Stephanie Sparkowski

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Stephanie Sparkowski
Personal information
Full name Stephanie Elisabeth Sparkowski[1]
Date of birth (2002-04-18) April 18, 2002 (age 23)[2]
Height 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)[1]
Position(s) Goalkeeper
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2021–2024 Michigan Wolverines 39 (0)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2022 Long Island Rough Riders 2 (0)
2025 Chicago Stars 0 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of August 17, 2025

Stephanie Elisabeth Sparkowski (born April 18, 2002) is an American professional soccer player. She played college soccer for the Michigan Wolverines before starting her professional career with NWSL club Chicago Stars FC.

Early life

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Sparkowski grew up in East Meadow, New York, where she attended East Meadow High School.[1] She captained the school's soccer team and was a four-year varsity letterwinner.[3] As a senior, she was named a Fall All-American and also received the opportunity to play in the 2019 Allstate High School All-American game.[4][5] The very same year, Sparkowski became the first female student to play on East Meadow's football team.[5][6] She played in 7 games as a placekicker, sometimes in a close timeframe with her soccer commitments.[7] She also played basketball and lacrosse for her school, as well as soccer with New York's ODP team.[1]

College career

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In her senior year of high school, Sparkowski committed to the University of Michigan.[8] She joined the Wolverines in 2021, but did not see any playing time in her first two seasons of college soccer.[1] She made her collegiate debut early in her junior year, appearing in a dominant victory over Central Michigan on September 4, 2022.[9] However, she only played in 2 more games and continued to experience time as a backup goalkeeper.[10]

Following the departure of Izzy Nino in 2023, Sparkowski quickly ascended to a starting position and played in all 18 of Michigan's matches for two seasons in a row. She was responsible for 6 clean sheets in her first year at the helm and also sported an 81% save percentage. The Big Ten Conference recognized her performances with two consecutive Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Week honors in September 2023.[1] During the Wolverines' first-round NCAA tournament loss, she made 7 saves to help prevent a more lopsided defeat.[11]

The following season, Michigan and got off to a slow start, conceding goals and going winless in the first 6 game of the season. In their seventh match, a home game against Alabama, Sparkowski helped turn the tide and made several saves to help the Wolverines earn a shutout victory.[12] Later on in the year, she broke her single-game save record and entered double digits, recording 10 against Penn State. In both of her latter two seasons, Sparkowski was recognized with the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award.[1]

Club career

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Long Island Rough Riders

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During the offseason leading up to her junior year of college, Sparkowski played with the Long Island Rough Riders in the pre-professional USL W League.[13] She appeared in four regular season matches, recording a clean sheet in each game, as well as one playoff game.[2]

Chicago Stars

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After completing her time with Michigan, Sparkowski joined Chicago Stars FC's 2025 preseason squad as a non-rostered invitee.[14] Although she was not offered a contract at the start of the Stars' NWSL campaign, she was later met by an opportunity after Chicago goalkeeper Mackenzie Wood was placed on the 45-day injury list. On June 3, 2025, Sparkowski signed her first professional contract with the Stars, inking a roster relief contract to fill in for Wood.[15] She later had her contract extended through July 29, with typical starter Alyssa Naeher also landing on the 45-day list.[16]

International career

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Sparkowski has attended various United States youth national team camps, with her first call-up arriving in 2016.[17] On March 13, 2017, she was invited to an under-16 training camp in San Diego.[18] Eight years later, Lisa Cole summoned Sparkowski back into the youth national team fold, inviting her to an under-23 training camp starting in March 2025.[19]

Personal life

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On December 2, 2024, Sparkowski got engaged to Jade Gray.[20]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of June 3, 2025
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup Playoffs[a] Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Long Island Rough Riders 2022[2] USL W League 4 0 — 1 0 3 0
Chicago Stars FC 2025 NWSL 0 0 — — 0 0
Career total 2 0 0 0 1 0 3 0
  1. ^ Includes the USL W League Playoffs and NWSL Playoffs

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g "Stephanie Sparkowski - Women's Soccer". University of Michigan Athletics. Retrieved June 4, 2025.
  2. ^ a b c "Long Island Rough Riders - 2022 Playoffs - Roster - #1 - Stephanie Sparkowski -". USL W League. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
  3. ^ "Star High School Soccer Player Breaking Barriers On The Football Field, Recording Perfect Kicking Record - CBS New York". CBS News. October 11, 2019. Retrieved June 4, 2025.
  4. ^ "United Soccer Coaches Announces 2019 Fall High School All-America Teams". Retrieved June 4, 2025.
  5. ^ a b Stieglitz, Brian (December 13, 2018). "East Meadow soccer star becomes an 'Allstate All-American'". Herald Community Newspapers. Retrieved June 4, 2025.
  6. ^ "Stephanie Sparkowski switches from soccer pitch to football field". Newsday. October 10, 2019. Retrieved June 4, 2025.
  7. ^ Stoll, Nicholas (December 2, 2020). "With Sarah Fuller's historic kick, Stephanie Sparkowski finds inspiration". The Michigan Daily. Retrieved June 4, 2025.
  8. ^ Stieglitz, Brian (November 21, 2019). "Stephanie Sparkowski signs her National Letter of Intent". Herald Community Newspapers. Retrieved June 4, 2025.
  9. ^ "Six Second-Half Goals Lift U-M over CMU". University of Michigan Athletics. Retrieved June 4, 2025.
  10. ^ Day, Jack (September 27, 2022). "Michigan women's soccer loses to Nebraska 1-0 amid key injury". The Michigan Daily. Retrieved June 4, 2025.
  11. ^ "U-M Eliminated from NCAA Tournament by Princeton". University of Michigan Athletics. Retrieved June 4, 2025.
  12. ^ Jain, Niyatee (September 9, 2024). "Sparkowski, Michigan prevail for first win of the season". The Michigan Daily. Retrieved June 4, 2025.
  13. ^ "Women's Rough Riders 'Round College". October 7, 2022. Retrieved June 4, 2025.
  14. ^ "Chicago Stars FC Release Preseason Roster | Chicago Stars FC". Chicago Stars FC. January 27, 2025. Retrieved June 4, 2025.
  15. ^ "Chicago Stars FC Places Mackenzie Wood on 45-Day Injury List, Signs Stephanie Sparkowski". Chicago Stars FC. June 3, 2025. Retrieved June 4, 2025.
  16. ^ "Chicago Stars FC Announces Roster Updates | Chicago Stars FC". Chicago Stars. July 1, 2025. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
  17. ^ "Spotlight: Rough Riders' Stephanie Sparkowski". USL Youth. November 15, 2016. Retrieved June 4, 2025.
  18. ^ "Roster announced for U.S. U-16 Girls National Team camp in San Diego". SoccerWire. Retrieved June 4, 2025.
  19. ^ "24 Players Called Up for U.S. U-23 Women's National Team Training Camp in Los Angeles". US Soccer. Retrieved June 4, 2025.
  20. ^ Sparkowski, Stephanie [@stephaniesparkowski]; (December 21, 2024). "Our little life update December 2, 2024 <3" – via Instagram.
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