Alyssa Walker

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Alyssa Walker
Walker with the Carolina Ascent in 2025
Personal information
Full name Alyssa Mae Walker
Date of birth (1997-11-30) November 30, 1997 (age 27)
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Position Forward
Team information
Current team
 Carolina Ascent
Number 17
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2016–2020 Richmond Spiders 60 (19)
2021 Iowa Hawkeyes 20 (9)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2022 IFK Kalmar 23 (9)
2023 Brann 17 (2)
2023 → Portland Thorns (loan) 0 (0)
2023–2024 HB Køge 16 (4)
2024–2025 Spokane Zephyr 0 (0)
2025– Carolina Ascent 1 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of September 3, 2025

Alyssa Mae Walker (born November 30, 1997) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a forward for USL Super League club Carolina Ascent. She played college soccer for the Richmond Spiders and the Iowa Hawkeyes. She began her professional career overseas with Kalmar, Brann, and HB Køge, and had a stint on loan with Portland Thorns FC of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL).

Early life

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Walker grew up in Centerville, Ohio.[1] She played three varsity seasons at Centerville High School, earning all-state honors in her senior year, and was also a member of the track and basketball teams.[1] She played ECNL club soccer for Ohio Premier.[2]

College career

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Walker played four seasons for the Richmond Spiders, scoring 19 goals in 60 games.[1] She was named to the Atlantic 10 Conference all-rookie team after scoring 5 goals as a freshman in 2016.[1] After sitting out her junior season due to injury in 2018, she led the conference with a career-high 11 goals in 2019, earning second-team All-Atlantic-10 honors.[1] After a brief senior year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, she transferred to the Iowa Hawkeyes for her sixth and final season in 2021.[3] She scored 9 goals in 19 appearances in 2021, earning third-team All-Big Ten honors.[3] She had the lone goal in the Big Ten tournament game against Michigan State to advance to the semifinals.[3]

Club career

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IFK Kalmar

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Walker signed her first professional contract with Swedish club IFK Kalmar in November 2021, joining a contingent of several Americans.[4] She had previously spoken with Finnish and Australian teams before hearing from the newly promoted Damallsvenskan side, where she reunited with former club teammate Aubrei Corder.[5] The 24-year-old rookie impressed during the 2022 preseason, positioning herself to earn a starting spot.[6] She made her professional debut on March 27, starting in the opening day 4–0 loss to Kristianstad.[7] On May 8, she scored her first professional goals, hitting both of IFK Kalmar's goals in a 4–2 loss to KIF Örebro.[7] By the end of June, her 4 goals in 12 games earned her a contract extension for the 2023 season.[8] She was named the Damallsvenskan Player of the Month for her performances in October when she scored three crucial goals at the end of the season to help IFK Kalmar retain their place in the top flight.[9] She finished the 2022 season as the club's leading scorer with 9 goals in 23 games.[10]

Brann and Portland Thorns loan

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In January 2023, Walker joined Norwegian club Brann on a two-year contract.[11][12] She scored a goal in her Toppserien debut on March 25, in a 2–1 away win over Lyn in the season opener.[13] In July, having scored 2 goals in 17 league games for Brann, Walker joined National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) club Portland Thorns on a two-month loan to replace players away at the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup.[11][14] She made her Thorns debut on July 21, coming on for goalscorer Hannah Betfort in a 4–1 win against the San Diego Wave in the 2023 NWSL Challenge Cup group stage.[15] She finished the loan with three Challenge Cup appearances for the Thorns.[13]

HB Køge

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After the loan expired, Danish club HB Køge acquired Walker from Brann for a transfer fee in August 2023.[16] She made her UEFA Women's Champions League debut with the club on September 6, starting in a 2–1 first qualifying round loss to Finnish club KuPS.[17] On September 30, she scored her first goal for the club in a 4–2 league win over AGF.[17] She finished the season as HB Køge's joint third leading scorer with 4 goals in 16 league games.[18]

Carolina Ascent

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In June 2024, Walker signed with USL Super League club Spokane Zephyr before the league's inaugural season.[19] However, she suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury before the season began, forcing her to miss the entire campaign.[20] In July 2025, fellow USL Super League club Carolina Ascent signed Walker.[21] She made her Ascent debut on August 30, coming on as a second-half substitute for Mia Corbin in Carolina's season-opening draw with Fort Lauderdale United FC.[22] Walker scored her first Ascent goal on September 13, contributing to a 2–2 draw with Sporting JAX.[23]

Personal life

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Walker is the daughter of Chris and Carie Walker and has three siblings.[1] She has been open about her experience with vitiligo.[24]

Honors and awards

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Individual

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f "Alyssa Walker". Richmond Spiders. Retrieved August 22, 2025.
  2. ^ "Newcomer Spotlight: Alyssa Walker". Richmond Spiders. June 24, 2016. Retrieved August 22, 2025.
  3. ^ a b c "Alyssa Walker". Iowa Hawkeyes. Retrieved August 22, 2025.
  4. ^ Eriksson, Henrik (November 26, 2021). "Ny offensiv värvning från USA – Alyssa Walker klar för IFK: 'En dröm som blir verklighet'". Barometern (in Swedish). Retrieved August 22, 2025.
  5. ^ Eriksson, Henrik (May 21, 2022). "Bästa vännerna återförenade: 'Tror att vänskapen betyder mycket för oss båda'". Barometern (in Swedish). Retrieved August 22, 2025.
  6. ^ Hansson, Lasse (March 4, 2022). "Walker går hem i IFK Kalmar: 'Har varit bra dagar för oss'". Barometern (in Swedish). Retrieved August 22, 2025.
  7. ^ a b "Alyssa Walker 2022 Match Logs". FBref.com. Retrieved August 22, 2025.
  8. ^ Eriksson, Henrik (June 21, 2022). "IFK:s överraskning förlänger redan i juni – Walker klar för 2023: 'Smart move, ett smart beslut'". Barometern (in Swedish). Retrieved August 22, 2025.
  9. ^ "IFK Kalmars Alyssa Walker är årets sista Månadens spelare i OBOS" (in Swedish). Svenska Spel. November 24, 2022. Retrieved August 22, 2025.
  10. ^ "2022 Damallsvenskan Stats". FBref.com. Retrieved August 22, 2025.
  11. ^ a b "Alyssa Walker på utlån til amerikansk klubb" (in Norwegian). TV 2 Direkte. July 14, 2023. Retrieved August 22, 2025.
  12. ^ "Dette er Branns nye spiss: Alyssa fikk hjelp av mamma til å bli proff". Bergensavisen (in Norwegian). January 26, 2023. Retrieved August 22, 2025.
  13. ^ a b "Alyssa Walker 2023 Match Logs". FBref.com. Retrieved August 22, 2025.
  14. ^ Clarke, Ryan (July 20, 2023). "Portland Thorns sign two additional replacement players for World Cup break". The Oregonian. Retrieved August 22, 2025.
  15. ^ Clarke, Ryan (July 21, 2023). "NWSL Challenge Cup: Hannah Betfort, Portland Thorns wallop San Diego Wave, 4-1". The Oregonian. Retrieved August 22, 2025.
  16. ^ Totland, Inga (August 21, 2023). "Alyssa Walker klar for dansk storklubb". SK Brann. Retrieved August 22, 2025.
  17. ^ a b "Alyssa Walker 2023-2024 Match Logs". FBref.com. Retrieved August 22, 2025.
  18. ^ "2023-2024 HB Køge Stats (Kvindeligaen)". FBref.com. Retrieved August 22, 2025.
  19. ^ "Zephyr FC Adds Firepower with Forward Alyssa Walker". Spokane Zephyr FC. June 4, 2024. Retrieved August 22, 2025.
  20. ^ Walker, Alyssa [@alyssarbwalker]; (August 1, 2024). "Good News & Bad News & Good News Again..." – via Instagram.
  21. ^ "Proven Goalscorer Alyssa Walker Signs With Carolina Ascent". Carolina Ascent FC. July 7, 2025. Retrieved August 22, 2025.
  22. ^ "Fort Lauderdale United FC vs Carolina Ascent FC". USL Super League. August 30, 2025. Retrieved September 1, 2025.
  23. ^ "Carolina Ascent Complete Another Comeback, Draw Sporting Jax 2-2". Carolina Ascent FC. Retrieved September 14, 2025.
  24. ^ "Alyssa var lei av blikkene: – Jeg vet jeg er annerledes". Bergens Tidende (in Norwegian). August 22, 2023.
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