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Tobin Heath

Heath with the United States women's national soccer team in September 2021

Personal information

Full name

Tobin Powell Heath

Date of birth

May 29, 1988 (age 37)

Place of birth

Morristown, New Jersey, U.S.

Height

5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)

Position(s)

Winger / Forward

College career

Years

Team

Apps

(Gls)

2006–2009

North Carolina Tar Heels

(19)

Senior career*

Years

Team

Apps

(Gls)

2004–2006

New Jersey Wildcats

(1)

2007

Hudson Valley Quickstrike Lady Blues

(5)

2009

Pali Blues

(1)

2010

Atlanta Beat

(0)

2011

Sky Blue FC

(0)

2012

New York Fury

(0)

2013–2014

Paris Saint-Germain

(4)

2013–2020

Portland Thorns

(12)

2020–2021

Manchester United

(4)

2021–2022

Arsenal

(2)

2022

OL Reign

(1)

International career^‡

2008–2021

United States

181

(36)

Medal record

Olympics

Representing United States
FIFA Women's World Cup
Winner	2015 Canada
Winner	2019 France
Runner-up	2011 Germany
Gold	2008 Beijing
Gold	2012 London
Bronze	2020 Tokyo
Pan American Games
Silver	2007 Rio de Janeiro

*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of July 17, 2022
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of October 26, 2021

Tobin Powell Heath (born May 29, 1988) is a famous American former professional soccer player. She was known for playing as a forward and midfielder. Tobin Heath played for the U.S. National Team.

She won many big awards, including gold medals at the 2008 Beijing and 2012 London Summer Olympics. She also helped her team win the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup and 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup. The United States Soccer Federation called her "perhaps the USA's most skillful player." She was named U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year in 2016.

Tobin Heath won two NWSL Championships with the Portland Thorns team. She also played for big clubs like Manchester United and Arsenal in England. In 2019, she started a lifestyle brand called RE—INC with other soccer players. She also co-hosts a podcast called The RE—CAP Show. Tobin Heath announced her retirement from soccer in July 2025.

Early Life and Soccer Start

Tobin Heath was born in Morristown, New Jersey. She grew up in Basking Ridge, New Jersey. Her parents are Jeff and Cindy Heath. She has a younger brother, Jeffrey, and two older sisters, Perry and Katie.

Tobin started playing soccer when she was only four years old. She played at a YMCA. She has said that her Christian faith is very important to her. She is also very close to her family.

High School Soccer Career

Heath went to Ridge High School in Basking Ridge. She played soccer there for three years. She was also part of the PDA Wildcats club team that won a national championship in 2003.

Experts ranked her as the second-best new player in the country in 2006. She was also named to the Parade Magazine All-America team in 2005.

Playing for North Carolina Tar Heels

Heath after a championship game in 2006

Tobin Heath decided to go to the University of North Carolina (UNC). She joined the team in 2006. In her first year, she helped the Tar Heels win the national championship. She played in 23 games, scoring four goals and helping with nine others.

In her second year, she scored two goals and had five assists. She was named to important All-American and All-ACC teams. As a junior, she scored eight goals and had eight assists. This helped UNC win another NCAA title.

In her final year at UNC, she was involved in fifteen goals. She scored five and assisted ten. The team won the NCAA semi-final and championship games by 1–0. She was a top player and was almost named the best college soccer player.

Overall, Heath helped UNC win three NCAA titles (2006, 2008, 2009). Her coach, Anson Dorrance, noted that she loved to trick opposing players by kicking the ball through their legs.

Professional Club Career

Tobin Heath played for several professional soccer clubs. She played in the U.S., France, and England.

Early Years in USL W-League

From 2004 to 2006, Heath played for the New Jersey Wildcats. She helped them win the USL W-League Championship in 2005. They also won their division several times.

In 2007, she played for the Hudson Valley Quickstrike Lady Blues. In 2009, she joined the Pali Blues in California. Her team won the W-League Championship that year.

Women's Professional Soccer (2010–2011)

In 2010, Tobin Heath was the very first player chosen in the 2010 WPS Draft. She was picked by the Atlanta Beat. She got injured early in the season and missed most of it.

Later, she was traded to Sky Blue FC. She played twelve games for them.

Playing for Paris Saint-Germain (2013–2014)

Heath playing for PSG in 2013

In 2013, Heath signed a contract with Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in France. She scored five goals in 12 games for the club. She returned to PSG for a second time from September 2013 to June 2014.

Time with Portland Thorns FC (2013–2020)

Heath with the Thorns in 2016

In 2013, Heath joined the Portland Thorns FC in the new NWSL. She helped the Thorns win the 2013 NWSL Championship. She scored the winning goal from a free kick. She was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the championship game.

In 2016, Heath had a great season. She made five assists in her first five games. She broke the NWSL record for assists in a regular season with 10. She was also named the team's captain when Christine Sinclair was injured.

Heath missed most of the 2017 season due to a back injury. She returned at the end of the season and helped her team win the NWSL Championship again.

In 2018, she had ankle surgery. She returned to play and scored 7 goals and had 7 assists. She was nominated for NWSL Most Valuable Player.

In 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Heath chose not to play in the NWSL Challenge Cup. In November 2020, her rights were traded to Racing Louisville FC.

Playing in England: Manchester United and Arsenal

On September 9, 2020, Heath signed a one-year contract with Manchester United in England. She made her debut in October and scored her first goal soon after. In November 2020, she was named the WSL Player of the Month.

She was also named to the FIFA FIFPro Women's World11 in December 2020. Heath's season ended early in April 2021 due to a knee injury. She left Manchester United in June 2021.

On September 3, 2021, Heath signed with Arsenal. She played her first game for them later that month. In April 2022, she left Arsenal early due to a hamstring injury.

Final Club: OL Reign (2022)

On June 16, 2022, Heath returned to the NWSL and signed with OL Reign. She played a few matches but had knee surgery in September. Her contract was not renewed at the end of the season.

International Career

Tobin Heath played for the U.S. national teams at different age levels.

Youth National Teams

She played for the U-16 and U-17 teams. She was a key player at the 2006 FIFA U-20 Women's World Championship in Russia. She played 24 games for the U-20 team in 2006, scoring five goals. She also won a silver medal with the USA U-20 team at the 2007 Pan American Games.

Senior National Team Debut (2008)

Heath first played for the senior national team (USWNT) in January 2008. She was only 20 years old when she was chosen for the 2008 Summer Olympics. She played three games and helped the U.S. win the gold medal. She scored her first international goal against China in 2008.

2011 FIFA Women's World Cup

Heath played in her first FIFA Women's World Cup in 2011 in Germany. She played in four games. In the final, the game ended in a 2–2 tie and went to penalty kicks. Heath took a penalty, but it was saved, and the U.S. team lost.

2012 London Olympics Gold

Heath was part of the 2012 U.S. Olympic team. She played in all six matches and had three assists. She helped the U.S. win another gold medal.

2015 FIFA Women's World Cup Victory

Heath was a regular starter for the U.S. team at the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada. In the final, she scored a goal in the 54th minute. The U.S. won the World Cup by defeating Japan 5–2.

Heath (center) celebrating the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup win at the victory parade in New York City, July 2015

2016 Rio Olympics and Player of the Year

Heath helped the U.S. team qualify for the 2016 Summer Olympics. She played in three games and had two assists. The U.S. team was knocked out in the quarter-finals.

In 2016, Heath played 20 games for the U.S., scoring 6 goals and making 8 assists. She was named the 2016 U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year.

Later International Career

After injuries in 2017, Heath returned to the national team in 2018. She scored the winning goal against China. She also scored 4 goals at the 2018 CONCACAF Women's Championship, helping the U.S. qualify for the 2019 World Cup. She was named to the Best XI for that championship.

In May 2019, Heath was chosen for the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup squad. She started in six of the seven matches. The United States successfully defended their title, winning the World Cup again.

Honors and Awards

Tobin Heath has won many awards and championships throughout her career:

University of North Carolina

NCAA Women's Soccer Champions: 2006, 2008, 2009

Portland Thorns

NWSL Championship: 2013, 2017
NWSL Shield: 2016

OL Reign

NWSL Shield: 2022
The Women's Cup: 2022

United States National Team

FIFA Women's World Cup: 2015, 2019 (Runner-up: 2011)
Olympic Gold Medal: 2008, 2012
Olympic Bronze Medal: 2020
CONCACAF Women's Championship: 2014, 2018
CONCACAF Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament: 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020
Algarve Cup: 2008, 2011, 2013, 2015
Four Nations Tournament: 2008, 2011
She Believes Cup: 2016, 2020
Tournament of Nations: 2018

Individual Awards

FIFA FIFPro Women's World11: 2020
U.S. Soccer Female Athlete of the Year: 2016
NWSL Best XI: 2016, 2018, 2019
NWSL Championship Most Valuable Player: 2013
FA Women's Super League Player of the Month: November 2020
U.S. Soccer Young Female Athlete of the Year: 2009
IFFHS CONCACAF Woman Team of the Decade 2011–2020

Personal Life and Other Ventures

Tobin Heath's first name, Tobin, comes from her great-grandmother's last name. Besides soccer, she enjoys playing other sports like tennis and surfing. She also loves being outdoors.

Tobin Heath is married to fellow soccer player Christen Press. They were teammates on the U.S. National Team and at Manchester United.

In 2019, Heath co-founded a company called RE–INC. She started it with Christen Press, Megan Rapinoe, and Meghan Klingenberg. During the 2023 World Cup, Tobin Heath and Christen Press hosted their own show called the RE-CAP Show.

Heath and Press are also Global Ambassadors for Grassroot Soccer. This organization uses soccer to teach young people about health. Heath has visited their programs in South Africa and Zambia.