Michaela Abam facts for kids
Abam with Real Betis in 2019
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Michaela-Batya Bisi Abam | ||
| Date of birth | 12 June 1997 | ||
| Place of birth | Houston, Texas, United States | ||
| Height | 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
|
Current team
|
Deportivo Toluca | ||
| Number | 22 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Texas Rush | |||
| College career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2014–2017 | West Virginia Mountaineers | 95 | (42) |
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2018 | Sky Blue FC | 4 | (0) |
| 2018–2019 | Paris FC | 10 | (1) |
| 2019–2020 | Real Betis | 20 | (3) |
| 2021–2022 | Houston Dash | 19 | (1) |
| 2023 | Linköping FC | 15 | (2) |
| 2024– | Deportivo Toluca | 21 | (5) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2013 | United States U17 | ||
| 2018– | Cameroon | 6 | (3) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 3 May 2023 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 21:30, 17 July 2022 (UTC) |
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Michaela-Batya Bisi Abam (born June 12, 1997) is a professional footballer. She was born in America but plays for the Cameroon national team. Michaela plays as a midfielder for Liga MX Femenil team Deportivo Toluca.
She has played for many teams around the world. These include Houston Dash and Sky Blue FC in the USA. She also played for Real Betis in Spain and Paris FC in France. Before becoming a pro, she played for West Virginia University.
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Growing Up: Michaela Abam's Early Life
Michaela Abam was born in Houston, Texas. She went to Harmony Science Academy High School. As a young player, she played youth soccer for Texas Rush. This club later became part of the Houston Dynamo/Dash Youth Academy.
College Soccer Star
Michaela played an amazing 95 games for the West Virginia Mountaineers. This is a school record! During her college career, she scored 42 goals and made 16 assists.
In 2016, she scored the only goal in a big game. This goal helped her team win 1–0 against the University of North Carolina. It led WVU to their first-ever College Cup final.
Playing for Professional Clubs
Michaela Abam has played for several professional soccer clubs. She has played in the United States, France, Spain, and Sweden.
First Steps: Sky Blue FC
In 2018, Sky Blue FC chose Michaela as the 4th player picked in the 2018 NWSL College Draft. She joined the team's main roster for the 2018 season. Michaela played in four games for Sky Blue FC.
Playing in France: Paris FC
On August 1, 2018, Michaela signed a one-year contract with Paris FC. This team plays in France's top league, Division 1 Féminine. She played in 10 league matches and scored one goal for the team.
Adventures in Spain: Real Betis
Michaela moved to Spain on August 7, 2019. She signed a one-year contract with Real Betis. This team plays in the Spanish Primera División. She played in 15 league games and scored three goals. The season was stopped because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In September 2020, she scored three goals in one game, which is called a hat-trick. This happened in a pre-season cup game. She played five more league games for Real Betis before leaving the club.
Back Home: Houston Dash
In August 2021, Michaela signed with the Houston Dash in the NWSL. This was special because she was the first player signed by the Dash who had played for their youth club. Her first game for the Dash was on August 13, 2021. She scored a goal that tied the game 2–2 against the Washington Spirit.
The Dash announced that Michaela left the club on March 20, 2023.
New Team in Sweden: Linköping FC
On April 4, 2023, Michaela joined Linköping FC, a club in Sweden's top league, Damallsvenskan.
Current Club: Deportivo Toluca
Michaela now plays for Deportivo Toluca in Mexico. She continues her professional soccer journey there.
Playing for Her Country: Cameroon
Michaela Abam made her first appearance for the Cameroon national team on November 12, 2018. It was a friendly game against Zambia, and Cameroon won 7–0. Michaela scored two goals in that game!
She was chosen to play in the 2018 Africa Women Cup of Nations. However, she could not play due to issues with her Cameroonian passport. In May 2019, she was named to the team for the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup.
Awards and Achievements
Michaela Abam has earned several awards during her soccer career.
West Virginia Mountaineers
- Big 12 Conference women's soccer tournament: She helped her college team win this tournament in 2014 and 2016.
Individual Awards
- Big 12 Conference Offensive Player of the Year: She was named the best offensive player in the Big 12 Conference in 2016.
