Emma Sears
{{Short description|American soccer player (born 2001)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Emma Sears
| image = File:USWNT training at 2025 SheBelieves Cup 08.jpg
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption = Sears with the USWNT in 2025
| fullname = Emma C. Sears
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2001|2|23}}
| birth_place = New Brunswick, New Jersey, United States
| height = 5 ft 9 in{{cite web |url=https://www.racingloufc.com/roster/emma-sears/ |title=Emma Sears – Racing Louisville FC | publisher=Racing Louisville FC}}
| position = Forward
| currentclub = Racing Louisville FC
| clubnumber = 13
| youthyears1 =
| youthclubs1 = Ohio Premier
| collegeyears1 = 2019–2023
| college1 = Ohio State Buckeyes
| collegecaps1 = 83
| collegegoals1 = 25
| years1 = 2024–
| clubs1 = Racing Louisville FC
| caps1 = 37
| goals1 = 11
| nationalyears1 = 2024–
| nationalteam1 = United States
| nationalcaps1 = 8
| nationalgoals1 = 1
| club-update = June 8, 2025
| nationalteam-update = July 2, 2025
}}
Emma C. Sears (born February 23, 2001) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a forward for Racing Louisville FC of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) and the United States national team. She played college soccer for the Ohio State Buckeyes and was drafted by Louisville in the second round of the 2024 NWSL Draft.
Early life and college career
Sears was born in New Brunswick, New Jersey,{{cite web |url=https://www.dailyrecord.com/story/sports/soccer/2024/03/13/national-womens-soccer-league-2024-season-list-of-new-jersey-players/72932824007/ |title=Meet the 17 New Jersey Soccer Players in NWSL as 2024 Season Begins | date=March 13, 2024 | website=Daily Record}} and lived in both England and Laguna Beach, California before moving to Dublin, Ohio. Sears attended Dublin Jerome High School where she was a four-year letterwinner and three-year starter for the girls' soccer team.{{Cite news |url=https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/local/dublin-villager/2018/10/09/dublin-jerome-roundup-girls-coach/9604026007/ |title=Dublin Jerome Roundup: Girls Coach Values Sears Twins |date=October 9, 2018 |website=The Columbus Dispatch}} She was named first team All-Ohio after both her junior and senior seasons.{{cite web |url=https://ohiostatebuckeyes.com/sports/womens-soccer/roster/emma-sears/10221 | title=Emma Sears – Women's Soccer – Bio | publisher= Ohio State Buckeyes}} Sears played club soccer for Ohio Premier.
=Ohio State Buckeyes=
Sears attended the Ohio State University and featured in 83 matches for the Buckeyes from 2019 to 2023. She primarily played as a wide forward, but transitioned during her fifth year to a deeper playmaking position.{{cite web |title=Women's Soccer: A Final Year with Buckeyes Helps Prepare Sears for 2024 NWSL Draft |url=https://www.thelantern.com/2024/01/womens-soccer-a-final-year-with-buckeyes-helps-prepare-sears-for-2024-nwsl-draft/ |date=January 3, 2024 |website=The Lantern}} She scored 25 goals, including the game-winner against Bucknell University in extra time in the first round of the 2022 NCAA tournament,{{cite web|title=Women's Soccer: Sears Scores 107th-Minute Winner as No. 6 Buckeyes Beat Bucknell 1-0, Advance to the Second Round of NCAA Tournament |url=https://www.thelantern.com/2022/11/womens-soccer-sears-scores-107th-minute-winner-as-no-6-buckeyes-beat-bucknell-1-0-advance-to-the-second-round-of-ncaa-tournament/ |date=November 12, 2022 |website=The Lantern}} and tallied 15 assists in total for the Buckeyes.{{cite web | url=https://ohiostatebuckeyes.com/sports/womens-soccer/roster/emma-sears/10221 | title=Emma Sears – 2023–24 – Women's Soccer – Stats | publisher=Ohio State Buckeyes}} Sears was a second team All-Big Ten honoree in Spring 2021 and 2022,{{cite web | url=https://bigten.org/news/2021/4/14/big-ten-announces-2020-21-womens-soccer-postseason-honors.aspx | title=Big Ten Announces 2020–21 Women's Soccer Postseason Honors | date=April 14, 2021 | publisher=Big Ten Conference}}{{cite web | url=https://bigten.org/news/2022/10/27/general-big-ten-announces-2022-womens-soccer-postseason-honors.aspx | title=Big Ten Conference Announces 2022 Women's Soccer Postseason Honors| date=October 27, 2022 | publisher=Big Ten Conference}} and a first team All-Big Ten honoree in 2023.{{cite web | url=https://bigten.org/news/2023/10/26/general-big-ten-conference-announces-2023-womens-soccer-postseason-honors.aspx | title= Big Ten Conference Announces 2023 Women's Soccer Postseason Honors| date=October 27, 2023 | publisher=Big Ten Conference}} She graduated with a degree in health science in 2023.{{cite web | url=https://ohiostatebuckeyes.com/news/2024/1/12/womens-soccer-emma-sears-selected-in-2nd-round-of-nwsl-draft | title=Emma Sears Selected in 2nd Round of NWSL Draft | date=January 12, 2024 | publisher=Ohio State Buckeyes}}
Club career
=Racing Louisville=
Sears was selected 28th overall in the second round of the 2024 NWSL Draft by Racing Louisville FC.{{Cite web |title=Breaking Down Racing Louisville's Off-Season Roster Moves After Draft Night |url=https://www.bgn.fm/racing-lou-recap-draft-night-2024/ |date=January 14, 2024|website=Beautiful Game Network}}{{cite web |title=Dublin native selected in 2nd round of National Women’s Soccer League draft |url=https://www.10tv.com/article/sports/soccer/emma-sears-ohio-state-soccer-2nd-round-nwsl-draft/530-2f43967a-389c-4afd-ad58-910e8646eac3 |publisher=10tv |date=January 15, 2024}} She signed a one-year contract with an option for an additional year.{{Cite web |url=https://www.wave3.com/2024/03/04/racing-louisville-signs-ohio-state-standout/ |title=Racing Louisville Signs Ohio State Standout|date=March 4, 2024 |publisher=WAVE}} She made her professional debut as a 66th-minute substitute against the Orlando Pride on the opening matchday on March 16.{{cite news|url=https://www.racingloufc.com/news/2024/03/16/recap-racing-starts-fast-draws-orlando-in-season-opener/|title=Recap: Racing starts fast, draws Orlando in season opener|date=2024-03-16|publisher=Racing Louisville FC|access-date=2024-10-27}} She scored her first professional goal in a 5–1 win over the Utah Royals on April 20.{{cite web |url=https://www.racingloufc.com/news/2024/04/20/recap-racing-soars-past-utah-on-landmark-day/ |title= Recap: Racing Soars Past Utah on Landmark Day |date=April 20, 2024 |publisher=Racing Louisville FC}} She earned her first start for Louisville against the Orlando Pride on May 5.{{cite web |title=Team News: Sears, DiGrande Earn First Racing Starts |url=https://www.racingloufc.com/news/2024/05/05/team-news-emma-sears-first-pro-start-racing-louisville/ |date=May 5, 2024 |publisher= Racing Louisville FC}} Her next two goals for Racing were voted back-to-back NWSL Goals of the Week. She scored the first from a tight angle near the corner flag in a 3–3 draw to the Kansas City Current on May 18; the second set up a 1–0 win over the Chicago Red Stars on May 25.{{cite news|url=https://www.racingloufc.com/news/2024/05/21/sears-wins-nwsl-goal-of-the-week/|title=Sears wins NWSL Goal of the Week|date=2024-05-21|publisher=Racing Louisville FC|access-date=2024-10-27}}{{cite tweet |author=National Women's Soccer League |author-link=National Women's Soccer League |user=NWSL |number=1795909155150328153 |title=And she's done it AGAIN! |language=en}} On May 22, Sears's contract was extended through the 2026 season.{{cite web |title=Standout Rookie Emma Sears Signs New 3-Year Contract with Racing |date=May 22, 2024 |url=https://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/standout-rookie-emma-sears-signs-new-3-year-contract-with-racing/n-6097996 |publisher=Our Sports Central}}
International career
Sears was called up to the United States national team in October 2024 for the team's Olympic gold medal victory tour, her first national call-up at any level.{{cite news|url=https://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2024/10/emma-hayes-names-roster-for-us-womens-national-team-october-friendlies-iceland-argentina|title=Emma Hayes Names U.S. Women's National Team Training Camp Roster, Presented by Jim Beam, for October Friendlies against Iceland and Argentina|date=2024-10-17|publisher=United States Soccer Federation|access-date=2024-10-17}} She earned her first cap as a 55th-minute substitute for Yazmeen Ryan in a 3–1 friendly win over Iceland on October 27, 2024. She assisted Lynn Williams for the USWNT's opening goal and scored herself in the 90+3rd minute, becoming the first player to score and assist on her USWNT debut since Christen Press in 2013.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5877747/2024/10/27/uswnt-iceland-emma-sears-goal-assist/|title=Emma Sears shines in USWNT debut, recording a goal and an assist|date=2024-10-27|last=Yang|first=Steph|access-date=2024-10-27}}{{cite tweet|number=1850681942443806805|author=OptaJack⚽️|author-link=Opta Sports|user=OptaJack|title=1+1 - Emma Sears is the first player ...|access-date=2024-10-27|date=2024-10-27}}
Personal life
Sears has a twin sister, Bronwen, who played collegiate soccer for the Miami RedHawks.{{cite web | url=https://miamiredhawks.com/sports/womens-soccer/roster/bronwen-sears/8471 | title=Bronwen Sears – Women's Soccer – Bio | publisher=Miami Redhawks}} While in college, she dated professional tennis player and fellow Buckeye J.J. Wolf.
Career statistics
=Club=
{{updated|June 8, 2025}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition | |||||||
| rowspan="2" |Club
! rowspan="2" |Season ! colspan="3" |League ! colspan="2" |CupIncludes the NWSL Challenge Cup ! colspan="2" |PlayoffsIncludes NWSL Playoffs ! colspan="2" |Other ! colspan="2" |Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division
!Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals | |||||||
| rowspan="2" |Racing Louisville FC
|2024 | rowspan="2" |NWSL |26 | 5 | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" |—
|1Includes the NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup |0 | 27 | 5 | ||
| 2025
|11 |6 | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" |— |11 |6 | |||||||
| colspan="3" |Career total
!37 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0
!1 !0 | 38 | 11 |
{{reflist|group=lower-alpha}}
=International=
{{updated|match played July 2, 2025}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | |||
| National Team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| rowspan=2|United States
|2024 | 3 | 1 | |
| 2025 | 5 | 0 | |
| colspan=2| Total | 8 | 1 |
==International goals==
:Scores and results list United States's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Sears goal.
{{football international goals keys}}
| class="wikitable collapsible sortable" style="width:100%; font-size:90%;" | |
Goals !Cap !Date !Location !Opponent !data-sort-type="number"|Lineup !data-sort-type="number"|Min !Assist/pass !data-sort-type="number"|Score !data-sort-type="number"|Result !Competition | |
|---|---|
| align=center|1
|align=center|1 |{{hs|USA}}Nashville, Tennessee |{{fbw|ISL}} |{{subin|55|Yazmeen|Ryan}} |90+3' |unassisted |{{center|{{sortfbs|3|1 |
|{{center|{{sortfbs|3|1|||}}}}
|{{fb bg friendly match}}|Friendly
|}
References
{{Reflist}}
= Match reports =
{{Reflist|group=m}}
External links
- {{Soccerway|956970}}
- [https://www.racingloufc.com/roster/emma-sears/ Emma Sears] at Racing Louisville FC
{{Racing Louisville FC squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sears, Emma}}
Category:American women's soccer players
Category:Women's association football forwards
Category:Racing Louisville FC players
Category:Racing Louisville FC draft picks
Category:National Women's Soccer League players
Category:Ohio State Buckeyes women's soccer players
Category:Soccer players from Middlesex County, New Jersey
Category:Sportspeople from New Brunswick, New Jersey