Sarah Griffith

Last updated
Sarah Griffith
NC Courage vs Chicago Red Stars (Jun 2024) 095.jpg
Griffith with the Chicago Red Stars in 2024
Personal information
Full name Sarah Elaine Griffith [1]
Date of birth (1999-04-30) April 30, 1999 (age 26)
Place of birth Naperville, Illinois, United States
Height 5 ft 4 in (1.63 m)
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
 Lexington SC
Number 35
College career
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2017–2021 Purdue Boilermakers 72 (26)
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2022–2025 Chicago Stars [a] 28 (2)
2022–2023 → Newcastle Jets (loan) 11 (4)
2025 → Calgary Wild (loan) 6 (0)
2025– Lexington SC 0 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of July 31, 2025

Sarah Elaine Griffith (born April 30, 1999) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a forward for USL Super League club Lexington SC. She played college soccer for the Purdue Boilermakers before being drafted by the Chicago Red Stars in the third round of the 2022 NWSL Draft.

Contents

Early life

Griffith was a ball girl for the Waubonsie Valley High School girls' soccer team, and later graduated from the school. [2] [3] [4]

College career

Griffith initially committed to play college soccer at Illinois State. She later de-committed [5] and played at Purdue from 2017 to 2021. [6] She scored her first collegiate goal on August 27, 2017, against Indiana State. [7] In 2018, Griffith was diagnosed with spondylolisthesis; she would undergo spinal surgery as she redshirted the 2018 season. [8] [9]

She was named to the All-Big Ten Conference second team for the 2020–21 season. [10] On August 19, 2021, she scored a goal against Kentucky which was featured on SportsCenter , [11] and on August 29, 2021, she recorded a hat-trick against Ball State. [12] For the 2021 season, she was Big Ten Forward of the Year and All-Big Ten first team; [13] she was also named United Soccer Coaches All-America Second Team and set a Purdue record with 16 goals. [14]

As a student at Purdue University, Griffith majored in psychological sciences. [6] [15]

Club career

Chicago Stars

In December 2021, Griffith was selected by the Chicago Red Stars (later named Chicago Stars FC) in the third round of the 2022 NWSL Draft. [2] She made her NWSL regular season debut on April 30, 2022, playing 80 minutes against Racing Louisville FC. [16] She scored her first goal for the club against Orlando Pride on May 22, 2022. On July 10, 2022, she scored against North Carolina Courage in the stoppage time. [17]

Newcastle Jets (loan)

On November 1, 2022, it was announced that Griffith was signed on-loan by Newcastle Jets for the 2022–23 A-League Women season. [18] On November 26, 2022, Griffith scored a hat-trick in a match against Western Sydney Wanderers leading the team to a 4–2 victory. [19] In mid-February 2023, Griffith returned from her loan early to prepare for the 2023 NWSL season. [20]

Calgary Wild (loan)

On March 27, 2025, it was announced that Griffith was being loaned to Calgary Wild FC through the remainder of her contract with Chicago. [21] On April 16, 2025, she started in the league's inaugural game, a 1-0 loss to Vancouver Rise FC. [22]

Lexington SC

Ahead of its second season of play, USL Super League team Lexington SC signed Griffith as a free agent. [23] Griffith debuted for the club on August 23, starting and playing 63 minutes of Lexington's season-opening draw with Fort Lauderdale United FC. [24]

Personal life

Griffith was born to parents Peter and Melissa, and was raised with an older brother, Noah, who played college soccer for Illinois Tech, [25] and a younger brother, Aaron. [5]

Career statistics

As of July 31, 2025
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeaguePlayoffs [b] League Cup [c] OtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Chicago Red Stars 2022 NWSL 1921060—262
2023 60—40—100
2024 60——2 [d] 181
Total3121010021443
Newcastle Jets FC (loan) 2022–23 A-League 114———114
Calgary Wild (loan) 2025 Northern Super League 6000——60
Lexington SC 2025–26 USL Super League 00———00
Career total4861010021617
  1. ↑ Known as Chicago Red Stars until the 2025 season.
  2. ↑ Includes NWSL Playoffs and A-League Women Finals series
  3. ↑ Includes the NWSL Challenge Cup
  4. ↑ Includes the NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup

Honors

Individual [6]

References

  1. ↑ "Hometown Media Degree List – Fall 2021" (XLSX). Purdue University. Archived from the original on July 7, 2022. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
  2. 1 2 "'I gasped so loud it was funny': Waubonsie Valley graduate Sarah Griffith is that ecstatic about being drafted by the Chicago Red Stars". Chicago Tribune. 12 January 2022.
  3. ↑ "Sarah Griffith was a ball girl when Vanessa DiBernardo played at Waubonsie Valley. Now, they're both standouts for Chicago Red Stars". Chicago Tribune. 2 August 2022.
  4. ↑ Cornwell, Justin (June 8, 2021). "Sarah Griffith; Where Are They Now?". NCTV17.org.
  5. 1 2 Reporter, BRENDON GORHAM Staff (15 October 2021). "'Leave no stone unturned'". Purdue Exponent.
  6. 1 2 3 "Sarah Griffith - Soccer". Purdue Boilermakers.
  7. ↑ "Purdue Rolls to 6-0 Win vs. Sycamores". Purdue Boilermakers.
  8. ↑ Sears, Ethan. "'I think I always wanted to keep playing': Sarah Griffith's return from spinal fusion". The Indianapolis Star.
  9. ↑ "Sarah Griffith: Overcoming the Odds". Purdue Boilermakers.
  10. ↑ "Griffith and Walsh Named to All-Big Ten Team". Purdue Boilermakers.
  11. ↑ "Record Crowd Watches Boilermakers Rally". Purdue Boilermakers.
  12. ↑ "Griffith's Hat Trick Fuels Boilermaker Win". Purdue Boilermakers.
  13. ↑ "Griffith Named Forward of the Year, Five Earn All-Big Ten Honors". Purdue Boilermakers.
  14. ↑ "Sarah Griffith Earns All-America Honor". Purdue Boilermakers.
  15. ↑ Brouk, Tim (November 3, 2021). "Purdue soccer captain excels in psychology in the classroom, on the pitch".
  16. ↑ "National Women's Soccer League Official Site | NWSL". www.nwslsoccer.com. Retrieved December 17, 2022.
  17. ↑ "National Women's Soccer League Official Site | NWSL". www.nwslsoccer.com.
  18. ↑ toml (October 31, 2022). "Newcastle Jets sign American Sarah Griffith". Newcastle Jets. Retrieved December 17, 2022.
  19. ↑ Valentine, Renee (November 27, 2022). "Chicago Red Stars forward Sarah Griffith stars with hat-trick as Newcastle Jets beat Western Sydney Wanderers 4-2 in round 2 of 2022-23 A-League Women at Scully Park, Tamworth on November 26". The Newcastle Herald .
  20. ↑ "Newcastle Jets confirm player transfer movement". Newcastle Jets . February 8, 2023. the Club can confirm that discussions with the Chicago Red Stars have resulted in the Jets agreeing to allow Sarah Griffith to return to the US to prepare for the upcoming season after she completes the next two Jets matches against Western United and Perth Glory.
  21. ↑ "Chicago Stars FC Loans Forward Sarah Griffith to Calgary Wild FC | Chicago Stars FC". chicagostars.com. 2025-03-27. Retrieved 2025-05-18.
  22. ↑ "Calgary Wild FC Drop Historic NSL Opener 1-0 to Vancouver Rise FC". Sport Information Resource Centre. April 21, 2025.
  23. ↑ "Lexington Sporting Club Signs Forward Sarah Griffith to Gainbridge Super League Roster". Lexington Sporting Club. Retrieved 2025-08-01.
  24. ↑ "Fort Lauderdale United FC 3–3 Lexington SC". USL Super League. 2025-08-23. Retrieved 2025-08-24.
  25. ↑ "Noah Griffith". Illinois Institute of Technology.
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