Ashley Sanchez

Midfielder • Age 27 • #2

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.

Fun Facts about Ashley

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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.