Today, Angel City announced that the club and veteran defender Merritt Mathias have agreed to mutually exercise her existing one-year option through the end of 2024. Mathias spent the 2023 NWSL season with the club, but has yet to make her debut due to injury.
“I came to Angel City with the goal and expectation to play for the biggest club in women’s soccer,” said Mathias. “What I got was an organization, a fan base, and a team that supported me through one of the more difficult seasons of my life. Thank you for allowing me to be me off the pitch and loving me for it. 2024 is going to be our year! I will see you all soon.”
“We are excited that Merritt will be staying on with Angel City for the 2024 season,” said ACFC GM Angela Hucles Mangano. “While her being sidelined this season was unfortunate, her veteran leadership and support of the club and her teammates never wavered. Merritt’s winning record and talent speak for themselves, and we are so looking forward to seeing her on the field in an Angel City jersey next season.”
Mathias came to ACFC after spending four seasons with the North Carolina Courage, where in 2018, she was an integral part of a defense that broke the league record for fewest goals conceded, with 17. She helped the Courage win the 2018 Supporter Shield and NWSL Championship—the first time any team had won both in the same season—after scoring three goals in 22 matches and recording an assist in the championship game. Her performance landed her a spot on the 2018 NWSL Second XI.
Mathias began her professional career with the New York Fury in the Women’s Professional Soccer League (WPSL) Elite in 2012. She was drafted as the 22nd overall pick for FC Kansas City at the start of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) in 2013, where she would start in 20 of the 23 regular-season matches her rookie season, scoring two goals. She was later traded to Seattle Reign FC, where she would spend two seasons, including the 2015 season that saw the team win the Shield and reach the championship match.
A native of Birmingham, Al., Mathias started her collegiate career at the University of North Carolina, where she played her freshman and sophomore seasons, before transferring to Texas A&M. During her first season with the Aggies, she recorded nine goals in 20 matches and was named to the All-Big 12 First Team and All-Big 12 Newcomer Team. She ended her senior season ranked at number 17 nationally in total assists.
Mathias was also a part of the United States Youth National Team (USYNT) system, having played on the U-15, U-16, U-17, and U-23 teams. She would eventually be called up to the senior USWNT camp in 2016, and would make her first cap in 2018 after being named to the U.S. rosters for the 2018 Tournament of Nations and the 2018 CONCACAF Women’s Championship.
