Justina Gaynor

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Justina Gaynor
Texas vs MSU - NCAA 2024 - 019 (Gaynor).jpg
Gaynor with Michigan State in 2024
Personal information
Full name Justina Gabrielle Gaynor [1]
Date of birth (2001-12-21) December 21, 2001 (age 23) [2]
Height 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Position(s) Defender, midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Lexington SC
Number 18
College career
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2020–2021 Butler Bulldogs 12 (2)
2021–2024 Michigan State Spartans 83 (17)
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2025 Chicago Stars 2 (0)
2025– Lexington SC 0 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of July 8, 2025

Justina Gabrielle Gaynor (born December 21, 2001) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a defender for Lexington SC of the USL Super League. She played college soccer for the Butler Bulldogs and the Michigan State Spartans and was named Big Ten Midfielder of the Year in 2023. She is the sister of soccer player Celia Gaynor.

Contents

Early life

Gaynor grew up in Shelby Township, Michigan, one of three children born to Paul and Rita Gaynor. Her older sister, Celia, played alongside her at Butler and Michigan State. She played soccer and basketball at Notre Dame Preparatory. She played club soccer for Nationals Development Academy, winning three USYS national titles. [3] [4]

College career

Gaynor spent one season with the Butler Bulldogs, playing in the spring after the usual fall season was pushed back due to the COVID-19 pandemic. She started all 12 games and scored 2 goals. [3] She then transferred alongside her sister to the Michigan State Spartans. [5] She appeared in 17 games, starting 11 of them, and scored 2 goals in her first season in East Lansing in 2021. [4] She established herself on the team as a junior in 2022, starting all 23 games, scoring 4 goals with 2 assists, and being named first-team All-Big Ten. Michigan State went undefeated in their Big Ten Conference schedule to win their first-ever outright regular-season title, losing to Penn State in the Big Ten tournament final. [4] [6]

Gaynor started all 22 games in senior season and led the team in outfield minutes in 2023, recording a career-high 6 goals and 12 assists. In the NCAA tournament, she scored from the penalty spot in a 1–0 win against Harvard, which led Michigan State to advance to the third round of the tournament for the first time in program history. She was named first-team All-Big Ten and the Big Ten Midfielder of the Year. [4] [6] In her graduate season in 2024, she played 21 games, starting all but one of them, and scored 5 goals with 6 assists. Michigan State equaled their best NCAA tournament result. Gaynor was named first-team All-Big Ten and third-team All-American, becoming the fourth All-American in program history. [4] [7]

Club career

Chicago Stars

Following a preseason trial as a non-roster invitee, Gaynor signed her first professional contract with Chicago Stars FC on March 12, 2025, signing a one-year deal with an option to extend for another year. Previously a midfielder, she made Chicago's roster as a defender. [8] Two days later, she made her professional debut as a second-half substitute for Camryn Biegalski against the Orlando Pride in the season opener. [9] She made one further appearance, starting against Racing Louisville on March 30, before the Stars announced that she had mutually agreed to terminate her contract on July 1. [10]

Lexington SC

Gaynor signed with USL Super League club Lexington SC on July 8, 2025. [11] She debuted for the club on August 23, coming on as a second-half substitute for Addie McCain in Lexington's season-opening draw with Fort Lauderdale United FC. [12]

Honors and awards

Michigan State Spartans

Individual

References

  1. ↑ "Michigan State University Commencement Spring 2024" (PDF). Michigan State University. p. 41. Retrieved March 12, 2025.
  2. ↑ "Justina Gaynor". National Women's Soccer League . Retrieved March 15, 2025.
  3. 1 2 "Justina Gaynor". Butler Bulldogs . Retrieved March 12, 2025.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "Justina Gaynor". Michigan State Spartans . Retrieved March 12, 2025.
  5. ↑ Everson, Bryan (July 19, 2024). "Former Notre Dame Prep, MSU standout Celia Gaynor ready to shine with Fort Lauderdale United FC". The Oakland Press . Retrieved March 12, 2025.
  6. 1 2 Shubham, Satvik (December 5, 2024). "A grateful goodbye: Justina Gaynor closes final chapter with MSU women's soccer". The State News . Retrieved March 12, 2025.
  7. ↑ "Justina Gaynor Named United Soccer Coaches All-America". Michigan State Spartans. December 6, 2024. Retrieved March 12, 2025.
  8. ↑ Tesmer, Logan (March 12, 2025). "Michigan State University soccer standout Justina Gaynor signs with Chicago Stars FC". CBS News . Retrieved March 12, 2025.
  9. ↑ "Justina Gaynor 2025 Match Logs". FBref.com . Retrieved July 1, 2025.
  10. ↑ "Chicago Stars FC Announces Roster Updates". Chicago Stars FC. July 1, 2025. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
  11. ↑ Lilian, D. "Lexington Sporting Club Signs Justina Gaynor to Gainbridge Super League Roster". LexSporting.com. Lexington SC . Retrieved July 8, 2025.
  12. ↑ "Fort Lauderdale United FC 3–3 Lexington SC". USL Super League. August 23, 2025. Retrieved August 24, 2025.
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