USWNT and Bay FC Goalkeeper Jordan Silkowitz: “[I] actually wanted to quit soccer a year ago.”

Jordan Silkowitz’s journey to becoming Bay FC’s starting goalkeeper — and earning her first international appearance — has been anything but typical.

Born in Fairfax, Virginia, Silkowitz says her career began “off the beaten trail.” Drafted by the Kansas City Current with the 18th overall pick in the 2023 NWSL Draft, the 25-year-old goalkeeper became the first Iowa State women’s soccer player ever selected in the NWSL Draft.

While with the Current, Silkowitz learned behind U.S. Women’s National Team goalkeeper Adrianna Franch and NWSL veteran Cassie Miller. With an eye toward development and earning regular playing time, she moved on loan to Australian A-League side Brisbane Roar in September 2023, where she continued to grow until Kansas City recalled her ahead of the 2024 season.

Her return to the United States proved brief. In August, the Current signed Olympic gold medalist Almuth Schult, and Silkowitz was traded to NWSL expansion side Bay FC in exchange for Kayla Sharples and $15,000 in allocation money. The following month, Bay FC announced a two-year contract extension through 2026.

Albertin Montoya, who served as Bay FC’s head coach through the end of the 2025 season and played a role in bringing Silkowitz to the club, made it clear how highly the technical staff valued her potential.

“Silkowitz is a player many of our staff had the opportunity to scout and watch in college, as well as during her time in the NWSL and abroad,” Montoya said. “She has tremendous potential and great athletic ability, coupled with a desire to improve and grow.”

Two seasons into her professional career, Silkowitz had yet to appear in an NWSL match. Despite training alongside and learning from some of the game’s most accomplished goalkeepers, she reached a career crossroads.

“I actually wanted to quit soccer a year ago, going into that third year,” Silkowitz said. “Soccer was a scary place for me, it felt so vulnerable. I felt I was one moment away from stepping away from the game for good.”

“I was just falling out of love with it. Now I’m finding that love again.”

Ahead of the 2025 NWSL season, circumstances finally began to shift. Bay FC starting goalkeeper Katelyn Rowland retired just a month before the season, creating an open competition for the starting role. A lifetime of preparation paid off when Silkowitz was named Bay FC’s Opening Day starter.

“What you do in front of the lights isn’t built there,” Silkowitz said. “It’s built in the hours.”

She made the most of her breakthrough season. In May, Silkowitz earned her first national team call-up at any level, starting in goal for the U.S. U-23s against Germany’s U-23 side. Later that summer, Bay FC signed her to a new contract through 2027, with a team option for 2028.

“We brought Silkowitz here because we knew she could be a premier goalkeeper in this league,” Montoya said. “She has proven that since she first stepped on the field for us, and she’s just getting started. We are happy to have her continue her time with Bay FC for years to come.”

Despite a challenging season for Bay FC, which finished 13th in the standings, the club found its present and future between the posts. Silkowitz finished second in the league in penalty kicks saved (first in percentage at 100%), fifth in total saves, and earned Save of the Week honors four times on a league-best 12 nominations.

“This last year has been a dream come true,” Silkowitz said. “But I think the years leading up to it are something I’m really proud of.”

The final piece of that dream came on Nov. 19, when Silkowitz received her first call-up to the U.S. Women’s National Team senior squad.

“I’m probably going to get emotional talking about this,” she said. “You dream of that moment as a kid. Ever since I knew what the National Team was, I knew that’s what I wanted to do.”

In the span of four months, Silkowitz earned invitations to back-to-back USWNT camps.

“It’s just a dream come true, especially getting to experience that with my family,” Silkowitz said. “The last name on the back of my jersey isn’t just me — it’s my whole family. Getting to represent them and experience all of these moments together means everything.”

A year ago, Silkowitz questioned whether she would continue playing the game at all. Today, she is Bay FC’s undisputed starter, one of the NWSL’s top-performing goalkeepers, and living out her childhood dream with the USWNT.

“Someone once told me, ‘Enjoy all the firsts and enjoy all the little moments,’” Silkowitz said. “So I really cherish those — having a jersey, getting to travel, and being with my teammates. All the little things just mean a lot to me, and the people I get to do it with, too.”

Her career may have started off the beaten path, but Jordan Silkowitz has found her way. The scary part? She’s just getting started.