Mallory Diane Pugh (born April 29, 1998) is an American soccer player who represents the United States women’s national team and the Chicago Red Stars of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). She was the youngest female player to be picked and play for the United States national team at an Olympic qualifying competition in January 2016.
Pugh made his senior national team debut on January 23, 2016, in an international friendly against Ireland, after spending time with the U–17 and U–20 teams. She was the youngest player to make her national team debut since Heather O’Reilly in 2002. Pugh became the 19th American player to score on her debut when she scored in the 83rd minute of her debut. Pugh was one of 18 players selected to represent the United States in the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, shortly after her debut. Pugh scored her first Olympic goal against Colombia there, putting the United States up 2–1. Her goal also made her the youngest player to ever score a goal for the United States in an Olympic game. Pugh has represented the United States at the FIFA Women’s World Cup tournament in 2019. At 21, she was the second-youngest member of the 2019 team behind 20-year-old Tierna Davidson.
Pugh announced on April 17, 2017, that she would forego her collegiate degree at UCLA and pursue a professional career. Mallory Pugh signed a contract with the Washington Spirit on May 13, 2017, after failing to reach an agreement with the Portland Thorns FC.
Achievements:
Individual
U.S. Soccer Young Female Athlete of the Year: 2015
Gatorade National Female Soccer Player of the Year: 2016
National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Youth Girls National Player of the Year: 2014
NSCAA Youth All–America Team: 2013
Sports Illustrated Sports Kid of the Year Top 5 Finalist: 2012
International
SheBelieves Cup: 2016; 2018; 2020; 2022
CONCACAF Women’s Championship: 2018
FIFA Women’s World Cup: 2019