Hershfelt played five seasons for the Clemson Tigers from 2019 to 2023, making 99 appearances and scoring 16 goals and 12 assists. She was named third-team All-ACC in 2020, second-team All-ACC in 2021 and 2022, and first-team All-ACC in 2023.[3][5] In 2023, as a graduate student, she helped lead the Tigers to the ACC tournament final and the NCAA tournament semifinals.[8] During college, she also played in the USL W League for Greenville Liberty and Indy Eleven, the latter league champions in 2023.[9][10]
Club career
The Washington Spirit selected Hershfelt with the 5th overall pick in the 2024 NWSL Draft.[11] The team acquired the pick along with US$250,000 in allocation money by trading Ashley Sanchez to the North Carolina Courage on draft night.[11] She was signed to a three-year contract.[12] She made her professional debut with a start in the season-opening 1–0 loss to the Seattle Reign on March 17.[13] The following week, she scored her first professional goal in a 2–1 home win over Bay FC.[14] She played in 25 league games as a rookie, starting 23, and scored 2 goals.[15] She led all rookies with over 2,000 minutes played, helping the Spirit finish second in the standings.[16] She started all three playoff games.[15] In the semifinals, she scored a stoppage-time equalizer against NJ/NY Gotham FC, heading in Makenna Morris's free kick, as the Spirit advanced on penalties after a 1–1 draw.[17] She played the entire match in the NWSL Championship, losing 1–0 to the Orlando Pride.[18] She was named to the NWSL Best XI Second Team at the end of the season.[19]
Hershfelt began her second season by winning the NWSL Challenge Cup against the Orlando Pride on penalties after a 1–1 draw on March 7, 2025.[20] She sprained her ankle the following week against the Houston Dash and missed seven games before returning against the Utah Royals on May 17.[21] She played in 18 league games, starting 15, as she again helped the Spirit place second in the table.[22] She started all three playoff games.[23] In the quarterfinals, she made a penalty in a 3–1 shootout win after a 1–1 draw with Racing Louisville.[24] Washington advanced to a second consecutive NWSL Championship, losing 1–0 this time to Gotham FC.[25] She injured her leg in the final colliding with Rose Lavelle but returned several minutes later, though with limited capacity, and was unable to stop Lavelle scoring the game-winner.[25] She was subbed out after the goal, but head coach Adrián González said after the game that he should have subbed her out earlier.[26]
International career
Hershfelt was called into training camp with the United States national team in June 2024, her first national team call-up at any level.[27] Later that month she was named as an alternate to the national team for the 2024 Summer Olympics in France.[28] The United States won the gold medal, defeating Brazil 1–0 in the final on a goal from Mallory Swanson;[29] however, Hershfelt did not receive a medal as an alternate.[30]
Hershfelt made her debut for the United States in a 3–1 friendly victory over Iceland on October 24, 2024, replacing midfielder Sam Coffey in the 72nd minute.[31][32]
Style of play
A defensive midfielder, Hershfelt is known for her ability to disrupt play with good anticipation, smart positioning to make interceptions, and hard tackling.[3][33]
Career statistics
Club
As of May 23, 2025
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
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