Aubrey Kingsbury

Aubrey Renee Kingsbury (née Bledsoe; born November 20, 1991) is an American professional soccer player who plays for the Washington Spirit in the National Women's Soccer League and for the United States national soccer team.[2]

Aubrey Kingsbury
Kingsbury playing for the Orlando Pride in 2017
Personal information
Full name Aubrey Renee Kingsbury
Birth name Aubrey Renee Bledsoe[1]
Date of birth (1991-11-20) November 20, 1991
Place of birth Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
Height 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team
 Washington Spirit
Number 1
Youth career
Kings Soccer Academy
St. Ursula Academy
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2010–2013 Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2014 Los Angeles Blues (0)
2014 IK Grand Bodø 11 (0)
2015 Sky Blue FC 1 (0)
2015–2016 → Fortuna Hjørring (loan) 4 (0)
2016–2017 Orlando Pride 12 (0)
2017–2018 → Sydney FC (loan) 23 (0)
2018– Washington Spirit 67 (0)
2019–2020 → Sydney FC (loan) 14 (0)
International career‡
2014 United States U-23 (0)
2022– United States 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 31 October 2021
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of April 12, 2022

Early life

Kingsbury was born in Cincinnati to Paul and Char Bledsoe. She attended Merwin Elementary, Amelia Middle School, and then St. Ursula Academy where she was a member of the state championship soccer team in 2007 and 2008.

Kingsbury graduated from Wake Forest University with a degree in health and exercise science and minors in chemistry and biology. She started all her games during her four seasons with the Demon Deacons and was named co-captain during her senior year. She holds the Wake Forest career record for shutouts (33), goals against average (0.91), games played and started (94), and minutes played in goal (8,692). She is also one of three Demon Deacons to be named an All-American three times, earning third-team honors from the NSCAA in 2011 and 2012 and second-team honors in 2013.[3]

Club career

Los Angeles Blues, 2014

In January 2014, Kingsbury signed for USL W-League side, Los Angeles Blues (previously known as "Pali Blues") in preparation for exploring opportunities in Europe.[4]

IK Grand Bodø, 2014

After her stint in LA, Kingsbury secured a move to Norway to play for Toppserien club, IK Grand Bodø.[5] She made 11 appearances for Bodø.

Sky Blue, 2015

In October 2014, Kingsbury signed with Sky Blue FC as a discovery player.[6] The 2015 season, Kingsbury backed up starting keeper, Brittany Cameron, limiting her to just a single appearance for Sky Blue.[7]

Fortuna Hjørring, 2015–2016

At the conclusion of the 2015 season, Kingsbury secured an off-season loan to Danish club Fortuna Hjørring of the Elitedivisionen along with teammate Nadia Nadim.[8] Competing in the UEFA Women's Champions League, Kingsbury made 4 appearances (2 wins, 1 draw, 1 loss), earning two clean sheets.[2]

Orlando Pride, 2016–2017

On November 2, 2015, Kingsbury was selected by Orlando Pride as their 10th pick in the NWSL expansion draft. She joined the Pride at the conclusion of her loan spell at Fortuna.[7] Deputising for Ashlyn Harris, Kingsbury made a single appearance during the 2016 season. When Harris got injured during the 2017 season, Kingsbury made a string of starts for the Pride, registering 11 appearances, earning 5 wins and 2 clean sheets.[2][9]

Sydney FC (loan)

On November 28, 2017, Kingsbury joined Sydney FC for the remainder of the 2017–18 W-League.

Washington Spirit, 2018–present
Aubrey Kingsbury playing for Washington Spirit in 2018

In January 2018, Orlando traded Kingsbury and a 2019 first round draft pick to Washington Spirit in exchange for Canadian national defender, Shelina Zadorsky.[10] On June 19, 2018, Kingsbury was named Player of the Week by the NWSL Media Association for Weeks 11 and 12. Kingsbury led the Spirit to back-to-back shutouts, and saved a Megan Rapinoe penalty kick during those weeks.[11] She went on to break the NWSL league leading save record, surpassing the previous record held by Alyssa Naeher.[12] She re-signed for the Washington Spirit's 2019 season in September 2018. In Week 4 of the 2019 NWSL season Kingsbury won both NWSL Player and Save of the Week. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the NWSL organized a closed-door NWSL Challenge Cup in the summer, which was followed by the NWSL Fall Series. Kingsbury started in all five of the Spirit's games during the Challenge Cup.[13] During the quarterfinals, the Spirit played to a scoreless draw against Sky Blue FC. In the ensuing penalty kick shootout, Kingsbury made a save against Domi Richardson, but ultimately the Spirit only converted three of their five penalty kicks and the team fell to Sky Blue.[14] Kingsbury played every minute of the Spirit's four games in NWSL Fall Series. Against 16 total shots, she made 12 saves and conceded 4 goals.[15] In the 87th of Washington's game against the Chicago Red Stars, Kingsbury, on the ground, kicked Dani Rhodes' rebound away to prevent Chicago from the taking the lead. Washington ultimately won the game thanks to Jessie Scarpa's 92nd-minute goal.[16] Additionally, Kingsbury led the Spirit to a clean sheet against Sky Blue.[17]

Sydney FC (loan)

In September 2018, Kingsbury re-signed for the 2018–19 W-League season where she helped Sydney reach its second straight Grand Final.[18][19] Kingsbury and Sydney FC won the 2019 Grand Final. She was subsequently named the 2018–19 W-League Goalkeeper of the Year.[20]

International career

Kingsbury received her first senior call-up to the United States national team on October 31, 2019.[21] In November 2020, Kingsbury was named to the national team's training camp roster ahead of its November 27 game against the Netherlands.[22] Andonovski also named Kingsbury to the senior team roster ahead of their matches on January 18, 2021, and January 22, 2021.[23]

On January 12, 2022, Kingsbury was named in the national team camp for January ahead of the 2022 SheBelieves Cup in February.[24]

Personal life

Kingsbury is a Christian.[25] Her twin sister, Amber Bledsoe, is also a goalkeeper who attended Brown University.[6] In December 2021, she married Matt Kingsbury and began playing under her married name in January 2022.[24]

Honors

Sydney FC

Washington Spirit

United States

Individual

References
  1. Aubrey Kingsbury at the Norwegian Football Federation (in Norwegian)
  2. "Aubrey Bledsoe | Soccerway Profile". Soccerway. Retrieved January 23, 2018.
  3. "Aubrey Bledsoe Bio". Wake Forest Sports. Archived from the original on August 31, 2016. Retrieved October 6, 2015.
  4. Jeff Kassouf (January 29, 2014). "Stengel, Bledsoe land in USL W-League with Blues". The Equalizer. Retrieved January 23, 2018.
  5. Anders Bergundhaugen (June 18, 2014). "Grand secured the US keeper". www.an.no (in Norwegian). Retrieved January 23, 2018.
  6. "Sky Blue FC signs goalkeeper Aubrey Bledsoe". Sky Blue FC. August 9, 2014. Archived from the original on June 10, 2017. Retrieved August 4, 2015.
  7. Dan Lauletta (November 2, 2015). "Orlando Pride complete NWSL expansion draft". The Equalizer. Retrieved January 23, 2018.
  8. "Sky Blue FC loans Nadim, Bledsoe to Danish Club Fortuna Hjørring". Sky Blue FC. September 10, 2015. Archived from the original on August 28, 2018. Retrieved October 6, 2015.
  9. Christian Simmons (June 23, 2017). "Orlando Pride goalkeeper Aubrey Bledsoe making most of long-awaited starts". Orlando Sentinel. Archived from the original on August 16, 2018. Retrieved January 23, 2018.
  10. "Washington Spirit acquires goalkeeper Aubrey Bledsoe, 2019 1st round pick from Orlando Pride". washingtonspirit.com. January 23, 2018. Retrieved January 23, 2018.
  11. "Spirit goalkeeper Aubrey Bledsoe voted NWSL Player of the Week". June 19, 2018. Retrieved June 25, 2018.
  12. "Bledsoe breaks NWSL save record". July 7, 2023.
  13. "Aubrey Bledsoe 2020 Challenge Cup stats". NWSL Soccer.
  14. Anderson, Jason (July 28, 2020). "Penalty kick heartbreak for Washington Spirit after NWSL Challenge Cup elimination at the hands of Sky Blue FC". Black and Red United. SB Nation. Retrieved February 28, 2021.
  15. "Aubrey Bledsoe 2020 Fall Series stats". NWSL Soccer.
  16. Anderson, Jason (September 12, 2020). "Late drama goes Washington Spirit's way this time in 2-1 win over Chicago Red Stars". Black and Red United. SB Nation. Retrieved February 28, 2021.
  17. "Aubrey Bledsoe 2020 Fall Series stats". NWSL Soccer.
  18. "Sydney FC Sign Talented NWSL Goalkeeper". Sydney FC. November 28, 2017.
  19. "Aubrey Bledsoe, Sydney FC reach 2nd straight W-League Grand Final". Washington Spirit. February 10, 2019.
  20. "Aubrey Bledsoe wins W-League goalkeeper of the year". Washington Spirit. May 13, 2019. Retrieved February 28, 2021.
  21. "VLATKO ANDONOVSKI NAMES 24-PLAYER TRAINING CAMP ROSTER FOR FRIENDLIES AGAINST SWEDEN AND COSTA RICA". US Soccer. October 31, 2019. Retrieved October 31, 2019.
  22. "Aubrey Bledsoe, Ashley Hatch represent Washington Spirit on latest USWNT roster". SB Nation. November 17, 2020. Retrieved February 28, 2021.
  23. "USWNT roster: Megan Rapinoe returns to squad in Vladko Andonovski's January camp alongside NWSL mainstays". CBSSports.com. January 6, 2021. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
  24. "U.S. WOMEN'S NATIONAL TEAM WILL HOLD ANNUAL JANUARY TRAINING CAMP IN AUSTIN, TEXAS" (Press release). U.S. Soccer. January 12, 2022. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  25. "Five Increase Questions with Aubrey Bledsoe". The Increase. Archived from the original on October 18, 2021. Retrieved March 5, 2020.
  26. "Washington Spirit defeats Chicago Red Stars to win first National Women's Soccer League title". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  27. Das, Andrew (July 19, 2022). "U.S. Women Beat Canada to Claim Spot in Paris Olympics". The New York Times.
  28. "U.S. Women's National Team Defeats Iceland 5-0 to Win Third Consecutive and Fifth Overall SheBelieves Cup Title, Presented by Visa". U.S. Soccer. February 23, 2022.
  29. Levine, Matthew (November 1, 2019). "Washington Spirit goalkeeper Aubrey Bledsoe named 2019 NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year". Nwslsoccer.com. Retrieved November 1, 2019.
  30. "2019 NWSL Best XI and Second XI announced". October 24, 2019. Retrieved October 24, 2019.
  31. "Week 4 Player of the Week: Aubrey Bledsoe". NWSL. Retrieved May 7, 2019.
  32. "Week 7 Player of the Week: Aubrey Bledsoe". NWSL. Retrieved May 29, 2019.
  33. "May Team of the Month". NWSLsoccer. NWSL. May 31, 2019. Retrieved May 31, 2019.
  34. "June Team of the Month". NWSLsoccer. NWSL. July 8, 2019. Retrieved July 8, 2019.
  35. "August Team of the Month". NWSLsoccer. NWSL. September 5, 2019. Retrieved September 5, 2019.
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