Danielle Slaton facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Danielle Slaton

Slaton at the Cerro Porteño stadium in Asunción, Paraguay, wearing the jersey of the Paraguay national football team.
Personal information
Full name	Danielle Victoria Slaton
Date of birth	(1980-06-10) June 10, 1980 (age 45)
Place of birth	San Jose, California, U.S.
Height	5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)
Position(s)	Defender
Youth career
	Central Valley Mercury
College career
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1998–2001	Santa Clara Broncos
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2002–2003	Carolina Courage
2005	Lyon
International career
1999–2003	United States	43	(1)
Medal record Women's soccer Representing  United States Olympic Games Silver 2000 Sydney Team competition
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Danielle Victoria Slaton (born June 10, 1980) is a retired American professional soccer player. She played as a defender. Danielle was a member of the United States women's national soccer team for five years. She also played for the Carolina Courage and the French club Olympique Lyonnais. After her playing career, she became a soccer analyst. She currently works for MLS Season Pass, Fox Sports, and the Pac-12 Network. In 2017, she was honored by being inducted into the San Jose Sports Hall of Fame.

Early Life and High School Soccer

Danielle Slaton was born in San Jose, California. She grew up playing soccer and showed great talent from a young age. She went to Presentation High School in San Jose. There, she led her high school soccer team to three Central Coast Section Championship games. She was recognized as a top player every year. She also earned a scholarship and graduated with excellent grades.

Club Soccer Success

Before college, Slaton played club soccer for the Central Valley Mercury team. She helped her team win three national championships in a row. These wins happened in 1996, 1997, and 1998.

College Career at Santa Clara University

From 1998 to 2001, Slaton played college soccer for the Santa Clara Broncos. She was a starter for all four years. She was also a team captain and was named an All-America defender three times. In her final year, she helped the Broncos win the 2001 NCAA Championship. She was named the Defensive MVP of the NCAA College Cup. Danielle also earned many other awards during her time at Santa Clara. She graduated from Santa Clara University with high honors.

Professional Playing Career

Danielle Slaton had a successful career playing professional soccer.

Playing for Club Teams

In 2002, Danielle Slaton was the very first player chosen in the draft for the Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA). She joined the Carolina Courage team. She helped her team win the WUSA Championship that year. She was also named the league's Defender of the Year. In 2005, Slaton played for Olympique Lyonnais in France. She was a starting defender for this top French team.

Playing for the United States National Team

Slaton was a key member of the United States women's national soccer team for five years, from 2000 to 2005. She helped the team win a silver medal at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia. She was also part of the team that finished third in the 2003 World Cup. Her first game for the U.S. National Team was in February 1999. She scored her first goal for the team in January 2000. At the 2000 Olympics, she was the youngest player on the U.S. team.

Life After Playing Soccer

Coaching Roles

After her playing career, Slaton also spent some time coaching. In 2005, she was an assistant coach at Evergreen Valley High School in San Jose, California. She helped the team achieve its first county tournament win. She also coached for Capital Area Soccer in North Carolina. In 2006, Slaton joined the coaching staff at Northwestern University as an assistant coach.

Broadcasting Career

Danielle Slaton has become a well-known soccer analyst. In 2010, she started working for the Big Ten Network. In 2014, she became a sports analyst for Fox Soccer. She covered major tournaments like the 2014 CONCACAF Women's Championship and the 2015 Algarve Cup. She also worked for ESPN Chicago and Comcast SportsNet Chicago. In 2016, Slaton became an analyst for San Jose Earthquakes games. She also worked as a soccer analyst for the Pac-12 Network. In 2019, she was a match analyst for Fox Sports during the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup in France. In 2023, she joined Apple TV as a commentator for MLS Season Pass.

Other Important Work

Danielle Slaton has also been involved in other important activities. In 2010, she traveled to Paraguay as a SportsUnited Sports Envoy. She led soccer clinics for many young girls and the Paraguay Women's National Team. Slaton has been a member of the Athlete Council for U.S. Soccer. She also helped choose the new head coach for the U.S. Women's National Team in 2012. She is currently on the National Advisory Board for the Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA). She helps teach coaches, parents, and young athletes about positive sportsmanship. Slaton is also on the Board of Directors for the Bay Area Women's Sports Initiative (BAWSI).

Personal Life

Danielle Slaton lives in the Bay Area of California.