Yael Averbuch West facts for kids
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Averbuch in 2015
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Yael Averbuch West | ||
| Birth name | Yael Friedman Averbuch | ||
| Date of birth | November 3, 1986 | ||
| Place of birth | New York, New York, United States | ||
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | ||
| Position(s) | Defender | ||
| Team information | |||
|
Current team
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Gotham FC (general manager) | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Monclair Kangaroos | |||
| Montclair Mavericks | |||
| Ramapo Wildcats | |||
| College career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2005–2008 | North Carolina Tar Heels | 77 | (26) |
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2002–2004 | New Jersey Lady Stallions | 16 | (3) |
| 2009–2010 | Sky Blue FC | 41 | (1) |
| 2011 | Western New York Flash | 14 | (0) |
| 2012 | WFC Rossiyanka | ||
| 2012–13 | Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC | 30 | (8) |
| 2014 | Washington Spirit | 22 | (1) |
| 2015–2017 | FC Kansas City | 63 | (6) |
| 2018 | Reign FC | 1 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2002 | United States U-16 | ||
| 2003 | United States U-17 | ||
| 2003–2004 | United States U-19 | 15 | (2) |
| United States U-20 | |||
| United States U-21 | |||
| 2008 | United States U-23 | ||
| 2007–2013 | United States | 26 | (1) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2021 | NJ/NY Gotham FC (interim general manager) | ||
| 2021– | Gotham FC (general manager) | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of August 11, 2022 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of November 10, 2013 |
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Yael Averbuch West, born on November 3, 1986, is a former professional soccer player from the United States. She used to lead the National Women's Soccer League Players Association (NWSLPA). Today, she is the general manager for Gotham FC. As a player, she was a defender for teams like Seattle Reign FC in the National Women's Soccer League.
When she played college soccer at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, she was named the best player in the country by some sports groups. Yael was picked early in the 2009 WPS Draft by her home state team, Sky Blue FC. She also played for Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC in Sweden and briefly for WFC Rossiyanka in Russia. Yael won two championships in the WPS league with Sky Blue FC and the Western New York Flash.
Averbuch played for the United States national teams at every age level. She represented the main United States women's national soccer team from 2007 to 2013.
Contents
Early Life and High School Years
Yael Averbuch was born in New York City. Her family is Jewish. She grew up in Montclair, New Jersey. Yael went to Montclair High School and finished in 2005.
She was a top student in high school. Yael focused on playing club soccer instead of high school soccer. She was recognized as an All-American player for several years.
College Soccer at UNC
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Yael played as a center midfielder for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She set a record by starting 105 games in a row. She was a team captain twice. Yael helped her team win two NCAA Women's College Cup titles in 2006 and 2008.
In 2006, Yael was the second-highest scorer for her team. She was named the national player of the year by Soccer Buzz and Top Drawer Soccer. She also set an NCAA record for the fastest goal ever scored. She scored just four seconds into a game against Yale. This happened from a direct kick at midfield to start the game.
Professional Club Career
Starting with New Jersey Lady Stallions
Yael Averbuch began her professional journey with the New Jersey Lady Stallions. She played for them from 2002 to 2004. At only 14 years old, she was the youngest player to ever play in the W-League at that time.
Playing for Sky Blue FC
In 2009, Yael was chosen by Sky Blue FC in the WPS Draft. This was her home state team. She helped them win the 2009 WPS Championship. In 2010, she continued to play for Sky Blue FC.
Winning with Western New York Flash
In 2011, Averbuch joined the Western New York Flash. She played in 14 games for them. She helped her team win the 2011 WPS Championship. Yael scored the winning penalty kick in the final game.
Time in Europe
After the WPS league stopped playing, Yael went to Russia. She joined WFC Rossiyanka for a short time in 2012. She played in two games for them in the UEFA Champions League.
Later in 2012, Yael signed with Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC in Sweden. She scored 7 goals in 16 games. Her team won the 2012 Svenska Cupen. In 2013, she returned to Göteborg and won the 2013 Svenska Supercupen.
Playing for Washington Spirit
In 2014, Yael joined the Washington Spirit in the National Women's Soccer League. She played in 23 games. The team made it to the NWSL playoffs for the first time. After the NWSL season, she played on loan for Apollon in Cyprus.
Years with FC Kansas City
Yael signed with FC Kansas City in November 2014. She played in 20 games and scored 2 goals. FC Kansas City won the NWSL championship in 2015.
She played for FCKC again in 2016 and 2017. In 2016, she scored 3 goals in 20 games. After the 2017 season, FC Kansas City stopped playing. Yael's contract was moved to the new team, Utah Royals FC.
Yael helped create the National Women's Soccer League Players Association (NWSLPA) in 2017. This group helps protect the rights of NWSL players. She became its president.
Final Season with Seattle Reign
In 2018, Yael was traded to Seattle Reign. She only played in one game that year. She had to stop playing soccer before the 2019 season because of an illness. Yael continued to work with the NWSLPA as its Executive Director.
International Career
Yael Averbuch played for the United States national teams at all youth levels. She started with the U-16 team in 2002. Then she played for the U-17 and U-19 teams. She played in 15 games for the U-19 team and scored two goals. She was part of the U.S. team that finished third in the 2004 FIFA U-19 Women's World Cup. In 2008, she captained the U.S. U-23 team to win a tournament in Sweden.
Yael played her first games for the main United States women's national soccer team in 2007. She played against England and China. In 2010, she played in 10 games and scored her first goal for the team. This goal happened on November 1, 2010, against Costa Rica.
Managerial Career
Leading NJ/NY Gotham FC
On August 3, 2021, Yael Averbuch was named the interim general manager for NJ/NY Gotham FC. This team is part of the National Women's Soccer League. On December 7, 2021, Gotham FC made her the permanent general manager. She helps manage the team and its coaches.
Journalism and Personal Life
Yael Averbuch has written articles for The New York Times. She also writes her own blog.
Yael's younger sister, Shira, also played soccer. She played for Stanford University. Shira also played for Team USA in the 2013 Maccabiah Games in Israel.
In 2016, Yael started Techne Futbol. This is a soccer training app that helps players practice on their own.
On April 27, 2019, Yael married Aaron West. They have a daughter named Aria Adrienne West, who was born on September 29, 2020.
Career Statistics
 United States |
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|---|---|---|
| Year | Apps | Goals |
| 2007 | 2 | 0 |
| 2008 | – | – |
| 2009 | 1 | 0 |
| 2010 | 10 | 1 |
| 2011 | 3 | 0 |
| 2012 | – | – |
| 2013 | 10 | 0 |
| Total | 26 | 1 |
- Scores and results list the United States' goal tally first.
| # | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | November 1, 2010 | Estadio Andrés Quintana Roo, Cancún, Mexico |  Costa Rica |
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2010 CONCACAF Women's Gold Cup |
Honors and Awards
- Set an NCAA record for the fastest goal scored in a game (4 seconds).
- Named a first-team All-American by the Jewish Sports Review in 2006.
- Honored in the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame and Museum in 2007.
- ACC (Atlantic Coast Conference) Scholar-Athlete of the Year for women's soccer in 2007 and 2008.
- Was a finalist for the MAC Hermann Trophy award in 2006.
- Received the NCAA VIII award for athletic, academic, and community achievements.
- Her college jersey number was retired by UNC in 2009.
University of North Carolina
- NCAA Division I Women's Soccer Championship: 2006, 2008
Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC
- Svenska Cupen: 2012
- Svenska Supercupen: 2013
FC Kansas City
- NWSL Championship: 2015
United States
- Algarve Cup: 2010, 2011, 2013
See also
In Spanish: Yael Averbuch para niños
- List of select Jewish football (association; soccer) players
- All-time Sky Blue FC roster
- Fastest goals in association football
- List of University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill alumni
