Stella Spitzer

Last updated

Stella Spitzer
Personal information
Date of birth (2010-04-04) April 4, 2010 (age 15)
Height 5 ft 4 in (1.63 m)
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
Carolina Ascent
Number 70
Youth career
202?–2024 Solar SC
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2024 Sioux City Falls
2024– Carolina Ascent 2 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of May 31, 2025

Stella Spitzer (born April 4, 2010) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a forward for USL Super League club Carolina Ascent.

Contents

Early life

Spitzer grew up in the Columbus suburb of Lewis Center, Ohio, the daughter of Alison, a teacher, and Joel, an attorney. [1] She began playing soccer when she was three, joining a recreational league and then a local club team. [1] When she was ten, her family moved to Dallas, Texas, so she could play for the ECNL club Solar SC, where she competed against girls several age groups up and boys her age. [1] At age 14, she played for Sioux Falls City in the amateur Women's Premier Soccer League (WPSL) as preparation for making the jump to the professional game. [2] She also signed contracts with Nike and Wasserman. [3]

Club career

USL Super League club Carolina Ascent announced on June 21, 2024, that Spitzer had joined the club on an academy contract (allowing her to retain college eligibility) ahead of the league's inaugural season. [4] Head coach Philip Poole said of her: "The potential is there, the ingredients, the appetite, mindset, competitiveness is all there". [1] The 14-year-old became the USL Super League's youngest player when she made her debut on October 19, 2024, entering a 2–0 win against Brooklyn FC in stoppage time. [5] After the game, Poole said that "Stella's 99.9 percent going to miss out on college altogether. She's already at the professional level". [6] Spitzer made one more appearance over the rest of the season for the Players' Shield–winning Ascent. [7]

On July 25, 2025, the Ascent announced that the club had signed Spitzer to her first professional contract, a multi-year deal, which made the 15-year-old the youngest professional player in the league. [8]

International career

Spitzer was called into identification camp with the United States under-14 team in 2024 and training camp with the under-15 team in 2025. [9] [10]

Honors and awards

Carolina Ascent

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Zietlow, Alex (November 1, 2024). "Carolina Ascent FC player with big dreams just made her pro debut. She's only 14". The Charlotte Observer . Archived from the original on May 7, 2025. Retrieved July 26, 2025.
  2. Seamer, Cooper (July 23, 2024). "Stella Spitzer made her mark as youngest player with Sioux Falls City FC and in WPSL". Dakota News Now . Retrieved July 26, 2025.
  3. Trent, Tyler (June 21, 2024). "Carolina Ascent FC signs 14-year-old US Youth National Team player Stella Spitzer". Topbin90. Retrieved July 26, 2025.
  4. "14-Year-Old Phenom Stella Spitzer Making the Move to USL; Signs USL Academy Contract with Carolina Ascent FC". Carolina Ascent FC. June 21, 2024. Retrieved July 26, 2025.
  5. Tucker, Luke (October 23, 2024). "14-year-old soccer phenom makes history, debuts with Carolina Ascent". WBTV . Retrieved July 26, 2025.
  6. "At 14, Carolina Ascent player becomes youngest to take pitch in league history". Queen City News. October 23, 2024. Retrieved July 26, 2025.
  7. "Player Stats". USL Super League . Retrieved July 26, 2025.
  8. "15-Year-Old Stella Spitzer Becomes Youngest Pro in the Gainbridge Super League".
  9. "Eighty Players Come Together in Atlanta for First Girls' U-14 National Identification Camp of 2024". United States Soccer Federation. March 19, 2024. Retrieved July 26, 2025.
  10. "U.S. Under-16 and Under-15 Girls' National Teams Will Hold Concurrent Training Camp at Dignity Health Sports Park". United States Soccer Federation. July 18, 2025. Retrieved July 26, 2025.
  11. "Carolina Ascent claims 2024/25 USL Super League Players' Shield". USL Super League. May 17, 2025. Retrieved May 19, 2025.