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Hailing from Dexter, Michigan, Chloe Ricketts joined the Washington Spirit in March 2023 when she became the then-youngest player to ever sign an NWSL contract at just 15 years old. Ricketts joined the NWSL through the League’s Under-18 Entry Mechanism.
On April 15, 2023, Ricketts made her Spirit and NWSL debut as a substitute and later made her first career regular season start on July 8, 2023 against San Diego Wave FC, becoming the second-youngest player to start a match in NWSL history behind Olivia Moultrie. A defining moment for Ricketts came 20 days later when she became the youngest player in NWSL history to score a goal, doing so in a Challenge Cup match versus Gotham FC.
Prior to the Spirit, Ricketts competed for AFC Ann Arbor in 2022 after becoming the youngest player in the youth club’s history at 14. In 2021, Ricketts played with the Boys Ann Arbor Tigers that won the Michigan State Cup and the National League Great Lakes Conference. She also played with the Girls team that advanced to the Elite Clubs National League finals.
We sat down with Chloe this week to get to know her a little better ahead of Sunday’s big match against Arsenal.
Q: Did you play any other sports?
A: Track, because I thought I was pretty fast. I did one track meet, that happened to be AAU Regionals, and I got third place and was disappointed. It turns out track speed is different than soccer speed…
Q: What athletes did you look up to as a kid?
A: Ronaldinho and Neymar Jr. I especially looked up to Ronaldinho because he always looks so free and happy when he plays, and I try to replicate that in my play style!
Q: What is the story behind your jersey number?
A: My coach (Aaron Bryd, Next Level Training) has had a really big impact on my life. The first number in his career was 3, and he ended his career with a 9. So, I chose 39 to honor him.
Q: Who is your favorite musical artist?
A: My favorite artists got to be DeJ Loaf and Brent Faiyaz. I feel like their songs are just a vibe and anyone can vibe with them. They both have slow songs and fast songs. I got into them probably two years ago.
Q: What is your career highlight?
A: Scoring my first NWSL goal! It was my career highlight because my whole family got to be there and be in the moment with me. My little sister was over the moon, she was so happy. I saw her in the crowd with my whole name written on her face. I think this moment is really funny – Lena (Silano) and I still talk about it because I went to jump up in Lena’s arms, and then I didn’t do that because (Ashley) Hatch passed me the ball, so I went in her arms instead. We still laugh about it.
Chloe Ricketts becomes the youngest goal scorer in Spirit history!
pic.twitter.com/7hGAe3UJRn— Washington Spirit (@WashSpirit) July 29, 2023
Q: What was your first job?
A: Soccer player is my first job.
Q: What is your favorite subject in school?
A: Definitely English. I love writing! Kate (Wiesner), who I hear was into journalism, has got to get me into it.
Q: What was your first concert?
A: I’ve never been to a concert. I get headaches, so the loud music is not my thing.
Q: How do you spend your off days?
A: I spend my off day with my dogs. I have two dogs — one was on the Pitchside Pups poster last year and the other one I got pretty recently. I have a Belgian Malinois and a Puli, which is the type of dogs that has dreads and looks like a rug.
Q: How old were you when you started to play soccer?
A: Eight and a half. Maybe nine.
Q: What is your favorite movie?
A: Aquamarine. It’s definitely my favorite movie because I remember watching it with my older sister all the time and thinking I was so cool because I was hanging out with her!
