Introduction
Alyson Kay Wagner (born August 10, 1980) is an American sports broadcaster and retired soccer midfielder who last played for Los Angeles Sol of Women's Professional Soccer and the United States women's national soccer team. She is a two-time Olympic gold medalist and two-time FIFA Women's World Cup bronze medalist. She has worked for Fox Sports, CBS Sports and ESPN as a soccer analyst. She is the first woman to call a FIFA Men's World Cup game on English-language U.S. television, serving as the analyst alongside Derek Rae for Iran's 1–0 win against Morocco on June 15, 2018. She is also an owner of USL Championship club Queensboro FC and a founding owner and co-chair of the National Women's Soccer League expansion club awarded to the San Francisco Bay Area in 2023.
Early life
Born and raised in San Jose, California, Wagner attended Hillbrook School, and later, Presentation High School and was a four-year varsity starter on the soccer team. She helped the Panthers win the Central Coast Championship as a sophomore and senior. She was named CCS Player of the Year as a junior and senior and was selected as League MVP during her freshman, sophomore and junior years. As a senior, she was named NSCAA All-American, Parade All-American, Parade Magazine High School Player of the Year, and the Gatorade National High School Player of the Year. She was also named as the Northern California Student-Athlete of the Year and Presentation Scholar Athlete of the Year the same year.
Santa Clara Broncos, 1998–2002
Wagner began playing with the United States women's national soccer team in 1998, while still a freshman at Santa Clara University. She played in 23 games for the Broncos, starting 21, and scored 10 goals with 12 assists. She was named Second-Team NSCAA All-American, First-Team All-WCC and the WCC Freshman of the Year.
In 2001, she led Santa Clara to the NCAA Women's Soccer Championship, scoring the only goal in Santa Clara's 1–0 victory over perennial powerhouse North Carolina.
Wagner was awarded the 2002 Hermann Trophy as the top collegiate soccer player in the country and the Today's Top VIII Award as a member of the Class of 2002. She also won the Honda Sports Award as the nation's top soccer player.
Playing career
Club
Wagner was the number one pick at the 2003 WUSA Draft by the San Diego Spirit. The team finished in third place during the 2003 WUSA season with a 8–6–7 record. She played in all 20 matches during the season, scored two goals and recorded four assists. After advancing to the playoffs, the Spirit was defeated by the Atlanta Beat 2–1 in the semifinals with Wagner scoring the Spirit's lone goal. Wagner was named to the All-WUSA Second Team following the season.
At the conclusion of the 2003 season, Wagner was traded to the Boston Breakers, shortly before the WUSA suspended operations. She made her debut for the Breakers in a June 19, 2004 exhibition match against the Washington Freedom in Blaine, Minnesota.
In 2005, Wagner scored twice in three games for Olympique Lyonnais in the French First Division.
In 2009, Wagner began playing midfielder for the Los Angeles Sol of Women's Professional Soccer (WPS).
On January 14, 2010, Wagner announced her retirement from professional soccer due to injuries.
International
Wagner competed for the United States women's national soccer team from 1999 to 2008. She made appearances in 131 international matches, scored 21 goals and made 42 assists.
At the 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup in the United States, Wagner made four appearances including three group-stage matches and the semi-final match. In 2004, she was selected for the Athens Olympics. She played in four matches including three group-stage matches and the semi-final match, helping the U.S. win gold. On July 30, 2006, she became the 18th U.S. women's national team player to reach 100 caps during a friendly match against Canada.
In 2007, Wagner was selected by head coach Greg Ryan for the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup in China and competed in the third-place play-off match against Norway.
Despite undergoing a double hernia operation in early 2008, Wagner was selected to play at the 2008 Summer Olympics and made one appearance as a substitute in a group-stage match against New Zealand.
International goals
| Key (expand for notes on "international goals" and sorting) | |
|---|---|
| Location | Geographic location of the venue where the competition occurred Sorted by country name first, then by city name |
| Lineup | Start – played entire match on minute (off player) – substituted on at the minute indicated, and player was substituted off at the same time off minute (on player) – substituted off at the minute indicated, and player was substituted on at the same time |
| Goal in match | Goal of total goals by the player in the match Sorted by total goals followed by goal number |
| Min | The minute in the match the goal was scored. For list that include caps, blank indicates played in the match but did not score a goal. |
| Assist/pass | The ball was passed by the player, which assisted in scoring the goal. This column depends on the availability and source of this information. |
| penalty or pk | Goal scored on penalty-kick which was awarded due to foul by opponent. (Goals scored in penalty-shoot-out, at the end of a tied match after extra-time, are not included.) |
| Score | The match score after the goal was scored. Sorted by goal difference, then by goal scored by the player's team |
| Result | The final score. Sorted by goal difference in the match, then by goal difference in penalty-shoot-out if it is taken, followed by goal scored by the player's team in the match, then by goal scored in the penalty-shoot-out. For matches with identical final scores, match ending in extra-time without penalty-shoot-out is a tougher match, therefore precede matches that ended in regulation |
| aet | The score at the end of extra-time; the match was tied at the end of 90' regulation |
| pso | Penalty-shoot-out score shown in parentheses; the match was tied at the end of extra-time |
| Light-purple background color – exhibition or closed door international friendly match | |
| Light-yellow background color – match at an invitational tournament | |
| Light-orange background color – Olympic women's football qualification match | |
| Light-blue background color – FIFA women's world cup qualification match | |
| Pink background color – Continental Games or regional tournament | |
|
| |
Goal | Date | Home away neutral | Location | Opponent | Lineup | Goal in match | Min | Assist /pass | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| goal 1 | 1999-04-29 | home | Charlotte |  Japan | 45. on 46' (off Foudy) | 1 of 1 | 51 | Sara Whalen | 5550.05005 5–0 | 5950.09005 9–0 | Friendly |
| goal 2 | 2000-01-13 | away | Adelaide |  Australia | unknown | 1 of 1 | unknown | Heather Aldama | 5250.03005 3–1 | 5250.03005 3–1 | Australia Cup |
| goal 3 | 2000-04-05 | home | Davidson |  Iceland | Start | 1 of 1 | 53 | Danielle Slaton | 5350.03005 3–0 | 5850.08005 8–0 | Friendly |
| goal 4 | 2000-06-08 | neutral | Newcastle | Japan | 27. on 64' (off Foudy) | 1 of 1 | 88 | Christie Welsh | 5350.04005 4–1 | 5350.04005 4–1 | Pacific Cup |
| goal 5 | 2000-07-07 | home | Central Islip |  Italy | Start | 1 of 1 | 24 | Mary-Frances Monroe | 5150.01005 1–0 | 5350.04005 4–1 | Friendly |
| goal 6 | 2002-01-12 | home | Charleston |  Mexico | 45. on 46' (off Parlow) | 1 of 1 | 75 | unassisted | 5650.06005 6–0 | 5750.07005 7–0 | Friendly |
| goal 7 | 2002-09-29 | home | Uniondale |  Russia | 30. on 61' (off Foudy) | 1 of 1 | 64 | Kate Sobrero | 5550.05005 5–0 | 5450.05005 5–1 | U.S. Cup |
| goal 8 | 2002-10-27 | home | Pasadena | Mexico | Start | 1 of 1 | 5 | Kristine Lilly | 5150.01005 1–0 | 5350.03005 3–0 | World Cup qualifier: Group A |
| goal 9 | 2003-03-14 | neutral | Olhão |  Canada | 31. on 60' (off Tarpley) | 1 of 1 | 85 | unassisted | 5050.01005 1–1 | 5050.01005 1–1 | Algarve Cup: Group A |
| goal 10 | 2003-03-18 | neutral | Santo Antonio |  Sweden | 75. off 75' (on Hucles) | 1 of 1 | 18 | unassisted | 5150.01005 1–0 | 5050.01005 1–1 | Algarve Cup: Group A |
| goal 11 | 2003-09-01 | home | Carson |  Costa Rica | 45. off 46' (on Hamm) | 1 of 1 | 17 | Cindy Parlow | 5150.01005 1–0 | 5550.05005 5–0 | Friendly |
| goal 12 | 2003-09-07 | home | San Jose | Mexico | 30. on 61' (off Lilly) | 1 of 1 | 85 | penalty | 5550.05005 5–0 | 5550.05005 5–0 | Friendly |
| goal 13 | 2004-02-27 | neutral | Heredia |  Haiti | Start | 1 of 1 | 12 | Cindy Parlow | 5150.01005 1–0 | 5850.08005 8–0 | Olympic qualifier |
| goal 14 | 2004-03-03 | away | San Jose | Costa Rica | Start | 1 of 1 | 5 | Kristine Lilly | 5150.01005 1–0 | 5450.04005 4–0 | Olympic qualifier |
| goal 15 | 2004-08-01 | home | East Hartford |  China | 72. off 72' (on Tarpley) | 1 of 1 | 14 | Mia Hamm | 5150.01005 1–0 | 5250.03005 3–1 | Friendly |
| goal 16 | 2004-10-10 | home | Cincinnati |  New Zealand | Start | 1 of 1 | 51 | unassisted | 5350.03005 3–0 | 5650.06005 6–0 | Friendly |
| goal 17 | 2004-12-08 | home | Carson | Mexico | 75. off 75' (on Hucles) | 1 of 2 | 8 | Mia Hamm | 5150.01005 1–0 | 5550.05005 5–0 | Friendly |
| goal 18 | 2 of 2 | 66 | Kristine Lilly | 5550.05005 5–0 | |||||||
| goal 19 | 2005-07-10 | home | Portland |  Ukraine | 64. off 64' (on Lloyd) | 1 of 1 | 48 | Kristine Lilly | 5350.03005 3–0 | 5750.07005 7–0 | Friendly |
| goal 20 | 2006-03-13 | neutral | Faro |  France | 70. off 70' (on Miller) | 1 of 1 | 49 | Heather O'Reilly | 5250.02005 2–0 | 5350.04005 4–1 | Algarve Cup: Group B |
| goal 21 | 2006-08-27 | home | Chicago | China | 88. off 88' (on Hucles) | 1 of 1 | 59 | penalty | 5150.02005 2–1 | 5350.04005 4–1 | Friendly |
Assists made in international matches
Wagner is among the top ten players of the United States women's national soccer team in providing assists. Wagner provided more assists than goals which is not unusual for a midfielder; however, a ratio of 42 assists to 21 goals is unmatched by any other player in the top ten assist providers of the United States women's national soccer team.
Assist | Date | N | Home away neutral | Location | Opponent | Lineup | Min | Goal scorer | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| assist 1 | 2000-01-07 | 0 | neutral | Melbourne |  Czech Republic | 45. off 46' (on O'Reilly) | 83 | Veronica Zepeda | 5850.08005 8–0 | 5750.08005 8–1 | Australia Cup |
| assist 2 | 2000-07-07 | 1 | home | Central Islip | Italy | Start | 91+ | Caroline Putz | 5350.04005 4–1 | 5350.04005 4–1 | Friendly |
| assist 3 | 2002-01-12 | 1 | home | Charleston | Mexico | 30. on 61' (off Foudy) | 65 | Danielle Fotopoulos | 5450.04005 4–0 | 5750.07005 7–0 | Friendly |
| assist 4 | 2002-03-03 | 0 | neutral | Ferreiras |  England | Start | 59 | Shannon MacMillan | 5150.01005 1–0 | 5250.02005 2–0 | Algarve Cup: Group B |
| assist 5 | 75 | Kelly Wilson | 5250.02005 2–0 | ||||||||
| assist 6 | 2002-07-21 | 0 | home | Blaine |  Norway | Start | 70 | Tiffeny Milbrett | 5250.02005 2–0 | 5450.04005 4–0 | Friendly |
| assist 7 | 2002-09-29 | 1 | home | Uniondale | Russia | 45. on 46' (off Parlow ) | 59 | Mia Hamm | 5350.03005 3–0 | 5450.05005 5–1 | Nike U.S. Cup |
| assist 8 | 62 | Mia Hamm | 5450.04005 4–0 | ||||||||
| assist 9 | 2002-11-02 | 0 | home | Seattle |  Panama | 45. off 46' (on Foudy) | 3 | Tiffeny Milbrett | 5150.01005 1–0 | 5950.09005 9–0 | World Cup qualifier: Group A |
| assist 10 | 6 | Tiffeny Milbrett | 5250.02005 2–0 | ||||||||
| assist 11 | 22 | Tiffeny Milbrett | 5650.06005 6–0 | ||||||||
| assist 12 | 2002-11-06 | 0 | home | Seattle | Costa Rica | Start | 90 | Kristine Lilly | 5750.07005 7–0 | 5750.07005 7–0 | World Cup qualifier: semifinal |
| assist 13 | 2002-11-09 | 0 | home | Pasadena | Canada | Start | 94 | Mia Hamm | 5150.02005 2–1 | 5150.02005 2–1 | World Cup qualifier: final |
| assist 14 | 2003-01-23 | 1 | neutral | Yiwu | Norway | 3. on 88' (off Hawkins) | 24 | Thori Bryan | 5150.01005 1–0 | 5250.03005 3–1 | Four Nations Tournament |
| assist 15 | 64 | Tiffeny Milbrett | 5150.02005 2–1 | ||||||||
| assist 16 | 87 | Heather O'Reilly | 5250.03005 3–1 | ||||||||
| assist 17 | 2003-02-16 | 0 | home | Charleston | Iceland | 74. off 74' (on Kluegel) | 3 | Mia Hamm | 5150.01005 1–0 | 5150.01005 1–0 | Friendly |
| assist 18 | 2003-04-26 | 0 | home | Washington | Canada | Start | 55 | Shannon MacMillan | 5350.04005 4–1 | 5550.06005 6–1 | Friendly |
| assist 19 | 78 | Shannon MacMillan | 5450.05005 5–1 | ||||||||
| assist 20 | 2003-09-01 | 1 | home | Carson | Costa Rica | 45. off 46' (on Hamm) | 17 | Abby Wambach | 5250.02005 2–0 | 5550.05005 5–0 | Friendly |
| assist 21 | 2003-11-02 | 0 | home | Dallas | Mexico | Start | 18 | Cindy Parlow | 5150.01005 1–0 | 5250.03005 3–1 | Friendly |
| assist 22 | 2004-02-25 | 0 | home | San Jose | Costa Rica | 45. on 46' (off Tarpley) | 81 | Shannon Boxx | 5750.07005 7–0 | 5550.05005 5–0 | Olympic qualifier |
| assist 23 | 2004-06-06 | 0 | home | Louisville | Japan | 45. on 46' (off Tarpley) | 59 | Abby Wambach | 5050.01005 1–1 | 5050.01005 1–1 | Friendly |
| assist 24 | 2004-09-25 | 0 | home | Rochester | Iceland | 45. on 46' (off Tarpley) | 42 | Abby Wambach | 5250.02005 2–0 | 5150.04005 4–3 | Friendly |
| assist 25 | 2004-10-10 | 0 | home | Cincinnati | New Zealand | Start | 66 | Cindy Parlow | 5550.05005 5–0 | 5650.06005 6–0 | Friendly |
| assist 26 | 2004-10-16 | 0 | home | Kansas City | Mexico | Start | 36 | Angela Hucles | 5150.01005 1–0 | 5150.01005 1–0 | Friendly |
| assist 27 | 2004-11-06 | 0 | home | Philadelphia |  Denmark | 45. off 46' (on Hucles) | 48 | Abby Wambach | 5050.01005 1–1 | 4850.01005 1–3 | Friendly |
| assist 28 | 2005-03-09 | 0 | neutral | Ferreiras | France | 23. off 68' (on Hucles) | 20 | Christie Welsh | 5150.01005 1–0 | 5150.01005 1–0 | Algarve Cup: Group B |
| assist 29 | 2005-03-13 | 0 | neutral | Santo Antonio | Denmark | 45. off 46' (on Tarpley) | 15 | Abby Wambach | 5250.02005 2–0 | 5450.04005 4–0 | Algarve Cup: Group B |
| assist 30 | 2005-03-15 | 0 | neutral | Faro | Denmark | 75. off 75' (on Hucles) | 23 | Christie Welsh | 5150.01005 1–0 | 5150.01005 1–0 | Algarve Cup: Final |
| assist 31 | 2005-07-10 | 0 | home | Portland | Ukraine | 27. off 64' (on Lloyd) | 57 | Tiffeny Milbrett | 5050.01005 1–1 | 5750.07005 7–0 | Friendly |
| assist 32 | 2005-10-23 | 0 | home | Charleston | Mexico | 45. off 46' (on Lloyd) | 40 | Abby Wambach | 5350.03005 3–0 | 5350.03005 3–0 | Friendly |
| assist 33 | 2006-01-18 | 0 | neutral | Guangzhou | Norway | 88. off 88' (on Lloyd) | 85 | Abby Wambach | 5250.03005 3–1 | 5250.03005 3–1 | Four Nations Tournament |
| assist 34 | 2006-07-23 | 0 | home | San Diego |  Ireland | Start | 74 | Natasha Kai | 5450.04005 4–0 | 5550.05005 5–0 | Friendly |
| assist 35 | 2006-09-13 | 0 | home | Rochester | Mexico | Start | 22 | Lindsay Tarpley | 5050.01005 1–1 | 5350.03005 3–0 | friendly |
| assist 36 | 2006-10-01 | 0 | home | Carson |  Chinese Taipei | 45. off 46' (on Lloyd) | 27 | Lindsay Tarpley | 5450.04005 4–0 | 6050.10005 10–0 | friendly |
| assist 37 | 2006-10-08 | 0 | home | Richmond | Iceland | 23. off 68' (on Hucles) | 34 | Abby Wambach | 5150.01005 1–0 | 5150.02005 2–1 | friendly |
| assist 38 | 2006-11-04 | 0 | away | Seoul |  Korea Republic | 27. off 64' (on Hucles) | 68 | Kristine Lilly | 5150.01005 1–0 | 5150.01005 1–0 | Peace Queen Cup: Final |
| assist 39 | 2007-05-12 | 0 | home | Frisco | Canada | 19. on 72' (off Chalupny) | 73 | Heather O'Reilly | 5350.05005 5–2 | 5350.05005 5–2 | Friendly |
| assist 40 | 2007-10-13 | 0 | home | St. Louis | Mexico | 48. | 57 | Abby Wambach | 5150.02005 2–1 | 5450.05005 5–1 | Friendly |
| assist 41 | 2008-06-15 | 0 | neutral | Suwon | Australia | 45. off 46' (on Lloyd) | 77 | Abby Wambach | 5250.02005 2–0 | 5150.02005 2–1 | Peace Queen Cup: Group B |
| assist 42 | 2008-11-01 | 0 | home | Richmond | Korea Republic | 45. on 46' (off Lloyd) | 48 | Lindsay Tarpley | 5350.03005 3–0 | 5250.03005 3–1 | Friendly |
| NOTE: N = number of goals scored by Aly Wagner in the match | |||||||||||
Media career
Wagner has worked for Fox Sports, CBS Sports, and ESPN as a soccer analyst. She worked as a Fox Sports match analyst during the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup, and became the first woman to call a FIFA Men's World Cup game on U.S. television by serving as the analyst alongside Derek Rae for Iran's 1–0 win against Morocco on June 15, 2018. She was also part of the Fox Sports broadcast team for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. CBS Sports named Wagner as the host of its 2022 National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) coverage series "Groundwork".
Sports businesses
Wagner is an owner of soccer club Queensboro FC, which fields teams in USL Championship and USL W League. She is also a founding owner, co-chair, and alternate league board representative for the NWSL expansion club awarded to the San Francisco Bay Area in 2023. Wagner had helped organize a group of former USWNT players to lobby the NWSL for a team, and was credited with convincing Sixth Street Partners CEO Alan Waxman to have the fund lead investment in the bid.
Personal life
In December 2006, Wagner married Adam Eyre, a former soccer player at Santa Clara University who played briefly for the New England Revolution of Major League Soccer. Wagner gave birth to triplet boys in August 2013 and a daughter in December 2015.