Boyds, Md. (Feb. 28, 2019) – The Washington Spirit has signed forward/defender Paige Nielsen ahead of the 2019 NWSL season. Per league and team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Nielsen has previously played professionally in the NWSL, and abroad in Australia and South Korea. She was originally drafted with the 25th pick in the 2016 NWSL College Draft by the Seattle Reign, for whom she made two appearances.

Since then, Nielsen has played for the Western Sydney Wanderers of the Australian W-League and Suwon FC in South Korea, for whom she made 43 appearances and scored 13 goals. Most recently, Nielsen was a member of the W-League’s Canberra United.

Prior to going pro, Nielsen played four years of college soccer at the University of North Carolina. She helped the Tar Heels win the NCAA National Championship as a freshman in 2012, and went on to finish her college career with 13 goals and seven assists, including four game-winning scores.

Transaction: Washington Spirit signs forward/defender Paige Nielsen

Paige Nielsen

Position: Forward/Defender

Height: 5-5

Date of Birth: Oct. 14, 1993

Hometown: Lincoln, Nebraska

Last Club: Canberra United