Cheyna Matthews

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Cheyna Matthews

| image = Cheyna Matthews.jpg

| caption = Matthews with Jamaica in 2019

| fullname = Cheyna Lee Matthews{{Cite web|url=http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sports/menzies-expects-vigorous-competition-as-girlz-seek-spots-in-france-squad_155055|title=GIRLZ AT WORK|publisher=Jamaica Observer|date=January 19, 2019|accessdate=April 26, 2019|archive-date=23 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211023221115/https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sports/menzies-expects-vigorous-competition-as-girlz-seek-spots-in-france-squad_155055|url-status=dead}}

| birth_name = Cheyna Lee Williams{{cite web|url=http://www.vucommodores.com/sports/w-soccer/mtt/cheyna_williams_799372.html|title=Cheyna Williams – Soccer|publisher=Vanderbilt University Athletics|accessdate=April 26, 2019|archive-date=February 24, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180224052925/http://www.vucommodores.com/sports/w-soccer/mtt/cheyna_williams_799372.html|url-status=dead}}

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1993|11|10|df=y}}

| birth_place = Lynn, Massachusetts, U.S.

| height = {{height|m=1.75}}{{cite web|url=https://seminoles.com/sports/soccer/roster/season/2015-16/cheyna-williams/|title=cheyna williams|date=July 24, 2017|publisher=Seminoles.com|accessdate=April 26, 2019|archive-date=27 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211027182731/https://seminoles.com/sports/soccer/roster/season/2015-16/cheyna-williams/|url-status=dead}}

| position = Forward{{cite web|url=https://washingtonspirit.com/team-member/cheyna-matthews/|title=Cheyna Matthews|publisher=Washington Spirit|accessdate=April 26, 2019|archive-date=28 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211028164446/https://washingtonspirit.com/team-member/cheyna-matthews/|url-status=dead}}

| currentclub =

| clubnumber =

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs1 =

| collegeyears1 = 2012–2013

| college1 = Vanderbilt Commodores

| collegecaps1 = 35

| collegegoals1 = 22

| collegeyears2 = 2014–2015

| college2 = Florida State Seminoles

| collegecaps2 = 51

| collegegoals2 = 24

| years1 = 2016–2020

| clubs1 = Washington Spirit

| caps1 = 55

| goals1 = 11

| years2 = 2021–2022

| clubs2 = Racing Louisville

| caps2 = 17

| goals2 = 1

| years3 = 2023

| clubs3 = Chicago Red Stars

| caps3 = 14

| goals3 = 1

| nationalyears1 = 2015

| nationalteam1 = United States U23

| nationalcaps1 = 2

| nationalgoals1 = 0

| nationalyears2 = 2019–2023

| nationalteam2 = Jamaica

| nationalcaps2 = 18

| nationalgoals2 = 0

| medaltemplates =

| club-update = 16 October 2023

| nationalteam-update = 16 October 2023

}}

Cheyna Lee Matthews ({{nee|Williams}}; born 10 November 1993) is a former professional footballer who played as a forward. Born in the United States, she represented Jamaica internationally.

College career

=Vanderbilt=

In 2012, Williams attended Vanderbilt University, where she made 17 appearances, scored six goals and registered six assists her freshman year. Building on a successful season, she started all 18 games her sophomore year, scoring 16 goals and registering five assists. Her performance in 2013 named her First-Team All-SEC.

=Florida State=

In 2014, Williams transferred to Florida State University, where she would continue her form. She made 24 starts (26 appearances) and helped the Seminoles win their first NCAA National Championship in program history. Williams would finish her season year with an additional 25 games played and scoring 10 goals.

Club career

=Washington Spirit (2016–2020)=

Matthews was drafted by Washington Spirit in the 1st round of the 2016 NWSL College Draft. She signed with the Spirit in April 2016.{{cite web|url=http://washingtonspirit.com/pro/washington-spirit-signs-forwards-cheyna-williams-and-cali-farquharson/|title=Washington Spirit Signs Forwards Cheyna Williams and Cali Farquharson|publisher=Washington Spirit|date=April 16, 2016|accessdate=February 23, 2018}} In her rookie season, Matthews played in 17 regular season games, 8 starts, totaling 779 minutes and scored three goals. The Georgia native scored her first professional goal on 31 July 2016 against Sky Blue FC. The team went on to make its first-ever NWSL Championship appearance, ultimately losing on penalties to Western New York Flash. Matthews dressed but served as an unused substitute.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/soccer-insider/wp/2016/10/09/washington-spirit-loses-nwsl-championship-on-penalty-kicks/|title=Washington Spirit loses NWSL championship on penalty kicks|author=Steven Goff|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=October 9, 2016|accessdate=February 23, 2018}}

The Spirit would struggle in the 2017 season but Matthews became a regular contributor making 21 appearances and scoring 5 goals (tied for second on the team).

Matthews sat out the 2018 season due to pregnancy.{{cite web|url=https://www.vavel.com/en-us/soccer/2018/02/24/nwsl/884048-washington-spirit-whitney-church-estelle-johnson-cheyna-williams-matthews.html |title=Washington Spirit re-sign 2; Cheyna Matthews out for 2018 |author=Rachel Gaylor |publisher=Vavel |date=February 24, 2018 |accessdate=April 1, 2020}}

Ahead of the 2020 season, the Spirit announced that Matthews would be taking a paid leave of absence to focus on her family situation, notably the potential for her husband, Jordan Matthews, to relocate within the NFL.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2020/03/09/washington-spirit-player-takes-paid-leave-absence-spend-more-time-with-family/ |title=Washington Spirit player takes paid leave of absence to spend more time with family |author=Steven Goff |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=March 9, 2020 |accessdate=April 1, 2020}} The paid leave was anticipated to last until May of the year and stipulated that Matthews could continue her career elsewhere, if necessary.

In October 2020, Matthews was placed on the NWSL Re-Entry Wire by the Spirit.{{cite web |url=https://www.nwslsoccer.com/news/article/eight-nwsl-players-available-on-the-re-entry-wire-2 |title=Eight NWSL Players Available on the Re-Entry Wire |date=October 29, 2020 |access-date=8 January 2021 |archive-date=14 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220714203129/https://www.nwslsoccer.com/news/article/eight-nwsl-players-available-on-the-re-entry-wire-2 |url-status=dead }}

=Racing Louisville FC (2021–2022)=

In November 2020, Matthews was selected off the NWSL Re-Entry Wire by Racing Louisville FC.{{cite web |url=https://www.nwslsoccer.com/news/article/racing-louisville-fc-acquires-cheyna-matthews-off-re-entry-wire |title=Racing Louisville FC Acquires Cheyna Matthews Off Re-Entry Wire |date=November 2, 2020 |access-date=8 January 2021 |archive-date=14 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220714203130/https://www.nwslsoccer.com/news/article/racing-louisville-fc-acquires-cheyna-matthews-off-re-entry-wire |url-status=dead }}

=Chicago Red Stars=

She signed with Chicago Red Stars in March 2023.{{Cite web|url=https://chicagoredstars.com/first-team/chicago-red-stars-sign-cheyna-matthews-and-sami-feller/|title=Chicago Red Stars Sign Cheyna Matthews and Sami Feller|first=Emmanuel|last=Salazar|date=25 March 2023}} On October 13, 2023, Matthews announced her retirement from professional football.{{Cite web |date=2023-10-13 |title=Red Stars Forward, Cheyna Matthews, To Retire Following October 15 Match |url=https://chicagoredstars.com/first-team/chicago-red-stars-forward-cheyna-matthews-to-retire-following-october-15-match/ |access-date=2023-10-13 |website=chicagoredstars.com}}

International career

Matthews represented the United States at under–23 level in 2015. She was also eligible to play for Jamaica through her mother, who was born in Portland Parish.{{Cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/womens/womensworldcup/france2019/news/cheyna-matthews-jamaica-s-super-mom|title=Cheyna Matthews, Jamaica's super mom|website=FIFA|date=17 June 2019|accessdate=10 December 2021}} In January 2019, she was called up by the Reggae Girlz for the first time, joining the team in a training camp to prepare the first FIFA Women's World Cup appearance in Jamaica history.{{cite news |last1=De Souza |first1=Ana |title=January Activities for ConcacafW |url=https://www.futbolacepodcast.com/blog/january-activites-for-concacafw |accessdate=January 14, 2019 |publisher=Fútbol Ace |date=January 10, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190114210741/https://www.futbolacepodcast.com/blog/january-activites-for-concacafw |archive-date=January 14, 2019 |url-status=dead }} She made her debut in a 1–0 friendly win against Chile on 28 February 2019.

Matthews was selected for Jamaica's 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup squad. She made her World Cup debut during the team's first group stage match against Brazil in Grenoble.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2019/jun/09/brazil-v-jamaica-womens-world-cup-live|title=Brazil 3–0 Jamaica: Women's World Cup 2019 – as it happened|last=Miller|first=Nick|date=June 9, 2019|work=The Guardian|access-date=June 9, 2019|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}

Personal life

Matthews married San Francisco 49ers wide-receiver Jordan Matthews in February 2018 having met while both attended Vanderbilt University.{{cite web|url=http://buffalonews.com/2018/02/20/bills-jordan-matthews-marries-chenya-williams/|title=Bills WR Jordan Matthews marries soccer star Cheyna Williams|author=Qina Liu|website=buffalonews.com|date=February 20, 2018|accessdate=February 23, 2018}}{{cite web |last1=Pease |first1=Joshua |title=Pro athletes Jordan, Cheyna Matthews building Godly marriage amid 'organized chaos' |url=https://sportsspectrum.com/sport/football/2019/08/01/pro-athletes-jordan-cheyna-matthews-building-godly-marriage-amid-organized-chaos/ |website=Sports Spectrum |date=August 2019 |accessdate=January 25, 2020}} The couple have two sons together, Josiah and Lionel.{{Cite web|url=https://www.whas11.com/article/sports/racing-louisville-fc-cheyna-matthews-motherhood-soccer/417-1744b494-3f85-4446-817c-86d8a19aac6a|title = Racing Louisville FC's Cheyna Matthews balances motherhood with pro soccer career|date = September 15, 2021}} Matthews is a Christian.{{cite web |title=Going To The Source – Cheyna Matthews |url=https://theincrease.com/going-to-the-source-cheyna-matthews/ |website=The Increase |accessdate=January 25, 2020 |archive-date=9 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709190052/https://theincrease.com/going-to-the-source-cheyna-matthews/ |url-status=dead }}

In March 2022, Matthews announced they were expecting a third son.{{cite web | url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CbQUqHWJQyB/ | title=Cheyna (Williams) Matthews on Instagram}}