FRISCO, Texas (March 3, 2023) — Chloe Ricketts, 15, signed a three-year contract with the Washington Spirt, the club announced Friday — making the Michigan native the youngest contracted player in NWSL history.
Ricketts competed for multiple years in the USYS National League with Michigan Tigers 07 Boys Gold (MI). The midfielder helped the team to a second-place finish during the 2021-22 season of National League P.R.O., and team went on to capture the 2022 USYS National Championship in the 15U Boys age group.
“Chloe has always been driven like no other. Even in her younger years here at Michigan Tigers, coaches always saw the energy and love for the game she had,” Michigan Tigers Club Director Andy Pritchard said. “In her more recent years playing in the National league platform, her mentality and speed of thought improved to the degree of contributing and impressing in games, as well as winning the National Championship.”
Ricketts and Michigan Tigers 07B also won back-to-back Great Lakes Conference titles with perfect records — winning the 15U Club vs. Club Division in Spring 2022 with a 7-0-0 record and finishing on top of the 14U Premier I Division in Spring 2021 with a 7-0-0 record.
“The real difference maker for Chloe has been her work ethic on and off the pitch, making it no surprise that Washington have snapped her up,” Pritchard said. “We’re so proud of the player she’s become and if she continues to work this way, I’m sure we will see her in a National Team shirt soon enough.”
Ricketts surpassed Portland Thorns FC’s Olivia Moultrie as the youngest player to sign a contract in NWSL history, as the National League alum was three days younger at the time she signed her deal with Washington.
The 15-year-old joins a Washington Spirt squad that featured nine total National League alumnae on its preseason roster, including fellow former USYS National Champions Sam Staab (DMCV Sharks) and Maddie Elwell (YMS).
More reactions on Ricketts signing with the Washington Spirit…
National League Commissioner Simon Collins:
“We are thrilled for this latest step forward in Chloe’s promising young career, and we’re excited to watch and support her as she begins her professional career with the Washington Spirit. Chloe and the Michigan Tigers proved their abilities on the field over the last few years, and she always displayed a desire to maximize her potential. We wish her the best of luck at this next level!”
Washington Spirit Head Coach Mark Parsons (via washingtonspirit.com):
“This season, we remain very focused on building a roster that can help us succeed now while also investing in the future. Chloe has shown great quality with and without the ball and has an incredible intensity in everything she does. The vision and infrastructure of our club make this signing possible, and we are look forward to Chloe developing and becoming an important player and teammate for our team.”
Watch a video feature on Ricketts from the 2020-21 season, when we caught up with her and her Michigan Tigers teammates during Great Lakes Conference action: