Michelle Betos

Michelle Jenny Betos (born February 20, 1988) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for NJ/NY Gotham FC of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL).

She is perhaps best known for being the first NWSL goalkeeper to score a goal in league play.

She played for the Albertson Fury '87 from 2004 to 2006, during which time she was coached by Paul Riley, and was a member of the Region I Olympic Development Program (ODP) team in 2006.

She was a two-year captain on the soccer team and was named 2005 Most Valuable Player.

In 2005, she was named an ENYSSA State Team player and participated in the Super Y-League Olympic Development Program (ODP) National Camp.

Betos attended the University of Georgia.

She finished her college career with a total of 316 saves, ranking third all-time at Georgia and second in shutouts (26) and wins (48).

During her senior year, she started all 22 games, logging 1,929 minutes and earned eight shutouts and a goals-against average (GAA) of 1.12 per game.

Her junior year, she appeared in all 23 games making 22 starts.

She recorded seven shutouts and a 1.19 GAA, finishing the season with 117 saves.

In 2007, she started all 24 games, finishing with 18 wins, eight shutouts and a 0.79 GAA.

She recorded a save percentage of .816, making 84 saves and allowing 19 goals.

She was named the team's Defensive Most Valuable Player.

During her freshman year, Betos appeared in 12 games in goal, making eight starts.

She led Georgia in GAA (1.18), save percentage (.732), fewest goals allowed (11), wins (5), shutouts (3) and saves (30).

She was named to the SEC All-Freshman Team the same year.

Betos was named SEC All-Tournament Team and SEC Defensive Player of the Week on October 21, 2008.

Betos played collegiate soccer at the University of Georgia and signed her first pro contract with the USL W-League Atlanta Silverbacks in 2009.

Prior to the founding of the NWSL, she played for Club Atlético River Plate, Apollon Limassol, and WPSL Elite teams Boston Aztec and New York Fury.

She signed with Seattle Reign FC ahead of the NWSL's first season, starting in seven league matches while Hope Solo recovered from a wrist injury.

Betos played for the Atlanta Silverbacks of the W-League during the 2009 season.

She was named W-League Goalkeeper of the Year after leading the Atlanta Silverbacks to the regular season Southeast Division title.

She finished the season with a 9–1–1 record and the team finished 10–1–1.

She ranked second in the league for her 0.188 goals-against average, nine wins and nine shutouts.

Betos signed with the New York Fury in the Women's Premier Soccer League Elite for the 2012 season, where she was reunited with former youth coach Paul Riley.

Betos signed with Apollon Limassol for the 2012–2013 UEFA Women's Champions League campaign.

She recorded five appearances for the team for a total of 450 minutes.

Betos was selected by the Seattle Reign FC during the 2013 NWSL Supplemental Draft as their fifth pick and 34th pick overall.

Intended to serve as a backup to Hope Solo, she was the starting goalkeeper for seven of the club's matches during the beginning of the 2013 season while Solo recovered from wrist surgery.

Betos made 34 saves and registered a 2.0 goals against average.

In the 2013–14 offseason, Seattle traded Betos and Kristie Mewis to the Boston Breakers in exchange for Sydney Leroux.

Following a trade to the Portland Thorns in 2014 and a loan spell at Fortuna Hjorring, Betos had her breakout campaign during the 2015 season, replacing Nadine Angerer as first-choice keeper to start 14 games for the Thorns, and winning the NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year award.

Boston soon traded Betos to Portland for the thirty-fourth pick in the 2014 NWSL College Draft.

Initially serving as a backup to Nadine Angerer, Betos made 14 starts during the 2015 season.

In 2016, she won the NWSL Shield with the Thorns.

After a further loan to Sydney FC, and a season at Vålerenga, she returned to the NWSL for a further two seasons at the Reign during which she made 12 starts.

Betos was selected by Racing Louisville in the 2020 NWSL Expansion Draft and went on to captain the team during their inaugural season, starting in 20 league games.

She signed for Gotham FC in January 2022 and went on to win the 2023 NWSL Championship with the team.

Born in Queens, New York to parents Luke and Susan Betos, Michelle began playing soccer at age five at the urging of her father, a one-time semi-professional player in Greece.

She attended St. Francis Preparatory School in the New York City borough of Queens.