Christen Press

magicJack (2011)

Press was drafted to the Washington Freedom as the fourth overall pick in the 2011 WPS Draft. Under new ownership, the team moved to Florida and was renamed magicJack. She scored her first goal in the 64th minute of magicJack's 2–0 victory over the Atlanta Beat in May. Of the goal, Press said, "It was so good to finish. Being a forward, we go into every game thinking our job is to score, so it's nice to finally get that accomplished." During a 4–0 win against the Boston Breakers in July, Press scored her first hat trick in a professional match. After losing in the semifinal of the playoffs, she was awarded the U.S. Soccer Federation's Rookie of the Year award in part for being the first-ever rookie to have a hat trick. Press finished the season having started in 16 of the 19 games in which she appeared for magicJack. Her eight goals ranked third in the league. During the offseason, Press signed with the Atlanta Beat; however, the league suspended operations before the season began.

Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC (2012)

After Women's Professional Soccer folded in early 2012, Press signed a new professional contract with Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC in the Damallsvenskan, the top division league in Sweden. Her first game with Göteborg was a 2011–12 UEFA Women's Champions League quarterfinal match against Arsenal that ended in a 3–1 loss. During her regular season debut with Göteborg on April 10 against Djurgården, she scored two goals (a brace), with…

2012

As a member of the United States women's national soccer team player pool, Press was named to the squad for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, though she attended as an alternate, and did not make the final roster.

2013

She earned her first cap for the national team on February 9 in a friendly against Scotland. After scoring the first two goals of the match playing as a right midfielder, she provided the assist on the United States' third goal. Press is only the third woman to score two goals on her first match for the United States national team following Cindy Parlow Cone in 1996 and Sherrill Kester in 2000. The United States defeated Scotland 4–1 and Press was named Budweiser Woman of the Match. Four days later, she scored another goal during her second cap, helping the United States defeat Scotland 2–0. No other American woman has scored three goals in her first two games. Press' third cap for the national team occurred at the 2013 Algarve Cup during the team's first group stage match against Iceland on March 6, 2013. Press subbed in during the 64th minute for Carli Lloyd and the U.S. defeated Iceland 3–0. During the team's next group stage match on March 8, 2013, Press scored the fourth goal in a commanding 5–0 win over China. With the goal against China, Press became the fifth women's national team player to score at least four goals in her first four matches. She earned two additional caps at the Algarve during the knockout stage match…

Born in Los Angeles to Cody and Stacy Press, Christen was raised in the suburb of Palos Verdes Estates with her two sisters, Channing and Tyler. Both of her parents played different sports: Cody was an American football player at Dartmouth and Stacy was a tennis player. She began playing soccer at age five and later attended Chadwick School for high school. As a two-year team captain and four-year starter of her high school's soccer team, Press led Chadwick to two Southern Section Division IV titles. She also lettered in track and tennis. In 2006, she was named NSCAA High School All-American and Parade Magazine All-American. During her high school career, she scored 128 goals, including 38 her junior year alone (a school record). She was named Southern Section Division IV Offensive Player of the Year twice and was a four-time Prep League Offensive MVP. Press played club soccer for Slammers FC of Newport Beach, California, and won the Golden Boot for most goals scored in the US Youth Soccer Association's national championship tournament.

Stanford Cardinal (2007–2010)

Press is the all-time leading scorer for the Stanford Cardinal women's soccer team with 71 goals. While playing for the Cardinal, she broke school records for career points (183), assists (41), and shots (500); as well as single-season records for goals (26), shots (180), and game-winning goals (10). She was Stanford's second Hermann Trophy winner and a two-time runner-up at the NCAA Women's College…

Press is married to USWNT and former Manchester United W.F.C. teammate Tobin Heath, having been in a relationship since 2015. On November 22, 2021, amidst the 2021 NWSL abuse scandal, Press alleged abuse against former Chicago Red Stars manager Rory Dames. Press revealed in an article by The Washington Post that she had tried to speak up about Dames' behavior in 2014 to former US Soccer President Sunil Gulati, but her "concerns were dismissed." Press went on to say that her request for a trade from the Chicago Red Stars in 2017 was due to Dames's treatment of her, and in 2018, she filed a complaint against him to US Soccer. The NWSL Players Association released a statement in support of Press and Press's former Red Stars teammates Jen Hoy and Sam Johnson, who came forward with similar allegations. Since 2013, Press has worked with Grassroot Soccer, an adolescent health organization that leverages the power of soccer to equip young people with the life-saving information, services, and mentorship they need to live healthier lives. First joining as a Global Ambassador, she was elected to the organization's board of directors in 2018 and has visited its soccer-based health programs in South Africa and Zambia.