Lauren Holiday

Lauren Cheney Warmup

Lauren Holiday (born September 30, 1987) is a retired American professional soccer player and two-time Olympic gold medalist. She played as a midfielder and forward for the United States women's national soccer team (USWNT) and various clubs in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL).

Early Life and Education

Lauren Holiday was born in Indianapolis, Indiana. She attended Ben Davis High School where she was a standout player on the school's soccer team. Holiday later attended UCLA where she played for the UCLA Bruins women's soccer team from 2006 to 2009.

College Career

During her time at UCLA, Holiday was a key player for the Bruins. She was named an NSCAA All-American and earned several other accolades for her performance on the field. She finished her college career with 57 goals and 38 assists.

Professional Career

Club Career

Holiday began her professional career with the Pali Blues in the W-League in 2009. She later played for the Boston Breakers in the Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) league from 2010 to 2011. After the WPS folded, she joined FC Kansas City in the NWSL, where she played from 2013 to 2015. During her time with FC Kansas City, she helped the team win two NWSL Championships in 2014 and 2015.

International Career

Holiday made her debut for the USWNT in 2007. She was a key player for the team, contributing to their victories in the 2012 Summer Olympics and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup. She earned over 130 caps and scored 24 goals for the national team before retiring from international soccer in 2015.

Personal Life

Lauren Holiday is married to Jrue Holiday, a professional basketball player in the NBA. The couple has two children. In 2016, Lauren was diagnosed with a brain tumor, which was successfully removed later that year. She has since become an advocate for health and wellness.

Honors and Awards

• 2× Olympic gold medalist (2008, 2012)
• FIFA Women's World Cup Champion (2015)
• 2× NWSL Champion (2014, 2015)
• NWSL MVP (2013)
• NWSL Best XI (2013, 2014)

Retirement

Lauren Holiday announced her retirement from professional soccer in 2015. She remains involved in the sport through various charitable activities and advocacy work.

See Also

• United States women's national soccer team
• National Women's Soccer League
• FIFA Women's World Cup
• Olympic Games