Gabby Kessler

Kessler was born in Texas, but was raised in Peachtree City, Georgia, alongside her older brother Zack. Kessler was an impressive multi sport athlete. During high school she was an excellent two-sport athlete in both basketball and soccer. As a basketball player Kessler was a four-year varsity player who broke the all-time scoring record of McIntosh High School with 2003 points.{{cite web|url=https://mhstrail.org/sports/2013/03/18/gabby-seiler-breaks-school-record-in-basketball/|title=Gabby Seiler breaks school record in basketball|access-date=June 2, 2019}} She was also an excellent soccer player and four year varsity player who made the 2012 NSCAA Girls High School All-America Team and NSCAA Georgia Girls State Player of the Year.{{cite web|url=https://www.socceramerica.com/publications/article/49594/2012-nscaa-girls-high-school-all-america-team.html|title=2012 NSCAA Girls High School All-America Team|date=December 10, 2012 |access-date=June 2, 2019}} She finished her high school career ranked 11th nationally by TopDrawer Soccer.{{cite web|url=https://issuu.com/georgiadogs/docs/2013_soccer_mg|title=Georgia Bulldogs Soccer 2013|date=August 19, 2013 |access-date=June 3, 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://georgiadogs.com/news/2013/2/8/Soccer_Signing_Class_Ranked_No_11_Nationally.aspx|title=SOCCER SIGNING CLASS RANKED NO. 11 NATIONALLY|access-date=June 2, 2019}} Kessler ultimately chose to play soccer in college.

Kessler started her college career at the University of Georgia. During her two years with the Georgia Bulldogs she made 40 appearances and finished with 10 goals and 11 assists. She was named Georgia's Rookie of the Year in 2013. She also made the All-SEC First-Year Honor Roll her freshman year.{{cite web|url=https://floridagators.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=10578|title=Gabby Seiler|access-date=June 3, 2019}} During her sophomore year at Georgia Kessler was named Georgia's Most Valuable player, she was also named to the NSCAA All-South Region second team, the All-SEC First Team, the SEC Academic Honor Roll and was nominated for the MAC Hermann Trophy.{{cite web|url=https://www.redandblack.com/sports/soccer-awards-sophomore-forward-gabby-seiler-wins-mvp/article_34749e9c-650d-11e4-b643-0017a43b2370.html|title=Soccer awards: Sophomore forward Gabby Seiler wins MVP|date=November 5, 2014 |access-date=June 3, 2019}}

After two years at Georgia Kessler opted to transfer to the University of Florida, to join former teammate Savannah Jordan. Due to NCAA transfer rules she was forced to sit out, redshirt, her 2015 season.{{cite web|url=https://www.alligator.org/sports/soccer/former-georgia-soccer-player-now-a-key-component-for-uf/article_2ef0f878-8610-11e6-999f-63664476185e.html|title=Former Georgia soccer player now a key component for UF|access-date=June 3, 2019}} Kessler made her Gators debut in 2016, starting all 23 matches while scoring one goal and providing 2 assists.{{cite web|url=https://floridagators.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=10578&path=soccer|title=Gabby Seiler stats|access-date=June 3, 2019}} Her first year as a Gator saw her pick up NSCAA All-South Region first team, All-SEC first team, SEC All-Tournament, SEC Academic Honor Roll and MAC Hermann Trophy watch list selections. She followed this with a senior year that saw her captain the Gators in 23 games and leading the team with eight assists and six goals. She was once again on the MAC Herman Trophy watch list and was named to the USC All-American third team, USC All-Southeast Region first team, All-SEC first team.{{cite web|url=https://floridagators.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=10578|title=Gabby Seiler Soccer|access-date=June 3, 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://www.alligator.org/sports/article_0257774c-ce85-11e7-a96e-fbc8b12c444f.html|title=Do-it-all midfielder Gabby Seiler leading Gators into Elite Eight|access-date=June 3, 2019}}

Kessler was also selected to play for the Gators women's basketball team for the 2018 season but was unfortunately unable to do so after picking up an injury. She graduated with a bachelor's degree in Telecommunications-Management and a master's degree in Management{{cite web|url=https://floridagators.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=10885|title=Gabby Seiler Basketball|access-date=June 3, 2019}}{{cite web|url=http://www.wruf.com/headlines/2018/01/05/gator-womens-basketball-picks-soccer-american-seiler-walk/|title=Gator Women's Basketball Picks Up Soccer All-American Seiler as Walk-On|date=January 5, 2018 |access-date=June 3, 2019}}

Kessler was selected in the first round, 9th overall, of the 2018 NWSL College Draft by the Portland Thorns.{{cite web|url=http://www.nwslsoccer.com/news/article/watch-live-nwsl-college-draft-thurs-10-a-m-et|title=List: Every draft pick in the 2018 NWSL College Draft|access-date=June 2, 2019|archive-date=May 6, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190506202318/http://www.nwslsoccer.com/news/article/watch-live-nwsl-college-draft-thurs-10-a-m-et|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=https://www.oregonlive.com/portland-thorns/2018/01/portland_thorns_select_midfiel.html|title=Portland Thorns select Sandra Yu, Gabby Seiler and Bella Geist in 2018 NWSL College Draft|date=January 18, 2018 |access-date=June 3, 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://www.timbers.com/post/2018/02/19/thorns-fc-re-sign-seven-players-ahead-2018-nwsl-season|title=Thorns FC re-sign seven players ahead of 2018 NWSL season|access-date=June 3, 2019|archive-date=November 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109033155/https://www.timbers.com/post/2018/02/19/thorns-fc-re-sign-seven-players-ahead-2018-nwsl-season|url-status=dead}} Kessler however missed the totality of the 2018 season due to rehabilitation to her knee.{{cite web|url=https://www.timbers.com/post/2019/04/19/worth-wait-gabby-seiler-already-making-her-mark-thorns-fc|title=Worth the wait: Gabby Seiler already making her mark on Thorns FC|access-date=June 3, 2019|archive-date=June 3, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190603061910/https://www.timbers.com/post/2019/04/19/worth-wait-gabby-seiler-already-making-her-mark-thorns-fc|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=https://www.stumptownfooty.com/2019/5/31/18646958/on-deck-gabby-seiler|title=On Deck: Gabby Seiler|access-date=June 3, 2019|date=May 31, 2019}} However, Mark Parson's confidence in her resulted in her making the 2019 Portland Thorns squad.{{cite web|url=https://www.timbers.com/post/2019/04/12/thorns-fc-announce-2019-season-opening-roster|title=Thorns FC season roster|access-date=June 3, 2019|date=April 12, 2019|archive-date=December 4, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201204205020/https://www.timbers.com/post/2019/04/12/thorns-fc-announce-2019-season-opening-roster|url-status=dead}} She signed in April 2019 and made her debut for the club on April 20 against the Chicago Red Stars.{{cite web|url=https://www.timbers.com/players/gabby-seiler|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190412165010/https://www.timbers.com/players/gabby-seiler|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 12, 2019|title=Thorns FC Gabby Seiler|publisher=Thorns FC|access-date=June 3, 2019}}{{cite web|url=http://www.nwslsoccer.com/players/gabby-seiler|title=Gabby Seiler|publisher=NWSL|access-date=June 3, 2019|archive-date=June 3, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190603061911/http://www.nwslsoccer.com/players/gabby-seiler|url-status=dead}}

On July 18, Kessler scored her first professional goal against the North Carolina Courage on a free kick.{{cite news |last1=Lloyd-Hughes |first1=Theo |title=Three takeaways from Houston Dash's historic 2-1 win over North Carolina Courage |url=https://www.thestriker.com/2021/07/17/houston-dash-2-1-north-carolina-courage-nwsl-first-win |access-date=November 16, 2024 |work=The Striker |date=July 18, 2021}} She retired from professional soccer in January 2022.{{Cite web|url=https://www.houstondynamofc.com/news/houston-dash-midfielder-gabby-kessler-announces-retirement-from-professional-soc|title=Houston Dash midfielder Gabby Kessler announces retirement from professional soccer | Houston Dynamo|website=houstondynamofc}}

Kessler has been called into several United States Women's National Team camps at the U-18, U-19, U-20 and U-23 levels.{{cite web|url=https://villanova.com/news/2011/12/2/Jami_Kranich_Called_to_U_S_U_18_National_Team_Training_Camp.aspx?path=wsoc|title=Jami Kranich Called to U.S. U-18 National Team Training Camp|date=December 2, 2011 |access-date=June 3, 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://calbears.com/news/2016/1/15/210636352.aspx|title=Sam Witteman Named to U.S. U-23 WNT Roster|access-date=June 3, 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://www.soccerwire.com/news/nt/international-women/u-s-u-23-wnt-set-for-back-to-back-training-camps-in-oregon-florida/|title=U.S. U-23 WNT set for back-to-back training camps in Oregon, Florida|access-date=June 3, 2019|archive-date=June 3, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170603082421/http://www.soccerwire.com/news/nt/international-women/u-s-u-23-wnt-set-for-back-to-back-training-camps-in-oregon-florida/|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=https://msuspartans.com/news/2017/3/23/Warner_Selected_to_U23_Women_s_National_Team.aspx|title=Warner Selected to U23 Women's National Team|date=March 23, 2017 |access-date=June 3, 2019}}

She married McClain Kessler on December 18, 2021, and began using her married name Gabby Kessler.https://www.theknot.com/us/gabrielle-seiler-and-mcclain-kessler-dec-2021-59fa4578-b065-4d9c-b03f-d1d110fc0d6c {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2024}}

As of June 3, 2019

{{reflist}}

• [http://www.nwslsoccer.com/players/gabby-seiler NWSL] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190603061911/http://www.nwslsoccer.com/players/gabby-seiler |date=June 3, 2019 }}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20190412165010/https://www.timbers.com/players/gabby-seiler Portland Thorns]
• {{Soccerway|gabby-seiler/604992}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kessler, Gabby}}

Category:1994 births

Category:Living people

Category:Sportspeople from Peachtree City, Georgia

Category:Sportspeople from Fayette County, Georgia

Category:Soccer players from Georgia (U.S. state)

Category:Women's association football defenders

Category:American women's soccer players

Category:Florida Gators women's soccer players

Category:Georgia Bulldogs women's soccer players

Category:Portland Thorns FC draft picks

Category:Portland Thorns FC players

Category:National Women's Soccer League players

Category:Houston Dash players

Category:21st-century American sportswomen