Rose Lavelle is an American professional soccer midfielder who has established herself as one of the most technically gifted and recognizable players in women’s soccer. Born on May 14, 1995, in Cincinnati, Ohio, Lavelle developed her reputation through a combination of close control, intelligent movement, creativity, and an ability to produce important goals. She represents Gotham FC at club level and has been a long-standing member of the United States Women’s National Team. Her career includes a FIFA Women’s World Cup title, Olympic gold, an NWSL championship, and major individual honors.
Lavelle’s international career began in 2017, and she quickly became an important part of the American midfield. Her biggest early breakthrough came at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup, where she scored in the final against the Netherlands and helped the United States win the tournament. She was also awarded the Bronze Ball as one of the competition’s top three players. Years later, she added Olympic gold to her résumé when the United States won the women’s soccer tournament at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Rose Lavelle Quick Facts
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Rose Lavelle |
| Date of Birth | May 14, 1995 |
| Birthplace | Cincinnati, Ohio |
| Position | Midfielder |
| Current Club | Gotham FC |
| College | University of Wisconsin |
| USWNT Debut | 2017 |
| 2019 World Cup | Champion |
| 2019 World Cup Award | Bronze Ball |
| 2024 Olympics | Gold Medalist |
| 2025 NWSL Championship | Champion |
| 2025 NWSL Final | Championship MVP |
| 2025 U.S. Soccer Honor | Female Player of the Year |
Rose Lavelle’s Early Life and College Career
Before becoming an international star, Rose Lavelle built her reputation at the University of Wisconsin. She quickly became one of the program’s leading players and earned major recognition during her college career. Wisconsin lists her among its decorated All-Americans and notes that she was named Big Ten Midfielder of the Year in both 2015 and 2016. She was also a first-team All-Big Ten selection in four consecutive seasons from 2013 through 2016.
Her junior season in 2015 was particularly impressive. Lavelle led Wisconsin with seven goals and three assists for 17 points and helped the Badgers share the Big Ten regular-season championship. By the end of that season, she had recorded 16 goals and 20 assists in 62 college appearances. Her performances attracted increasing attention from the U.S. national-team system, setting the stage for her transition into senior international soccer.
Her Rise With the U.S. Women’s National Team
Lavelle made her senior USWNT debut in March 2017 against England. From there, she developed into a regular presence in the American midfield. Her technical quality and ability to move the ball through midfield made her particularly valuable in possession-based attacking situations, while her confidence in front of goal added another dimension to her game.
The midfielder’s rise was especially significant because she became capable of performing on the biggest international stages. Her development culminated at the 2019 World Cup, where she moved from promising international player to global star. Her performances also helped establish her as one of the most recognizable American midfielders of her generation.
Rose Lavelle at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup
The 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup remains one of the defining chapters of Rose Lavelle’s career. During the final against the Netherlands, she opened the scoring with a composed left-footed finish, giving the United States an early advantage. The Americans eventually won 2–0 to claim the World Cup title.
Lavelle’s tournament was recognized individually as well. She received the Bronze Ball, an award given to the third-best player of the tournament. That recognition reflected how influential she was throughout the competition rather than simply highlighting her goal in the final. Her World Cup success transformed her into a household name among American soccer fans and established a defining moment in her international career.
Olympic Success and International Career
After her World Cup triumph, Lavelle continued to contribute to the USWNT through major international competitions. She was part of the American team that earned a bronze medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, which were played in 2021. She later reached another major milestone at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where the United States won the gold medal.
Her international career continued to grow after Paris. In 2025, Lavelle returned to the field following ankle surgery and made a significant impact for both Gotham FC and the national team. U.S. Soccer reported that she scored three international goals and recorded three assists in 2025, while also contributing six goals and two assists for Gotham across 16 matches.
Rose Lavelle’s Club Career and Gotham FC
At club level, Rose Lavelle has played for several teams, including the Boston Breakers, Washington Spirit, OL Reign, Manchester City and Gotham FC. Her move to Gotham added another important chapter to her professional career, placing her alongside a talented group of players in one of the NWSL’s strongest clubs.
Her 2025 season with Gotham was particularly memorable. Lavelle started all three postseason matches and scored the decisive goal in the 80th minute of the NWSL Championship against the Washington Spirit. Gotham also noted that the goal made her the only player to score in two NWSL Championship matches and a FIFA Women’s World Cup Final.
In March 2026, Lavelle reached another career milestone by making her 100th regular-season NWSL appearance, becoming the 125th player in league history to reach that mark.
Her Playing Style and Strengths
What makes Rose Lavelle special is her ability to combine technical skill with attacking instinct. She is comfortable receiving the ball under pressure, carrying possession through midfield and finding opportunities to move her team forward. Her close control allows her to operate in crowded areas, while her shooting ability means defenders cannot simply focus on stopping her from creating chances for teammates.
Her influence was again visible in April 2026. Gotham reported that Lavelle scored twice in three starts and led the NWSL in shots during the month, while also ranking among the league leaders in shots on target, big chances and chances created.
Rose Lavelle’s 2025 Breakthrough and Major Honors
The year 2025 became one of the most successful periods of Lavelle’s career. Her return from injury, strong performances for Gotham, NWSL Championship victory and international contributions combined to earn her the 2025 U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year award.
U.S. Soccer announced the honor in January 2026, making Lavelle the 22nd different player to win the award. The recognition was especially significant because it came after a season in which she returned from ankle surgery and helped Gotham win the NWSL Championship.
2025 achievements can be summarized as follows:
| Achievement | Year |
| FIFA Women’s World Cup Champion | 2019 |
| World Cup Bronze Ball | 2019 |
| Olympic Bronze Medal | 2021 |
| Olympic Gold Medal | 2024 |
| NWSL Champion | 2025 |
| NWSL Championship MVP | 2025 |
| U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year | 2025 |
| 100th NWSL Regular-Season Appearance | 2026 |
Conclusion
Rose Lavelle has built a remarkable soccer career through technical ability, creativity, resilience and consistent performances on major stages. From her decorated college career at Wisconsin to her World Cup-winning goal, Olympic gold medal and NWSL Championship success, she has collected achievements at nearly every level of the sport.
Her 2025 season showed that her story continues to evolve. After recovering from injury, Lavelle helped Gotham FC win another league title, earned Championship MVP honors, and won the 2025 U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year award. Through her continued performances for club and country, Rose Lavelle remains an important figure in American women’s soccer.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How old is Rose Lavelle?
Rose Lavelle was born on May 14, 1995. As of August 2026, she is 31 years old.
2. What position does Rose Lavelle play?
Rose Lavelle primarily plays as a midfielder, where she is known for her creativity, ball control, attacking movement and goal-scoring ability.
3. What major trophies has Rose Lavelle won?
Her major honors include the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup, 2024 Olympic gold medal, and 2025 NWSL Championship with Gotham FC.
4. What award did Rose Lavelle win in 2025?
In January 2026, U.S. Soccer announced that Lavelle had been voted the 2025 U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year. It was the first time she had won the award.
