Diana Matheson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Diana Matheson

Diana Matheson in 2024
Personal information
Full name	Diana Beverly Matheson
Date of birth	(1984-04-06) April 6, 1984 (age 41)
Place of birth	Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
Height	1.53 m (5 ft 0 in)
Playing position	Midfielder
Youth career
	Oakville SC
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2003	Toronto Inferno
2004–2006	Ottawa Fury
2008–2010	Team Strømmen	32	(11)
2013–2016	Washington Spirit	67	(23)
2017	Seattle Reign	0	(0)
2018–2020	Utah Royals	21	(2)
2021	Kansas City	0	(0)
National team‡
2003–2020	Canada	206	(19)
Honours Women's soccer Representing  Canada Olympic Games Bronze 2012 London Team Bronze 2016 Rio de Janeiro Team Pan American Games Bronze 2007 Rio de Janeiro Team Gold 2011 Guadalajara Team
Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 17 July 2020. † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 10 March 2020

Diana Beverly Matheson (born April 6, 1984) is a Canadian former professional soccer player. She played for the Canada national team from 2003 to 2020. She also played for many professional women's teams during her career.

Diana is famous for scoring the goal that won Canada a bronze medal. This happened in the 92nd minute against France at the 2012 Summer Olympics. She also won another bronze medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics. With the national team, she won a gold medal at the 2011 Pan American Games.

Early Life and Youth Soccer

Diana Matheson was born in Mississauga, Ontario. She went to White Oaks Secondary School in Oakville, Ontario. There, she was recognized for being great at both sports and school.

From 1999 to 2002, Diana played for the Ontario provincial team. They won the national championship in 2001. In 2002, she was the captain of this team. She also played for the Oakville SC women's team. With them, she won the Ontario Cup in 2002.

College Years at Princeton University

From 2004 to 2007, Diana studied economics at Princeton University in Princeton, New Jersey. She was a star player for the Princeton Tigers women's soccer team.

In 2007, she was named the Ivy League Player of the Year. The next year, she was Princeton Women's Athlete of the Year. She was a top player from her first year. She earned many awards for her skills on the field. Even when she missed games to play for the Canadian national team, she was a key player. She helped her team a lot with her goals and assists.

Professional Club Career

Playing in Norway

Diana played for Team Strømmen in Oslo, Norway, starting in 2008. Her team finished second in their league and in the Cup competition. She played with them until 2010.

Washington Spirit

In 2013, Diana joined the Washington Spirit. This was a new team in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). She played her first game for the Spirit on April 15, 2013. She scored her first NWSL goal soon after.

In 2013, she was chosen as one of the best midfielders in the NWSL. She helped the Spirit reach the playoffs for the first time in 2014. She scored eight goals and had six assists that season.

Even with injuries and playing in the 2015 World Cup, she scored three goals in just nine games in 2015. In 2016, she scored four goals. Diana holds the record for most goals (23) and assists (12) for the Washington Spirit. In 2016, the Spirit made it to the NWSL Championship game. They lost in a penalty shootout.

Seattle Reign and Utah Royals

In 2017, Diana was traded to the Seattle Reign. However, she tore a ligament in her knee while training with the Canadian team. This injury meant she missed the entire 2017 season. She never played a game for Seattle.

In 2018, she was traded to the Utah Royals. She played in 21 games and scored two goals in 2018. In 2019, she had another foot injury while with the national team. This injury needed surgery, and she missed the 2019 season. She retired from soccer in July 2021.

International Career with Canada

Matheson playing for Canada in 2011

Diana Matheson is known for her speed and skill, even though she is not very tall. She made her first appearance for the Canadian national team in March 2003.

She played in the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup. She also played in her first Olympic Games in 2008. Canada reached the quarterfinals but lost to the United States.

Diana played in her second World Cup in 2011. At the 2011 Pan American Games, she helped Canada win the gold medal. They beat Brazil in a penalty shootout. Diana scored the first penalty for Canada.

In 2012, Diana was part of Canada's Olympic team again. She played every minute of all six matches. In the bronze medal game against France, Diana scored the winning goal in the 92nd minute. This goal secured Canada's first-ever medal in women's soccer at the Olympics.

In 2014, Diana tore a ligament in her knee. This made her participation in the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup uncertain. But she recovered in time to join the team. She played in one game, a quarterfinal loss to England.

Diana was named to her third Olympic team in 2016. Canada won another bronze medal at these Olympics. In 2018, she played her 200th game for Canada. In May 2019, an injury kept her from playing in the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup.

Post-Playing Career

After retiring from playing, Diana Matheson started a new project. In December 2022, she and her business partner, Thomas Gilbert, announced plans to create a professional women's soccer league in Canada. This project, called Project 8, aims to launch a new league in 2025. Diana is the CEO of Project 8.

Personal Life

Diana Matheson is married to Anastasia Bucsis.

Honours

Canada

• Summer Olympic Games: Bronze Medal in 2012 (London) and 2016 (Rio de Janeiro)
• Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, 2012
• Pan American Games: Gold Medal in 2011 (Guadalajara) and Bronze Medal in 2007 (Rio de Janeiro)

Images for kids

• 

  Diana Matheson in 2024

• 

  Matheson playing for Canada in 2011