Full name Chioma Grace Ubogagu 2007–2010 Coppell HS Position Forward ?-2010 D'Feeters Height 1.7 m | Playing position Role Soccer player Place of birth London, England Name Chioma Ubogagu | |
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Date of birth (1992-09-10) September 10, 1992 (age 23) | ||
Arsenal ladies chioma ubogagu on signing for arsenal
Chioma Grace Ubogagu (born September 10, 1992) is a British-born American soccer forward who currently plays for Orlando Pride of National Women's Soccer League, and most recently played for Houston Dash, and the United States U-23 women's national team. Ubagagu played her collegiate soccer for Stanford University, and represented the United States Under-20 team and won the 2012 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup.
Contents
- Arsenal ladies chioma ubogagu on signing for arsenal
- U 20 wnt vs canada chioma ubogagu goal march 11 2012
- Early life and career
- Arsenal Ladies
- Houston Dash
- International career
- Personal life
- References
U 20 wnt vs canada chioma ubogagu goal march 11 2012
Early life and career
Ubogagu was born in London, where her parents, mother Tina a nurse and father Aloy a social worker, had moved from Nigeria seeking job opportunities. At age 3, her parents divorced and she moved with her mother and older brother to Coppell, Texas a suburb in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex.
Ubogagu led her club team, D'Feeters, to two Texas-North State Cup titles, a U.S. Youth Soccer Association Region II championship and a 2010 third-place U-17 national finish, and led Coppell High School to the 2009 Texas 5A state title. She was also named 2010 Gatorade Texas Player of the Year, all-America three times by ESPN RISE and twice each by the NSCAA and Parade. In addition, she was all All-Area selection by Dallas Morning News, all four years of her high school career.
Ubogagu came to Stanford as the #3-ranked recruit in the nation by Top Drawer Soccer. During her freshman year, she won the Pac-12 Freshman of the Year in 2011 and helped the Cardinal win their first Women's College Cup, making the all-tournament team in the process. Stanford returned to the final in 2012 and to the semifinal in 2014. She finished her college career with 27 goals in 89 total appearances, made the All-Pac-12 team all four seasons, earning first-team honors in 2012 and 2014.
Arsenal Ladies
In January 2015, National Women's Soccer League's Sky Blue FC selected Ubogagu with the 28th pick of the 2015 NWSL College Draft, although coach Jim Gabarra acknowledged she was in negotiations with an FA WSL club. In February 2015, Ubogagu signed with Arsenal, the club she'd supported as a child, and her British birth made it easier for her to acquire a United Kingdom work permit.
Ubogagu made her professional debut on April 3, 2015, scoring a goal in a 1–1 draw against Notts County.
Houston Dash
Arsenal released Ubogagu having reached the end of her contract in November 2015. She finished her season with seven goals in 21 appearances. Subsequently, the Houston Dash acquired the rights to Ubogagu from the Sky Blue FC in exchange for picks in the 2016 and 2017 college drafts. The trade gave the Dash an opportunity to sign her before the start of the NWSL season in March 2016.
Ubogagu was named NWSL Player of the Week in week 4 of the 2016 season for her one goal and one assist performance to lead Houston to a 2–1 victory over FC Kansas City
International career
Ubogagu has represented the United States at youth levels, including U-18, U-20, and U-23 teams. With the U-20, she won the 2012 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup, appearing in all six games and scoring once, and the 2012 CONCACAF Women's U-20 Championship, where she scored the winning goal in the final, and scored six goals in a stretch of eight games at one point in 2012.
Because of her parents and her place of birth, Ubogagu is eligible to represent Nigeria, England, or the United States at the senior level.
Personal life
Her grandfather Austin Eneuke played for former Nigeria and Tottenham Hotspur. She became an Arsenal fan watching the North London derby, despite her father urging her to support Tottenham.
Her name Chioma means "Good God" in the Igbo language, spoken primarily by the Igbo people in southeastern Nigeria.