyOlympic qualifier
goal 152004-08-01homeEast Hartford1 of 114Mia HammFriendly
goal 162004-10-10homeCincinnatiStart1 of 151unassistedFriendly
goal 172004-12-08homeCarson1 of 28Mia HammFriendly
goal 182004-12-08homeCarson2 of 266Kristine LillyFriendly
goal 192005-07-10homePortland1 of 148Kristine LillyFriendly
goal 202006-03-13neutralFaro1 of 149Heather O'ReillyAlgarve Cup: Group B
goal 212006-08-27homeChicago1 of 159penaltyFriendly

Assists made in international matches

Wagner is among the top ten players of the United States women's national soccer team in providing assists. Wagner provided more assists than goals which is not unusual for a midfielder; however, a ratio of 42 assists to 21 goals is unmatched by any other player in the top ten assist providers of the United States women's national soccer team.

Personal life

In December 2006, Wagner married Adam Eyre, a former soccer player at Santa Clara University who played briefly for the New England Revolution of Major League Soccer. Wagner gave birth to triplet boys in August 2013 and a daughter in December 2015. Also, she has a niece, Clare Wagner, who plays midfield for Washington Premier G03 ECNL. Her other niece, Sydney Wagner, plays striker for Seattle Celtic. She has cited Brittany Kirk as a role model.

Match reports