Ashley Sanchez | QueenBallers Player profile

Ashley

Sanchez

Mar 16, 1999

#2 - Midfielder

Ashley Nicole Sanchez is an American professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for the North Carolina Courage of the National Women's Soccer League and the United States national team.

Did You Know?

She holds the UCLA program record for career assists, finishing with 42 in just three seasons.

She scored the game-winning goal in the 2021 NWSL semifinal, helping the Washington Spirit win their first-ever NWSL Championship.

In 2016, she became the first player in U.S. history to compete in two FIFA World Cups—the U-17 and U-20 tournaments—in the same calendar year.

She was born in Pasadena, California, and raised in nearby Monrovia, with family roots in Jalisco, Mexico.

She was featured in a Taco Bell commercial campaign that aired during the 2022 FIFA Men’s World Cup.

She described feeling shocked and heartbroken when she was traded from the Washington Spirit to the North Carolina Courage in 2024.

She majored in political science at UCLA.

She has a French bulldog named Nala.

She admires Lionel Messi, LeBron James and Kobe Bryant.

She once tripped over her own shoelace during a college game against Stanford — with no one around her — on national television. She considers it her most embarrassing on-field moment.

Her favorite foods are sushi and Mexican food.

Her go-to postgame meal is Taco Bell, specifically the Quesarito, Cheesy Gordita Crunch, or a bean and cheese burrito (no onions). She also loves the strawberry lemonade slushie.

She does not speak Spanish, despite being of Mexican descent — she jokes that she only knows about three words.

She listens to more chill music on her way to training, but has recently been playing upbeat songs like “Chosen” by Blxst.

She likes being called “Ashy” as a nickname, and has also been called “Cheetah,” “Sanchito,” “Sanchito Dorito,” and even “Burrito.”

She always has her hair braided before a game — it's her one essential pregame ritual. She panicked once when her two usual braiders weren't available.

She’s known for having strong style, often coordinating outfits with teammate Trinity Rodman. She admires Abby Dahlkemper's chic California-inspired fashion.

As a kid, she thought she was Spider-Man — not that she had powers, just was Spider-Man.

Her favorite animal (besides dogs) is a monkey — specifically, she wants one of the tiny ones.

Best Actions

A cool, calm finish from Ashley Sanchez!

WATCH THIS. Ashley Sanchez scores a banger against her former team 👀

First international career goal

Best Of: Ashley Sanchez goals that will make your jaw DROP 😮🔥

Club Achievements

NWSL Championship: 2021	1×
CONCACAF Women's Championship: 2022	1×
SheBelieves Cup: 2022, 2023	2×

Awards

U.S. Soccer Young Female Player of the Year

1×

2020 NWSL Challenge Cup Future Legend Award

1×

Stats

Year	Club	AP	GL
2024 - present	North Carolina Courage	34	6
2020 - 2024	Washington Spirit	84	17
2017 - 2019	UCLA Bruins	69	23
International Stats
2021 - present	United States	28	3
2014 - 2016	United States U20	33	11
2014 - 2016	United States U17	21	21