Ashley Sanchez

Ashley Sanchez is an American professional soccer player who competes in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) as an attacking midfielder or left winger for North Carolina Courage. Sanchez earned the Golden Ball at the CONCACAF U-17 Women's Championships and was recognized as the NSCAA Youth Girls All-American Player of the Year and U.S. Soccer Young Female Player of the Year. She became the first American to play in both the FIFA Under-17 and Under-20 World Cups in the same cycle.

During her collegiate career with the UCLA Bruins, Sanchez set the program record for career assists and received first-team All-American honors. In her freshman season, she set the Bruins freshman record with 12 assists and scored three game-winning goals. As a sophomore, she led UCLA in scoring with 10 goals, 15 assists, and 35 points, earning first-team All-West Region and All-Pac-12 honors for the second consecutive year and was named first-team United Soccer Coaches All-American. Sanchez chose to forgo her final year of eligibility to pursue a professional career.

Selected fourth overall by Washington Spirit in the NWSL Draft, Sanchez contributed to the team's NWSL Championship victory, scoring the game-winning goal in the semifinal against OL Reign. She was named the NWSL Challenge Cup Future Legend as the top rookie in the tournament. Her playmaking and dribbling skills, combined with her partnership with Trinity Rodman, were instrumental in Washington's first NWSL Championship and a runner-up finish in the NWSL Challenge Cup. After four seasons with the Spirit, Sanchez was traded to North Carolina Courage.

In her first season with the Courage, Sanchez was named a finalist for the NWSL Midfielder of the Year Award and extended her contract with the club. She led the league with 15 goals and three assists, totaling 18 goal involvements, and set a club record for most goals in a single season. Sanchez was named NWSL Player of the Month for August. Internationally, she was part of the United States women's national team at the World Cup and continues to be recognized for her contributions to women's soccer.