Whitney Engen

Whitney Elizabeth Engen (born November 28, 1987) is an American soccer player and FIFA Women's World Cup champion.

She most recently played as a defender for the United States women's national soccer team as well as the Boston Breakers of the National Women's Soccer League, the highest division of women's soccer in the United States.

While with SFC, the team won back-to-back state and regional championships in 2004 and 2005.

The team also appeared in national championships during those years, taking second in 2004 and third in 2005.

During her youth career, Engen also played with the '86 Olympic Development Program team that clinched regional and national titles.

Engen attended Palos Verdes Peninsula High School in Rolling Hills Estates, California, where she played varsity soccer during her freshman and sophomore years.

She played two years of varsity soccer as a forward and attacking midfielder.

She did not play during her junior year due to an injury and opted to concentrate on club soccer during senior year and did not play with her high school team.

She was also named the Most Valuable Offensive Player as a freshman and Most Valuable Player as a sophomore.

Engen played collegiate soccer with the North Carolina Tar Heels from 2006 to 2009.

Engen graduated high school on June 15, 2006, and Soccer Buzz ranked her among the Top 25 recruits in the nation.

Engen attended the University of North Carolina and played soccer for the Tar Heels under head coach Anson Dorrance all four years.

She began her college career with the Tar Heels playing as a forward before transitioning to central defense.

During her time there, the Tar Heels won the NCAA Women's Soccer Championship three times: in 2006, 2008, and 2009.

During her 2006 season as a freshman, Engen appeared in 27 games, starting 24.

She had the third most points at Carolina that season with 37 and was tied for second most goals and assists on the team with 12 and 13, respectively.

In the ACC Tournament, Engen had at least one point in each of the team's matches, including two goals against North Carolina State in the quarterfinals, two assists against Clemson University in the semifinals, and an assist on the game-winning goal in overtime against Florida State University in the final.

In the NCAA Women's Soccer Tournament, Engen had at least one point in five of six of the team's matches, including two goals against Navy in the second round, a goal and assists against the University of Tennessee in the third round, a goal against Texas A&M University in the quarterfinals, and an assist on the game-winning goal against Notre Dame in the final to help the Tar Heels take the NCAA Championship.

After a successful freshman season, Engen won Carolina's soccer team Gift of Fury award.

She was also named to the Soccer Buzz All-America Freshman Second-Team, Soccer America All-Freshman Second-Team, Top Drawer Soccer All-Freshman First-Team, ACC All-Tournament team, ACC All-Freshman Team, and Soccer Buzz All-Southeast Region Freshman Team.

During the 2007 season, Engen appeared in 23 games, starting all 23.

She had the third most points on the team during the season with 20.

She scored six goals and recorded eight assists in the season, her first goal being against the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

In the NCAA Women's Soccer Tournament, Engen scored two goals and recorded an assist against High Point University in the first round.

In addition, she had goals in matches against Ohio State, Duke, and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in the second round.

At the end of the season, Engen was named to the All-ACC Academic team.

In her junior season, Engen switched from being a forward to center back for the Tar Heels.

Following her collegiate career, she was selected fourth overall by the Chicago Red Stars in the 2010 WPS Draft that took place on January 15, 2010.

She first appeared for the United States national team during the 2011 Algarve Cup in a match against Norway on March 4.

During her time with the team, she made 40 appearances for the team and scored four goals.

Between 2011 and 2015, Engen played professionally for the Western New York Flash, Tyresö FF, Pali Blues, Liverpool Ladies and the Houston Dash before ending up with the Boston Breakers for the 2016 NWSL season.

Engen has represented the United States in one FIFA Women's World Cup in 2015 and one Olympic tournament in 2016.

On October 2, 2016, Engen announced that she had been released by the United States women's national team.

On February 6, 2017, Engen announced that she was stepping away from professional soccer and will not play in the NWSL in 2017.

Born in Torrance, California, to parents Chris and Kim Engen, Whitney was raised with her brother, Taylor.

Although Engen aspired to be a gymnast, her tall stature limited her ability to do gymnastics.

Instead, she switched to soccer.

Growing up, her family was also very competitive and encouraged friendly competitions between her and her brother.

Engen played club soccer growing up, ending her youth career with Slammers FC (SFC) in Newport Beach.

Her previous team did not give her playing time, leading her to switch to SFC, joining future national teammate Christen Press.