Ali Joins San Diego Wave FC in NWSL
12/17/2021
Senior forward Amirah Ali of Rutgers women's soccer will begin her professional career with the San Diego Wave FC for the 2022 National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) season. The captain was drafted in the 2021 NWSL Draft by Portland Thorns, becoming Rutgers’ eighth draft pick in program history.
In Thursday’s Expansion Draft, the forward was selected by San Diego Wave FC. The 2022 season will mark the inaugural year the club, as Ali joins the debut squad which includes NWSL standout Alex Morgan.
Ali led Rutgers to the 2021 Big Ten Conference Championship, going 10-0 undefeated in league play for the first Big Ten title in program and school history. The captain then guided the Scarlet Knights to the 2021 College Cup, marking RU's second appearance in the Final Four and first since 2015. She became the program’s first four-time All-American, earning the honor for the fourth straight season. The All-Region First Team selection, also the first five-time all-region honoree in RU history, has registered career single-season highs in points (30), goals (12), and assists (6). In the program’s run to the College Cup, the forward has posted three goals, an assist, and a gamewinner.
The Voorhees, New Jersey, native earned all-Big Ten First Team honors for the fourth straight year, earning all-conference honors for the fifth time in her career. Overall, she leads the Rutgers career charts in matches played (100), matches started (99), game-winning goals (17) and golden goals (9). She ranks third on the all-time charts in points (107) and goals (44), as well as eighth in assists (19).
Ali was named candidate for the 2021 MAC Hermann Trophy, awarded to the National Player of the Year. She earned a spot on the list for the third straight year, having been named a semifinalist in 2019 and 2020. Ali adds a fourth All-America nod to a resume of five All-Region, five All-Big Ten, two Big Ten All-Tournament Team, Big Ten All-Freshman Team, and 2017 Big Ten Freshman of the Year accolades.
In the classroom, the criminal justice major is an Academic All-Big Ten and Dean's List honoree. Ali also adds 2020-21 Senior CLASS Award Finalist and First Team Selection and United Soccer Coaches College Player Award of Distinction to her list of achievements.
KNIGHT IN THE NWSL
The 2021 NWSL season featured seven former Scarlet Knights in Taylor Aylmer (Washington Spirit), Kristen Edmonds (Kansas City), Carli Lloyd (Gotham FC), Casey Murphy (NC Courage), Madison Pogarch (Portland Thorns), Erica Skroski (Gotham FC), and Kenie Wright (Gotham FC). Aylmer was crowned a champion with the Washington Spirit, becoming the first Scarlet Knight to claim an NWSL title since the league’s inception in 2013.
