Sydney Leroux facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Sydney Leroux

Leroux with Angel City in 2024
Personal information
Full name	Sydney Rae Leroux
Date of birth	(1990-05-07) May 7, 1990 (age 35)
Place of birth	Surrey, British Columbia, Canada
Height	5 ft 7 in
Playing position	Forward
Club information
Current club	Angel City FC
Number	2
Youth career
2002–2004	Coquitlam City Wild
2004–2008	Sereno FC
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2005	Vancouver Whitecaps	3	(0)
2011	Vancouver Whitecaps	11	(11)
2012	Seattle Sounders Women	2	(2)
2013	Boston Breakers	19	(11)
2014	Seattle Reign FC	22	(5)
2015	Western New York Flash	3	(1)
2016–2017	FC Kansas City	23	(6)
2018–2022	Orlando Pride	53	(16)
2022–	Angel City FC	41	(9)
National team‡
2004	Canada U19	2	(0)
2008–2010	United States U20	39	(24)
2011–2017	United States	77	(35)
Honours Olympic Games Gold 2012 London FIFA Women's World Cup Winner 2015 Canada
Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of November 1, 2024. † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of August 3, 2017

Sydney Rae Leroux (/ləˈruː/; born May 7, 1990) is a famous Canadian-American soccer player. She is a World Cup winner and an Olympic gold medalist. Sydney plays as a forward for Angel City FC in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL).

Sydney was born in Canada. Her mother is Canadian and her father is American. She first played for Canadian youth teams. But in 2008, she chose to play for the United States women's national under-20 soccer team. Later, she joined the U.S. senior national team in 2012. Leroux has played over 75 games for the senior national team. She helped the U.S. win gold at the 2012 London Olympics and the 2015 Women's World Cup.

She played college soccer for UCLA Bruins women's soccer. She also played semi-professionally for the Vancouver Whitecaps. Sydney was only 15 when she first played for the Whitecaps, making her their youngest player ever. In 2013, she started her professional career with the Boston Breakers in the NWSL.

Early Life and Soccer Beginnings

Sydney Leroux was born in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada. Her mother, Sandi Leroux, was a Canadian softball player. Her father, Ray Chadwick, was an American professional baseball player. Sydney grew up mainly with her mother.

She played baseball as a child, but soccer became her main sport. In high school, she was a top scorer on her soccer team. She also ran track and field. Sydney played club soccer with Coquitlam City Wild. Her team won Provincial Cup Championships multiple times. In 2003, her amazing goal-scoring helped them win the under-14 national championship.

At 15, Sydney became the youngest player for the Vancouver Whitecaps. She also won a championship with a team from British Columbia at the Canada Games in 2005.

Moving to the United States

Sydney always dreamed of playing for the United States women's national soccer team. To achieve this, she moved to Scottsdale, Arizona when she was 15. She lived with different host families while attending Horizon High School. It was tough being away from her family and friends. But she helped Sereno Soccer Club win state titles in 2007 and 2008. She said it was one of the hardest things she ever did, but it was worth it to chase her dream.

College Soccer Career

Sydney played college soccer for UCLA from 2008 to 2011.

• Freshman Year (2008): She started 18 of 19 games. She scored five goals and had six assists. She was named to the All-Freshman Team in the Pacific-10 Conference.
• Sophomore Year (2009): She led UCLA in scoring with 23 goals and two assists. Her 23 goals tied a new single-season record at UCLA. She was a semi-finalist for the Hermann Trophy, a top award in college soccer. She scored four goals in one game against Boise State.
• Junior Year (2010): She ranked fifth in UCLA history for career points. She scored 13 goals and was named First-team All-Pac-10. She scored four goals in one game against Cal Poly Pomona.
• Senior Year (2011): She led the team in scoring for the third year in a row with 16 goals. She was again a semi-finalist for the Hermann Trophy. She scored two hat tricks (three goals in one game) this season. She finished her college career ranked fourth in UCLA history for points, goals, and game-winning goals.

Professional Club Career

Sydney Leroux playing for Boston Breakers in 2013.

Sydney Leroux has played for several professional soccer clubs.

Early Professional Years

• Vancouver Whitecaps (2005 & 2011): She played for the Whitecaps in the W-League at age 15, making her the youngest player on the team. She returned in 2011 and scored 11 goals, earning the 2011 W-League Rookie of the Year award.
• WPS Draft and Seattle Sounders Women (2012): Sydney was the top pick in the 2012 WPS Draft by the Atlanta Beat. However, the league stopped playing before she could join. She then played for the Seattle Sounders Women with other U.S. national team players like Hope Solo and Alex Morgan. She scored two goals in her two games for the Sounders.

Boston Breakers (2013)

Sydney Leroux playing for Boston Breakers against Washington Spirit.

In 2013, Sydney joined the Boston Breakers for the first season of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL).

• She scored her first goal in the NWSL in the first game, tying the score in the last minute.
• On May 4, she scored the league's first-ever hat trick (three goals in one game) against the Chicago Red Stars. She was named NWSL Player of the Week.
• She finished the season with 11 goals, tying for second-highest in the league.

Seattle Reign FC (2014)

In 2014, Leroux was traded to Seattle Reign FC.

• The Reign had an amazing season, going unbeaten for 16 games in a row.
• They won the NWSL Shield for finishing first in the regular season.
• They reached the championship final but lost. Leroux scored five goals in 22 games that season.

Western New York Flash (2015)

Sydney played only three games for the Western New York Flash in 2015. This was because she was playing in the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup and had an ankle injury. She scored one goal.

FC Kansas City (2016–2017)

In 2016, Leroux was traded to FC Kansas City. She missed the 2016 season because she was pregnant.

• She returned in 2017 and scored a goal in her first game back.
• She played 23 games and scored 6 goals for FCKC.

Orlando Pride (2018–2022)

In 2018, Leroux moved to the Orlando Pride.

• In 2019, she returned to training while six months pregnant.
• She played a game just three months after giving birth to her daughter.
• She signed a new contract to stay with Orlando until at least 2024.

Angel City FC (2022–present)

In June 2022, Sydney joined Angel City FC.

• She had ankle surgery and only played three games in 2022.
• In 2023, she scored her first goal for Angel City after her surgery.
• She scored a fantastic bicycle kick goal and had an assist in a big win against Portland Thorns FC.
• In 2024, she continued to score important goals. She tied for 10th in the NWSL's all-time top scorers.
• She scored the 100th goal in Angel City's history.
• In October 2024, she signed a new contract with Angel City until 2027, saying she plans to finish her career there.

International Career

Sydney Leroux could play for either Canada or the United States because of her parents' nationalities.

Youth National Teams

• At 14, she was the youngest player in the 2004 FIFA U-19 Women's World Championship for Canada.
• She later switched to play for the United States.
• In 2008, she helped the U.S. under-20 team win the 2008 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup. She scored a goal in the final game.
• She is the all-time leading scorer for the U.S. under-20 team with 30 goals.
• In 2012, she was named the U.S. Soccer Young Female Athlete of the Year.

U.S. Senior National Team

Leroux (fourth from left) celebrates with her national teammates after winning first place at the 2012 CONCACAF Olympic Qualifiers.

Sydney Leroux joined the United States senior national team in 2012.

• In her second game, she scored five goals against Guatemala in an Olympic qualifying match. This tied the record for most goals in a single game for the national team.
• In 2012, she set a new team record by scoring 12 goals as a substitute player in one year.

Olympic Gold and World Cup Win

Leroux (left) during a friendly match against China in 2012.

• 2012 London Olympics: Sydney was the youngest player on the U.S. team that won the gold medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. She scored a goal against New Zealand in the quarter-finals.
• 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup: Leroux was part of the U.S. team that won the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup. She played in four games and had an assist in the opening match against Australia.

After the World Cup

After the World Cup, Sydney had ankle surgery in July 2015. This meant she missed the rest of the 2015 NWSL season.

• In January 2016, she announced she was pregnant and missed the entire 2016 NWSL season.
• She returned to the U.S. national team in May 2017 for friendly matches.
• Her first game back for the U.S. was in the 2017 Tournament of Nations against Brazil. This was her first appearance since the 2015 World Cup semi-final.

Personal Life

Sydney Leroux has dual citizenship in Canada and the United States. Her nickname is "Syd the Kid." She has a chihuahua named "Boss Leroux" who is also quite famous on social media.

Sydney married MLS player Dom Dwyer in January 2015. They have two children: a son, Cassius Cruz Dwyer, born in September 2016, and a daughter, Roux James Dwyer, born in June 2019. In August 2021, Sydney announced that she and Dom Dwyer were divorcing. She is currently in a relationship with NBA agent Dave Spahn.

Endorsements

Sydney Leroux has worked with several big brands.

• She has appeared in advertisements for Nike.
• In 2013, she was in a Nike commercial with other famous athletes.
• In 2014, she signed a deal with Nestlé Nesquik.
• She also appeared in a commercial for Beats by Dre.
• She became the first female athlete to endorse the sports drink company BODYARMOR.
• In 2022, she partnered with DIRECTV to promote their partnership with LeagueSide.

Career Statistics

Club

Honors and Awards

Sydney Leroux has won many awards and championships throughout her career:

Seattle Reign FC

• NWSL Shield: 2014 (Award for finishing first in the regular season)

United States National Team

• FIFA Women's World Cup: 2015 (World Champion!)
• Olympic Gold Medal: 2012 (Olympic Champion!)
• CONCACAF Women's Championship: 2014
• CONCACAF Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament: 2012
• Algarve Cup: 2013, 2015

United States U20 National Team

• FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup: 2008
• CONCACAF Women's U-20 Championship: 2010

Individual Awards

• FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup Golden Boot: 2008 (Top Scorer)
• FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup Golden Ball: 2008 (Best Player)
• FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup Bronze Ball: 2010 (Third Best Player)
• CONCACAF Women's U-20 Championship Golden Boot: 2010
• CONCACAF Women's U-20 Championship Golden Ball: 2010
• U.S. Soccer Young Female Athlete of the Year: 2011
• NWSL Best XI: 2013 (Named one of the best 11 players in the league)
• NWSL Second XI: 2021

Images for kids

• 

  Leroux with Angel City FC in 2024

• 

  Sydney Leroux playing for Boston Breakers in 2013.

• 

  Sydney Leroux playing for Boston Breakers against Washington Spirit.

• 

  Leroux (fourth from left) celebrates with her national teammates after winning first place at the 2012 CONCACAF Olympic Qualifiers.

• 

  Leroux (left) during a friendly match against China in 2012.

See also

In Spanish: Sydney Leroux para niños

• List of FIFA Women's World Cup winning players
• List of Olympic medalists in football
• List of UCLA professional athletes