Riley Parker (soccer)

Riley Grace Mattingly Parker (née Mattingly; born March 31, 2000) is an American professional women's soccer player who plays as a forward for Racing Louisville FC of the American National Women's Soccer League (NWSL).

Riley Parker
Personal information
Full name Riley Grace Mattingly Parker[1]
Birth name Riley Grace Mattingly[2]
Date of birth (2000-03-31) March 31, 2000[3]
Place of birth Dallas, Texas, United States[4]
Height 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)[3]
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
 Racing Louisville FC
Number 31
Youth career
2015–2018 Edward S. Marcus High School[4]
–2017 Solar SC
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2019–2022 Alabama Crimson Tide[4] 74 (25)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2019 SouthStar FC
2022 Alabama FC[5] (5)
2023– Racing Louisville FC 0 (0)
2023 → Tigres (loan)[6] 8 (2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of June 6, 2023

Early life

Parker was born and raised in Dallas, Texas,[4] and attended Edward S. Marcus High School in Flower Mound, Texas. As a child, she appeared on an episode of the children's television show Barney & Friends.[7]

Youth career

Parker played youth soccer for Elite Clubs National League (ECNL) club Solar SC,[8] reaching the state conference championship in 2015, 2016, and 2017, and placing third at the 2015 ECNL National finals. She also played high school soccer at Edward S. Marcus High School, where she was named the team's most valuable player in 2016 and 2017.[4]

Parker committed to playing for the University of Alabama in 2015.[9]

College career

On February 19, 2021, in the first half of the first match of the 2021 spring season, Parker tore her right anterior cruciate ligament, which forced her to miss both the spring and fall seasons.[10] She graduated magna cum laude in 2021 with a bachelors of arts in communication and information sciences.[2]

After redshirting her senior season, Parker scored 17 goals in her final season as a graduate player, setting an Alabama single-season record. The Crimson Tide reached a program-best No. 1 national ranking during the season[11] and advanced to the Women's College Cup semi-finals for the first time.[12][13] Riley also served as team captain during her final season.[9]

In October 2022, Parker was named to the All-Southeastern Conference first team and SEC Forward of the Year.[14] In November 2022, she was named one of 15 semifinalists for the Hermann Trophy.[15]

Club career

While still attending the University of Alabama, Parker played for Women's Premier Soccer League clubs SouthStar FC in 2019 and Alabama FC in 2022.[16]

Racing Louisville FC selected Parker with the 31st-overall pick in the 2023 NWSL Draft.[13]

Racing Louisville FC, 2023–

On February 1, 2023, before the start of the 2023 NWSL season, Racing signed Parker to a one-year contract with an option for an additional year.[17] The following day, the club loaned her to Tigres UANL of Liga MX Femenil for the 2023 Torneo Clausura.[18]

Tigres UANL (loan), 2023

Parker debuted for Tigres on March 5, 2023, against Club Léon as a 59th-minute substitute for Belén Cruz. After earning a yellow card for an altercation with Léon player Ruth Bravo, who made contact with Tigres forward Mia Fishel during a substitution,[1] Parker scored the first goal of her professional career in the second minute of second-half stoppage time.[19][20]

Tigres finished second in the Clausura and reached the Liguilla semi-finals before losing to eventual champions Club América.[21]

Personal life

Parker married former Alabama Crimson Tide football wide receiver John Parker in 2022.[16]

References
  1. Herrera, Grace (March 6, 2023). "Riley Parker y su aguerrido debut" [Riley Parker and her fierce debut] (in Spanish). POSTA México. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  2. "The University of Alabama Spring Convocation One Hundred Ninetieth Commencement" (PDF). University of Alabama. April 30, 2021. p. 50. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  3. "Riley Parker 31". Tigres UANL. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  4. "10 Riley Mattingly Parker". Alabama Crimson Tide. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  5. "Schedule". Women's Premier Soccer League. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  6. "Riley Grace Mattingly". Liga MX Femenil. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  7. "Riley Parker: Del show de Barney a Tigres Femenil" [Riley Parker: From the Barney show to Tigres Femenil]. POSTA México. March 9, 2023. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  8. Moon, Beau (July 14, 2015). "The Cross Timbers Gazette". Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  9. Smith, Mason (October 12, 2022). "The Riley Mattingly Parker Phenomenon". BamaCentral. Sports Illustrated. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  10. Irvine, Steve (October 15, 2022). "Riley Mattingly Parker leading the way during a special season for the Alabama women's soccer team". 1819 News. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  11. Donaldson, Maxwell (October 17, 2022). "Alabama women's soccer rises to first No. 1 ranking after win over Arkansas". The Tuscaloosa News. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  12. "Riley Parker". Racing Louisville FC. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  13. Windham, Katie (January 12, 2023). "Alabama Soccer Makes History with Three Players Selected in NWSL Draft". BamaCentral. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  14. "2022 SEC Soccer Awards Announced" (Press release). Southeastern Conference. October 30, 2022. Retrieved June 7, 2023.
  15. "2022 Women's MAC Hermann Trophy Semifinalists Announced" (Press release). Missouri Athletic Club. November 30, 2022. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  16. Sease, Martha Glen (June 15, 2022). "Reyes, Mattingly and Streicek take on new challenges during the Alabama Soccer offseason". The Crimson White. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  17. "Racing signs draft pick Riley Parker to contract" (Press release). Racing Louisville FC. February 1, 2023. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  18. "Racing signs star forward Uchenna Kanu, loans Riley Parker" (Press release). Racing Louisville FC. February 2, 2023. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  19. Kriger, Rachael (March 7, 2023). "Liga MX Femenil, Clausura Week 8: Riley Mattingly Parker scores in Tigres debut". The Equalizer. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  20. "¡Eufórica! Así reaccionó la hermana de Riley Parker por el gol en Tigres Femenil" [Euphoric! This is how Riley Parker's sister reacted to the goal in Tigres Femenil]. MedioTiempo (in Spanish). March 6, 2023. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  21. Kriger, Rachael (May 31, 2023). "Liga MX Femenil, Clausura Semifinals: América and Pachuca complete upsets to move on to Final". The Equalizer. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
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