Position: Defender
Birthdate: Dec. 25, 1996
Hometown: Wilmore, Kentucky
Height: 5-foot-7
Pronunciation: Arin Wright
Previous Team: Chicago Red Stars (NWSL)
2024: In her first season with Racing, the Kentucky native appeared in 22 matches, starting 21 of them at either center and outside back.
Before Racing Louisville: Wright, née Gilliland, comes to Louisville after an eventful eight years with the Chicago Red Stars, where she twice earned first or second Best XI honors and was a 2016 Defender of the Year finalist. She was part of seven Chicago playoff teams, making two trips to the NWSL Championship, including starting in the 2021 final at Lynn Family Stadium.
In all, Wright tallied three goals and 13 assists in 164 appearances across all competitions, leaving Chicago as the club’s all-time leader in games started, with 143.
Wright played for her hometown school, becoming one of the most decorated players in University of Kentucky women’s soccer history. She’s third all-time in both career assists and games played at UK and fourth in goals – and the program’s leader in game-winning scores. While there, Wright led Kentucky to its first Sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament.
In four years with the Cats, Wright was a four-time All-SEC selection, two-time MAC Hermann Trophy finalist and a two-time All-American, ultimately becoming the first Kentucky player to ever be selected in a professional women’s soccer draft.
