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Amber Jean Brooks (born January 23, 1991) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a defender for Dallas Trinity FC in the USL Super League. She has previously played for Adelaide United, the Houston Dash, OL Reign, the Washington Spirit, the Portland Thorns, Bayern Munich, and the Vancouver Whitecaps. She won two NCAA championships with the North Carolina Tar Heels.

Amber Brooks
Brooks playing for Adelaide United in 2019
Personal information
Full name Amber Jean Brooks[1]
Date of birth (1991-01-23) January 23, 1991 (age 33)[2]
Place of birth Evansville, Indiana, United States
Height 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)
Position(s) Defender / Midfielder
Team information
Current team
Dallas Trinity
Number 22
Youth career
The Pennington School
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2009–2012 North Carolina Tar Heels
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2013 Bayern Munich 19 (9)
2014 Portland Thorns 21 (1)
2014–2015Bayern Munich (loan) 8 (0)
2015 Seattle Reign 12 (1)
2016–2019 Houston Dash 91 (4)
2018–2019Adelaide United (loan) 12 (0)
2019–2020 Adelaide United 11 (1)
2020–2021 OL Reign 11 (0)
2022–2023 Washington Spirit 29 (2)
2024– Dallas Trinity 5 (1)
International career
2008–2009 United States U-17
2010–2011 United States U-20 9 (1)
2012 United States U-23
2013 United States 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of October 6, 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of November 10, 2013

Brooks represented the United States on numerous youth national teams and has one cap with the senior national team.

Early life

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Brooks was born in Evansville, Indiana, and attended Pennington School in New Jersey. She scored 62 goals and had 30 assists during her first three years for a total of 154 points. She did not play as a senior due to a knee injury and National Team commitments. Brooks was named first-team All-County and a Parade Magazine All-America as a junior after she helped the team finish the 2008 season undefeated at 18–0, winning its sixth straight Prep-A state championship and its third MCT Championship in five years. Pennington was ranked by the NSCAA and ESPN Rise as the number one team in the nation the same year. Brooks was awarded the 2008 NSCAA Girls' Scholar Athlete of the Year Award and was ranked by ESPN Rise as the number one recruit in the nation in 2009.[1]

University of North Carolina

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Brooks was captain of the University of North Carolina Tar Heels women's soccer team her junior and senior year (2011–2012).[1][3] She accrued several accolades during her four years with the Tar Heels, becoming a two-time NCAA National Champion and winning the College Cup in 2009 and in 2012. She scored 34 goals and added 19 assists during her college career.[4]

Club career

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Vancouver Whitecaps, 2011

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During the summer of 2011, Brooks played for the Vancouver Whitecaps in the W-League. She made five appearances, playing 391 minutes, and provided one assist.[5]

Bayern Munich, 2013–2015

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On January 11, 2013, Brooks signed with German club, Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga until June 30, 2014.[6][7][8][9][10] In her first Bundesliga game against SGS Essen, she scored two goals, including the game-winning goal in the 90th minute.[11]

Portland Thorns, 2013–2014

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Brooks was drafted by Portland Thorns on January 18, 2013, during the 2013 National Women's Soccer League College Draft.[12][13][14] Her debut came while visiting the Houston Dash in which she played the entirety of the 1–0 victory. She would go on to start another 19 matches for the club in addition to a solitary substitution appearance. Brooks collected her first and only goal for the Thorns during the season while adding two assists, though her primary contributions were on the defensive end of the field where her ferocity led to a team-leading four yellow cards on the season.[15] After the conclusion of the Thorns 2014 season, the team announced that she would be on loan to her previous side Bayern Munich and become the second Portland member to be headed to Germany after the 2014 season, following teammate Verónica Boquete to the Bundesliga. While Portland initially indicated that Brooks would be re-signed for the 2015 National Women's Soccer League season,[16] she was instead traded to the Western New York Flash on November 6, 2014, in exchange for midfielder McCall Zerboni and defender Kathryn Williamson.[4]

Seattle Reign, 2015

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In March 2015, Brooks was traded to Seattle Reign along with the rights to Abby Wambach in exchange for Sydney Leroux and Amanda Frisbie.[17] She made twelve appearances and scored one goal for Seattle.[18]

Houston Dash, 2015–2019

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On October 26, 2015, Brooks was traded to the Houston Dash in exchange for Meghan Klingenberg and a conditional selection in the 2017 NWSL College Draft from Seattle Reign.[19] Brooks had her contract option exercised for the 2017 season. She was named the 2017 Dash MVP and played all 2,160 minutes of the regular season, scored one goal and tallied two assists, captaining the side eight times. She was then re-signed for the 2018 season.[20] Brooks was named 2018 Dash Defender of the Year.[21] The club has exercised her contract option for the 2019 season.[22] On April 14, 2019, Brooks played in her 100th career NWSL game, becoming the 22nd player to reach that mark.[23]

Loan to Adelaide United

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Brooks signed with Adelaide United for the 2018–19 W-League season, alongside Houston Dash teammate Veronica Latsko.[24]

OL Reign, 2020–2021

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Brooks was out of contract following the 2019 NWSL season and Houston Dash traded her rights to OL Reign. She subsequently signed a three-year contract with the Tacoma-based club on March 4, 2020.[25]

Washington Spirit, 2022–2023

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Brooks signed one-year deal with the Washington Spirit in 2022. She would re-sign with the club for another year on December 19, 2022.[26][27]

Dallas Trinity FC, 2024

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Brooks was the first player signed to Dallas Trinity FC.[28] She was named the team captain for Dallas's inaugural match against Tampa Bay Sun FC on August 19, 2024.

International career

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Brooks has competed on behalf of the United States in various national youth teams since 2007, including at the 2008 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup. As a member of the U-20 national team, she represented the United States at the 2010 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in Germany and won the 2010 CONCACAF Women's U-20 Championship.[18] She was a captain of the U-23 national team.[29]

On November 10, 2013, Brooks made her debut for the U.S. WNT team against Brazil in a friendly; started in the match and played 81 minutes.[30]

Career statistics

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As of match played October 6, 2024.[18]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup[a] League Cup Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Bayern Munich 2012–13 Bundesliga 10 4 1 0 11 4
2013–14 9 5 2 1 11 6
Portland Thorns 2014 NWSL 20 1 20 1
Bayern Munich (loan) 2014–15 Bundesliga 8 0 2 1 10 1
Seattle Reign 2015 NWSL 12 1 12 1
Houston Dash 2016 19 1 19 1
2017 24 1 24 1
2018 24 1 24 1
Adelaide United FC (loan) 2018–2019 W–League 12 0 12 0
Houston Dash 2019 NWSL 24 1 24 1
Adelaide United FC 2019–2020 W–League 11 1 11 1
OL Reign 2020 NWSL 0 0 8 0 8 0
2021 11 0 4 1 15 1
Washington Spirit 2022 16 2 4 0 20 2
2023 13 0 6 0 19 0
Dallas Trinity FC 2024–25 USL Super League 5 1 0 0 5 1
Career total 218 19 5 2 22 1 245 22
  1. ^ Includes the DFB-Pokal

Honors

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Bayern Munich

Seattle Reign

United States U20

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "Amber Brooks player profile". University of North Carolina. Archived from the original on January 31, 2013. Retrieved January 28, 2013.
  2. ^ "2006 U-16 GNT Player Pool". United States Soccer Federation. Archived from the original on May 21, 2006. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
  3. ^ "Back lines front and center for UNC, Penn State". ESPN. Archived from the original on January 11, 2013. Retrieved January 28, 2013.
  4. ^ a b "WNY Acquires Amber Brooks". Western New York Flash. November 6, 2014. Archived from the original on November 8, 2014. Retrieved November 8, 2014.
  5. ^ "2011 Vancouver Whitecaps FC roster". USL Soccer. Archived from the original on August 12, 2014. Retrieved January 28, 2013.
  6. ^ "North Carolina star Amber Brooks signs with German club Bayern Munich". Top Drawer Soccer. Archived from the original on June 11, 2017. Retrieved January 28, 2013.
  7. ^ "Players Abroad: Why Brooks Signed with Bayern Munich; Preseason Tournaments and More". Our Game Magazine. Archived from the original on January 15, 2013. Retrieved January 28, 2013.
  8. ^ "FC Bayern: Brooks verstärkt Frauen-Team". FIFA. Retrieved January 28, 2013. [dead link]
  9. ^ "Pro Prospects: Dream comes true for Brooks". Top Drawer Soccer. Archived from the original on January 23, 2013. Retrieved January 28, 2013.
  10. ^ "Potential top pick Brooks headed to Germany". Equalizer Soccer. January 9, 2013. Archived from the original on January 16, 2013. Retrieved January 28, 2013.
  11. ^ "Brooks scores twice in Bayern debut". Soccer America. March 19, 2013. Archived from the original on March 22, 2013. Retrieved March 27, 2013.
  12. ^ "Portland Thorns add 4 players in NWSL college draft". Oregon Live. January 18, 2013. Archived from the original on December 14, 2013. Retrieved January 28, 2013.
  13. ^ "Portland Thorns Add Four Players Through Women's Soccer Draft". Oregon Public Broadcasting. Archived from the original on March 31, 2019. Retrieved January 28, 2013.
  14. ^ "All White Kit Breakdowns of Portland Thorns FC Draftees". SB Nation. January 18, 2013. Archived from the original on January 25, 2013. Retrieved January 28, 2013.
  15. ^ "2014 Player Statistics – National Women's Soccer League". Archived from the original on January 7, 2015. Retrieved September 7, 2014.
  16. ^ "Thorns FC loan midfielder Amber Brooks to German club FC Bayern Munich | Portland Timbers". Archived from the original on September 3, 2014.
  17. ^ Rubens, Daniel (March 30, 2015). "Seattle Reign acquire rights to USWNT striker Abby Wambach in trade for Sydney Leroux". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved April 6, 2015.
  18. ^ a b c [1] Archived September 28, 2017, at the Wayback Machine Soccerway. October 25, 2015. Retrieved October 25, 2015.
  19. ^ "Houston Dash acquire rights to midfielder Amber Brooks, first-round draft pick from Seattle Reign FC". Houston Dash. October 26, 2015. Archived from the original on October 29, 2015. Retrieved October 26, 2015.
  20. ^ "Houston Dash Re-Sign Defender Amber Brooks". Houston Dash. January 25, 2018. Archived from the original on October 10, 2018. Retrieved October 9, 2018.
  21. ^ "Houston Dash". Twitter Houston Dash. October 9, 2018. Archived from the original on July 6, 2022. Retrieved October 9, 2018.
  22. ^ "Houston Dash announce roster update after NWSL season". Houston Dash. October 1, 2018. Archived from the original on October 10, 2018. Retrieved October 9, 2018.
  23. ^ "Twitter Hal Kaiser". April 14, 2019. Archived from the original on May 9, 2019. Retrieved April 15, 2019.
  24. ^ "Reds announce two more signings days out from their Westfield W-League campaign". October 13, 2018. Archived from the original on April 3, 2021. Retrieved October 16, 2018.
  25. ^ "HUERTA, BROOKS, AND ASHLEY SIGN THROUGH 2020 SEASON". Reign FC. March 4, 2020. Retrieved March 5, 2020.
  26. ^ "Washington Spirit Sign Defender Amber Brooks". OurSports Central. March 17, 2022. Archived from the original on January 27, 2024. Retrieved March 18, 2022.
  27. ^ Spirit, Washington (December 19, 2022). "Washington Spirit Re-Signs Defender Amber Brooks". Washington Spirit. Retrieved August 17, 2024.
  28. ^ Livengood, Paul (May 31, 2024). "Dallas' first women's professional soccer team has made its first signing". Dallas Trinity FC. WFAA. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
  29. ^ "Amber Brooks player profile". US Soccer. Archived from the original on March 13, 2013. Retrieved January 28, 2013.
  30. ^ "U.S. WNT Defeats Brazil 4–1 in Orlando to Complete Undefeated 2013 Campaign". U.S.Soccer. Archived from the original on March 20, 2014.
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