Position: Forward
Birthdate: Feb. 23, 2001
Hometown: Dublin, Ohio
Height: 5-foot-9
Pronunciation: Emma Sears
Previous Team: Ohio State (NCAA)
2024: After being selected in the second round of the NWSL Draft, Emma Sears made 26 appearances, including 12 starts, in a standout rookie campaign. She scored her first goal in an April 20 win over the Utah Royals and later set the club record for goals scored by a rookie with five. Sears twice earned NWSL goal of the week honors. She ranked in the league’s top 10 in dribbles into the penalty area, progressive dribbles and successful take-ons, proving herself as one of the top playmakers in the NWSL.
Before Racing Louisville: The Ohio native came to Louisville from Ohio State as the 28th overall pick in the 2024 NWSL Draft. She starred for five seasons at OSU, totaling 25 goals and 15 assists in 83 appearances. She ranks 12th in Ohio State program history in career goals, 11th in career points (65) and 10th in career shot attempts (213), and she left college as one of only four players in program history to register multiple hat tricks.
With the Buckeyes, Sears earned All-Big Ten honors in three different seasons, including first-team recognition in 2023. She helped lead Ohio State to four NCAA Tournament berths, including a second-round appearance in 2022, when she scored the game-winner in an opening-round win over Bucknell.
International: After earning her first call-up during the October 2024 window, Sears became the fourth player in U.S. Women’s National Team history to score a goal and tally an assist in their international debut, helping the Americans rally to defeat Iceland in an October 27 friendly. She also started October 30 as the USWNT played for the first time at Lynn Family Stadium in a friendly against Argentina.
