Paige Metayer
American soccer player (born 2000)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Paige Marjorie Metayer (born September 23, 2000) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a right back or midfielder for the Washington Spirit of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). She played college soccer for the California Golden Bears and began her professional career with the Spirit in 2023.
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Metayer with the Washington Spirit in 2026 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Paige Marjorie Metayer[1] | ||
| Date of birth | September 23, 2000[2] | ||
| Place of birth | Irvine, California, United States | ||
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)[2] | ||
| Positions | |||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Washington Spirit | ||
| Number | 26 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| So Cal Blues | |||
| 2015–2018 | University High School | ||
| College career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2018–2022 | California Golden Bears | 89 | (9) |
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2023– | Washington Spirit | 50 | (4) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 04:16, November 23, 2025 (UTC) | |||
Early life
Metayer grew up in Irvine, California, and attended University High School, where she was twice named the girls' soccer team's most valuable player and set a school record in the 400-meter dash. In 2018, the school named her its girls' athlete of the year.[3] Metayer also played youth soccer for Elite Clubs National League (ECNL) team So Cal Blues, where she appeared in three consecutive national playoffs and won the 2017 Surf Cup.[4]
College career
Metayer played NCAA Division I women's soccer for the California Golden Bears, where she scored nine goals and registered one assist in 89 matches played.[4] She scored her first collegiate goal on September 17, 2018, against UC Davis.[5]
At the University of California, Berkeley, Metayer studied data science and economics.[6]
Club career
After going undrafted in the 2023 NWSL Draft,[7] Metayer joined the Washington Spirit during the 2023 preseason as a non-rostered invitee.[6][8] On March 8, 2023, she signed a three-year contract with the team with an option for an additional year.[9] She debuted for the Spirit in the team's first match of her rookie season on March 26 as a starter against OL Reign.[10] After being the only rookie to start in the Spirit's first three matches of the season, she received a second yellow and red card ejection and one-match suspension on April 1 in a match against Racing Louisville FC.[11]
On May 6, she scored her first professional goal in a 3–1 win against San Diego Wave FC.[7][12] She also scored an equalizing header in a 1–1 draw against NJ/NY Gotham FC on May 28,[13][14] assisted on Ashley Sanchez's match-winning goal against Angel City FC on June 10,[15] and scored an equalizing goal in the Spirit's 3–2 win over Kansas City Current on June 18.[16] On July 6, the NWSL named Metayer its June Rookie of the Month, citing her June 10 assist and June 18 goal as well as her shot-creating actions.[17]
Metayer captained the Spirit for the first time in the club's continental debut on August 19, 2025, winning 7–0 away over Salvadoran club Alianza in the 2025–26 CONCACAF W Champions Cup group stage.[18]
Playing style
With the Washington Spirit, Metayer plays on the right side of the team's 4–4–2 diamond formation, covering defensively and serving as an aerial threat offensively.[19] In May 2023, American women's soccer outlet The Equalizer described Metayer as a U.S. national team prospect as either a holding or box-to-box midfielder, citing her pace, positioning, footwork, and tackling.[20]
