Ryan Gareis

Last updated

Ryan Gareis
Ryan Gareis (Apr 2025) 16.jpg
Gareis with the Houston Dash in 2025
Personal information
Full name Ryan Melissa Gareis
Date of birth (1998-11-13) November 13, 1998 (age 27)
Place of birth Naperville, Illinois
Height 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)
Position Forward
Team information
Current team
 Chicago Stars
Youth career
Sockers FC
College career
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2017–2021 South Carolina Gamecocks 100 (15)
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2022–2025 Houston Dash 47 (1)
2026– Chicago Stars 0 (0)
International career
2013 United States U15
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 23:54, October 21, 2025 (UTC)

Ryan Melissa Gareis (born November 13, 1998) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a forward for Chicago Stars FC of the National Women's Soccer League. She played college soccer for the South Carolina Gamecocks before being selected in the 2022 NWSL Draft by the Houston Dash.

Contents

Early life

Gareis is originally from Naperville, Illinois. [1] She attended Neuqua Valley High School, where she scored the most goals for the team her freshman year. She was a member of Sockers FC and played in the Elite Clubs National League (ECNL) and won U.S. Club Soccer's National Championship in 2012 & 2013.

In 2013, Gareis attended a U15 Girls' U.S. Youth National Team Training Camp. Gareis was a member of Illinois' Olympic Development Program (ODP) in 2010 and 2014. Gareis played for the Illinois ODP team when they played in the National Championships in 2014.

College career

Gareis played college soccer at South Carolina from 2017 to 2021. She was named to the SEC All-Freshman Team after her rookie year. She went on to score 15 goals in exactly 100 games across her five-season college career. [2]

Club career

Houston Dash

In December 2021, Gareis was selected by the Houston Dash in the fourth round of the 2022 NWSL Draft. [3] On February 18, 2022, Gareis signed a two-year contract with Houston. [4] She made 20 appearances for the Dash in the 2022 season, and was named the club's Young Player of the Year. [5] In January 2023, she signed a contract extension with Houston. [6]

Gareis scored her first NWSL goal on October 18, 2025, coming off the bench to score the lone goal in Houston's 1–0 win against the Kansas City Current that ending the Current's 17-game unbeaten streak. [7] At the end of 2025, Gareis left Houston as a free agent. [8]

Chicago Stars

On December 3, 2025, the Chicago Stars announced that Gareis had signed a three-year contract with the club through 2028. [9]

International career

She attended training camp with the United States under-15 team in 2013. [10]

Personal life

She and Pat Connaughton announced their relationship in June 2023. [11] In January 2024, they announced Gareis was pregnant. [12] They got engaged in February 2024. [13] Their son was born in May 2024. [14]

Career statistics

Club

As of October 18, 2025
ClubSeasonLeagueCup [a] Playoffs [b] Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Houston Dash 2022 NWSL 1505000200
2023 12030—150
2024 50——50
2025 151——151
Career total4718000551
  1. ↑ Includes the NWSL Challenge Cup
  2. ↑ Includes NWSL Playoffs

Honors

South Carolina Gamecocks

Individual

References

  1. ↑ "Naperville's Ryan Gareis embraces home away from home with NWSL's Houston Dash: 'I've completely fallen in love'". Chicago Tribune . August 10, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Ryan Gareis". June 22, 2018.
  3. ↑ "Houston Dash select forward Ryan Gareis from South Carolina in NWSL Draft | Houston Dynamo".
  4. ↑ "Houston Dash FW Ryan Gareis signs two-year contract | Houston Dynamo".
  5. ↑ "Houston Dash announce 2022 Team Awards | Houston Dynamo".
  6. ↑ "Houston Dash forward Ryan Gareis signs contract extension | Houston Dynamo".
  7. ↑ "Houston Dash Snap Kansas City Current 17-Match Unbeaten Streak". Houston Dash FC. October 18, 2025. Retrieved October 25, 2025.
  8. ↑ "NWSLPA Releases List of 2026 Free Agents as Free Agency Window Opens". NWSL Players Association. Retrieved December 3, 2025.
  9. ↑ "Chicago Stars FC Signs Forward and Naperville Native, Ryan Gareis". Chicago Stars FC. December 3, 2025. Retrieved December 4, 2025.
  10. ↑ "U15 GNT to Hold Training Camp at the US Soccer National Training Center - U.S. Soccer". August 7, 2013. Archived from the original on December 16, 2013.
  11. ↑ @patconnaughton; (June 13, 2023). "And if you don't know, now you know 🤞🏼" – via Instagram.
  12. ↑ @ryangareis; (January 2, 2024). "Life is so good.. adding a mini 24 this '24 🩵" – via Instagram.
  13. ↑ "Milwaukee Bucks' Pat Connaughton engaged to Houston Dash's Ryan Gareis".
  14. ↑ @ryangareis; (May 6, 2024). "Crew Leo Connaughton 5.3.2024 🩵 We could not possibly love you more big guy!!!" – via Instagram.
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