Wikipedia

Brianna Martinez

Brianna Cathleen Martinez (born April 22, 2000) is an American former professional soccer player who played as a right back for the Orlando Pride of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) and Carolina Ascent FC of the USL Super League. She played college soccer for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. She was drafted by Racing Louisville FC in the second round of the 2023 NWSL Draft, but instead signed with the Pride and won the NWSL Shield and NWSL Championship in her second season in 2024. She represented the United States at multiple youth international levels, winning the 2020 CONCACAF Women's U-20 Championship.

Brianna Martinez
Martinez with the Carolina Ascent in 2025
Personal information
Full name Brianna Cathleen Martinez[1]
Date of birth (2000-04-22) April 22, 2000 (age 26)[2]
Place of birth Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States
Height 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)[2]
Position Right back
Youth career
New Mexico Rush
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2018–2022 Notre Dame Fighting Irish 91 (2)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2023–2025 Orlando Pride 22 (0)
2025 → Carolina Ascent (loan) 12 (1)
2026 Carolina Ascent 11 (0)
Total 45 (1)
International career
2015–2016 United States U-16
2017–2018 United States U-18
2017 United States U-19 2 (0)
2018–2020 United States U-20 7 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Early life

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Martinez was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico.[2] She played club soccer for New Mexico Rush and was ranked as one of the top prospects of the class of 2019.[3] She played four years of high school soccer at Volcano Vista High School.[4]

College career

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Martinez was a five-year starter for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, making 91 appearances from 2018 to 2022. She captained the team during her last two years and scored her only two college goals in her senior year in 2021.[4] In 2022, she helped lead the Fighting Irish to the quarterfinals of the NCAA championship.[5] She was placed in the final spot for postseason penalty shoot-outs in her last two seasons and converted kicks to defeat Purdue in the 2021 NCAA second round and Pittsburgh in the 2022 ACC first round.[6][7]

Club career

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Orlando Pride

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Martinez playing for the Orlando Pride in 2024

Martinez was drafted 17th overall by Racing Louisville FC in the 2023 NWSL Draft but did not sign with the club. She was invited to train with the Orlando Pride as a non-rostered player in the 2023 preseason and agreed to a one-year contract with the option for an additional year.[8] She made her professional debut on April 23, coming on as an 84th-minute substitute for Haley McCutcheon in a 2–0 loss to the Kansas City Current.[9] She made her first start on May 10, playing the full 4–2 loss to the Washington Spirit in the NWSL Challenge Cup.[10] During her rookie season, she made eight regular-season appearances and played in four games (with three starts) in the Challenge Cup.[11] After the season, the Pride exercised her player option.[12]

Martinez made her first regular-season start on March 22, 2024, playing the full 1–1 draw at center back against Angel City FC.[13] She became a regular starter at right back in the early part of the season, except when center back Rafaelle was healthy and pushed Emily Sams to Martinez's position.[14] On June 25, her contract was extended to the end of 2025.[15] On July 21, she suffered a non-contact injury to her left leg during a game against the North Carolina Courage in the NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup.[14][16] After the injury, she did not play for the remainder of the season but appeared on the bench for several games. Orlando was undefeated during her 13 regular-season games that season, including 8 starts.[17] The Pride went on to win its first titles in club history, lifting both the NWSL Shield and NWSL Championship trophies.[18]

Carolina Ascent

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On July 2, 2025, it was announced that Martinez would join USL Super League club Carolina Ascent on loan for the rest of the year.[19] She made her debut on August 30 and played the entire match in the Ascent's season-opening 2–2 draw with Fort Lauderdale United.[20] On October 18, she scored her first professional goal in a 2–1 win over Brooklyn FC, the Ascent's first road win of the season.[21] After her Orlando contract expired in December, the Ascent made the loan permanent.[22] She finished the season with 23 appearances, including 16 starts, as Carolina placed third in the league.[23] Her final appearance came in extra time of the league final as the Ascent lost 3–1 to Lexington SC.[24] On June 2, 2026, she announced her retirement from professional soccer.[23]

International career

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Martinez was called into training camps with the United States under-16 and under-17 national teams in 2015 and 2016 was recognized among the Best XI of an under-16 international friendly tournament.[25] She played friendlies for the under-18 and under-19 teams in 2017.[26] She stayed with the under-18s the following year before being called up to the under-20 team.[27] While in college, she was selected to the roster for the 2020 CONCACAF Women's U-20 Championship, which the United States won.[28] She was called up to play friendlies with the under-23 team against NWSL clubs in the 2022 preseason.[29]

Career statistics

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Club Season League Playoffs Cup[a] Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Orlando Pride 2023 NWSL 80—40—120
2024 13000—1[b]0140
2025 10—00—00
Carolina Ascent 2025–26 USLS 23110——241
Career total 451104010511

Honors

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References

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  1. ↑ "University of Notre Dame Commencement Official" (PDF). Notre Dame University. p. 60. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 "Brianna Martinez". Orlando Pride. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  3. ↑ "2019 Girls IMG Academy 150 rankings debut". TopDrawerSoccer. July 13, 2015. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  4. 1 2 "Brianna Martinez". Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  5. ↑ Post, J.J. (November 26, 2022). "Irish season ends to Tar Heels in NCAA quarterfinals". The Observer. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  6. ↑ "Irish Advance Past Purdue in Penalty Kicks, 4-3". Notre Dame Fighting Irish. November 19, 2021. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  7. ↑ "No. 3 Irish Advance in PK Shootout Over No. 6 Pitt". Notre Dame Fighting Irish. October 30, 2022. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  8. ↑ Rollins, Sean (March 29, 2023). "Orlando Pride Sign Defenders Tori Hansen and Brianna Martinez". The Mane Land. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  9. ↑ "Match report: Orlando Pride falls on the road to Kansas City Current". Orlando Pride. April 23, 2023. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  10. ↑ "Match report: Orlando Pride falls in Challenge Cup play at Washington". Orlando Pride. May 10, 2023. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  11. ↑ Rohe, David (October 26, 2023). "2023 Orlando Pride Season in Review: Brianna Martinez". The Mane Land. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  12. ↑ Rollins, Sean (November 20, 2023). "Orlando Pride Announce Roster Decisions Following 2023 NWSL Season". The Mane Land. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  13. ↑ "Match Report: Marta's Late Goal Helps Pride to 1-1 Draw Against Angel City FC". Orlando Pride. March 22, 2024. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  14. 1 2 Rollins, Sean (December 7, 2024). "2024 Orlando Pride Season in Review: Brianna Martinez". The Mane Land. Retrieved July 2, 2025.
  15. ↑ Rollins, Sean (June 24, 2024). "Orlando Pride Sign Defender Brianna Martinez to New Two-Year Deal". The Mane Land. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  16. ↑ "2024 Orlando Pride Season in Review: Brianna Martinez". The Mane Land. December 7, 2024. Retrieved July 2, 2025.
  17. ↑ "Brianna Martinez 2024 Match Logs". FBref.com. Retrieved July 2, 2025.
  18. 1 2 "Orlando Pride win 2024 NWSL Championship, bringing first professional, major league trophy to the City of Orlando". NWSL. November 25, 2024. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  19. ↑ "Orlando Pride loans two players heading into second half of the season". Orlando Pride. July 2, 2025. Retrieved July 2, 2025.
  20. ↑ "Fort Lauderdale United FC vs Carolina Ascent FC". USL Super League. August 30, 2025. Retrieved September 1, 2025.
  21. ↑ Clark, Harrison (October 18, 2025). "Carolina Ascent Collects Road Win, Beats Brooklyn FC 2-1". Carolina Ascent FC. Retrieved December 22, 2025.
  22. ↑ Clark, Harrison (December 22, 2025). "Carolina Ascent Completes Permanent Transfer for Brianna Martinez". Carolina Ascent FC. Retrieved December 22, 2025.
  23. 1 2 Clark, Harrison (June 2, 2026). "Defender Brianna Martinez Announces Retirement". Carolina Ascent FC. Retrieved June 2, 2026.
  24. ↑ "Match Recap: Lexington SC Wins 2026 Gainbridge Super League Final, 3-1". Lexington SC. May 31, 2026. Retrieved June 2, 2026.
  25. ↑ "U15, U16 GNTs head to Portland for camp". United States Soccer Federation. June 1, 2015. Retrieved July 20, 2024 – via TopDrawerSoccer.
    "U.S. U17 WNT heads to NTC in California". United States Soccer Federation. September 15, 2015. Retrieved July 20, 2024 – via TopDrawerSoccer.
    Yort, Caroline (June 20, 2016). "2018 Girls IMG Academy 150 Spring Update". TopDrawerSoccer. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  26. ↑ "U19 WNT roster named for China tournament". United States Soccer Federation. August 31, 2017. Retrieved July 20, 2024 – via TopDrawerSoccer.
    Shealer, Sheldon (July 24, 2018). "HS Girls: TDS Fall All-American". TopDrawerSoccer. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  27. ↑ "Five Things to Know About the 2018 Women's Nike International Friendlies". United States Soccer Federation. December 5, 2018. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  28. ↑ "USA Rolls Past Mexico 4–1 to Win 2020 CONCACAF Women's U-20 Championship". United States Soccer Federation. March 8, 2020. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  29. ↑ "U.S. U23 WNT roster for Thorns tournament". United States Soccer Federation. February 23, 2022. Retrieved July 20, 2024 – via TopDrawerSoccer.
  30. ↑ NWSL (October 7, 2024). "Orlando Pride Claims 2024 NWSL Shield". NWSL. Retrieved October 9, 2024.
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