Ali Riley

Alexandra Lowe Riley, born on October 30, 1987, in Los Angeles, California, commenced her football journey in Pacific Palisades. She attended St. Matthew’s Parish School and Harvard-Westlake School, where she captained her high school soccer team and received multiple accolades, including two-time Mission League Offensive MVP. Her collegiate career at Stanford University from 2006 to 2009 saw her lead the Stanford Cardinal women’s soccer team to two NCAA semifinals and one final as captain. Initially playing as a forward, she transitioned to an outside back position, a role she would maintain throughout her professional career. Her early club experience included playing for LA Breakers FC and Real SoCal.

Riley’s professional career began in 2010 when she was drafted by FC Gold Pride in the WPS Draft, winning a championship and the WPS Rookie of the Year award in her inaugural season. Following the folding of FC Gold Pride, she moved to Western New York Flash in 2011, securing another league title and being a Defender of the Year finalist. Her career then extended to Europe for nearly a decade, starting with LdB FC Malmö (later FC Rosengård) in Sweden from 2012 to 2018, where she won multiple Damallsvenskan titles and Svenska Supercupen. Subsequent moves included spells with Chelsea in the English FA Women’s Super League (2018–2019) and Bayern Munich in the Frauen-Bundesliga (2019–2020), further solidifying her reputation as a formidable defender in top-tier European leagues.

Returning to the U.S. in 2020, Riley joined Orlando Pride before being traded to Angel City FC in 2022, marking a return to her hometown. She was appointed Angel City FC’s first-ever captain, a role she also held for the New Zealand national team, the Football Ferns. Representing New Zealand internationally, Riley participated in five FIFA Women’s World Cups and four Olympic Games, setting national records for appearances in major tournaments. A chronic nerve injury sidelined her during large portions of the 2024 and 2025 NWSL seasons, contributing to her decision to retire at the end of the 2025 NWSL season. Beyond playing, Riley has engaged in media work, hosting an ‘Off the Ball’ show for ‘Just Women’s Sports’ and co-authoring a plant-based cookbook, ‘Girls Gone Veg’.