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Lauren Barnes
Lauren Kate Barnes (born May 31, 1989) is an American former professional soccer player who played as a defender. Barnes was named NWSL Defender of the Year with Seattle Reign FC in 2016 and was twice named to the league's Best XI in 2015 and 2016. She won the NWSL Shield with the Reign in 2014, 2015, and 2022. As of 2025[update], she has played the most-ever games and minutes of any NWSL player.
Barnes previously played for the Philadelphia Independence in the WPS and represented the United States on the under-15, under-20, and under-23 national teams. She has won multiple league championships in Australia with Melbourne Victory and Melbourne City and played one season for Swedish club Kristianstads DFF.
Barnes was born in Arcadia, California, to parents Joyce and Gary Barnes. She attended Upland High School in Upland, California, where she was a four-time first-team All-CIF selection. She was rated as the number two overall recruit in the nation by RISE Magazine and Soccer Buzz and was named Gatorade Player of the Year for the state of California. In 2005 and 2006 she was named Parade All-American, NSCAA/adidas Girls Youth All-American, and 2006 CIF-Southern Section Co-Player of the Year. In addition to her high school play, Barnes played for local club soccer team, Arsenal FC.
Barnes attended UCLA where she played for the Bruins from 2007 to 2010. During her freshman year, she finished the season with one goal and three assists for a total of five points. She was one of six players and just two freshmen to start all 24 matches for the team. She was named to the Soccer America Freshman All-American and Pac-10 All-Freshman Teams. She scored her lone goal for the season in a 3–1 victory over Arizona State and assisted on the game-winning goal in a 3–2 NCAA Quarterfinal victory over University of Portland.
During her sophomore year, Barnes appeared in all 25 matches, starting 24. She ended the season with six points (six assists). Barnes helped the UCLA defense rank first in the country in goals against average (0.23), allowing only six goals in 25 matches. In 2009, Barnes was one of just three players who started all 25 matches and ranked fourth on the team in scoring with 14 points (two goals and ten assists). She tied with Lauren Cheney for the team lead in assists with 10. Barnes scored the game-winning goal in a 3–2 double-overtime victory over Arizona State.
During her senior year, Barnes played and started 22 of 23 matches. She was a leader of the Bruin defense that surrendered less than a goal a game (0.84). Under her direction, the defense posted nine shutouts in 23 matches. She was also a contributor for the offense, ranking second on the team in scoring with 16 points (scoring five goals and providing six assists). She scored game-winning goals in wins over San Diego and Washington State and assisted on the game-winning goal in a 2–1 victory over the University of Central Florida in the NCAA Second Round. She was a First-Team All-Pac-10 selection and named Third-Team NSCAA All-American.
Barnes was selected in the third round (fifteenth overall) of the 2011 WPS Draft by the Philadelphia Independence. She was included on the bench for nine matches, but did not make an appearance. The Independence finished second during the regular season with a 13–4–3 record. The team advanced to the playoffs where they defeated magicJack 2–0 in the Super Semifinal. They faced regular season winners Western New York Flash in the WPS Final where they were defeated 5–4 in penalty kicks after a 1–1 draw.
Barnes was selected by the Seattle Reign FC during the 2013 NWSL Supplemental Draft as their second pick (tenth pick overall). Barnes was key component in the Reign's defense playing primarily as a center-back for the squad throughout the 2013 season. During a home match against FC Kansas City on June 9, 2013, her defensive skill was especially highlighted when she reached a shot just before it crossed the goal line that had bounced over goalkeeper Hope Solo's head. With a diving tackle into the netting, Barnes tipped the ball over the crossbar and out of the goal. Along with teammate Christine Nairn, Barnes was one of only two players on the Reign to play in all 22 matches during the 2013 season. She was the only player to start every game tallying 1,949 minutes. After the season ended, Barnes earned team honors for Defender of the Year.
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Lauren Barnes
Lauren Kate Barnes (born May 31, 1989) is an American former professional soccer player who played as a defender. Barnes was named NWSL Defender of the Year with Seattle Reign FC in 2016 and was twice named to the league's Best XI in 2015 and 2016. She won the NWSL Shield with the Reign in 2014, 2015, and 2022. As of 2025[update], she has played the most-ever games and minutes of any NWSL player.
Barnes previously played for the Philadelphia Independence in the WPS and represented the United States on the under-15, under-20, and under-23 national teams. She has won multiple league championships in Australia with Melbourne Victory and Melbourne City and played one season for Swedish club Kristianstads DFF.
Barnes was born in Arcadia, California, to parents Joyce and Gary Barnes. She attended Upland High School in Upland, California, where she was a four-time first-team All-CIF selection. She was rated as the number two overall recruit in the nation by RISE Magazine and Soccer Buzz and was named Gatorade Player of the Year for the state of California. In 2005 and 2006 she was named Parade All-American, NSCAA/adidas Girls Youth All-American, and 2006 CIF-Southern Section Co-Player of the Year. In addition to her high school play, Barnes played for local club soccer team, Arsenal FC.
Barnes attended UCLA where she played for the Bruins from 2007 to 2010. During her freshman year, she finished the season with one goal and three assists for a total of five points. She was one of six players and just two freshmen to start all 24 matches for the team. She was named to the Soccer America Freshman All-American and Pac-10 All-Freshman Teams. She scored her lone goal for the season in a 3–1 victory over Arizona State and assisted on the game-winning goal in a 3–2 NCAA Quarterfinal victory over University of Portland.
During her sophomore year, Barnes appeared in all 25 matches, starting 24. She ended the season with six points (six assists). Barnes helped the UCLA defense rank first in the country in goals against average (0.23), allowing only six goals in 25 matches. In 2009, Barnes was one of just three players who started all 25 matches and ranked fourth on the team in scoring with 14 points (two goals and ten assists). She tied with Lauren Cheney for the team lead in assists with 10. Barnes scored the game-winning goal in a 3–2 double-overtime victory over Arizona State.
During her senior year, Barnes played and started 22 of 23 matches. She was a leader of the Bruin defense that surrendered less than a goal a game (0.84). Under her direction, the defense posted nine shutouts in 23 matches. She was also a contributor for the offense, ranking second on the team in scoring with 16 points (scoring five goals and providing six assists). She scored game-winning goals in wins over San Diego and Washington State and assisted on the game-winning goal in a 2–1 victory over the University of Central Florida in the NCAA Second Round. She was a First-Team All-Pac-10 selection and named Third-Team NSCAA All-American.
Barnes was selected in the third round (fifteenth overall) of the 2011 WPS Draft by the Philadelphia Independence. She was included on the bench for nine matches, but did not make an appearance. The Independence finished second during the regular season with a 13–4–3 record. The team advanced to the playoffs where they defeated magicJack 2–0 in the Super Semifinal. They faced regular season winners Western New York Flash in the WPS Final where they were defeated 5–4 in penalty kicks after a 1–1 draw.
Barnes was selected by the Seattle Reign FC during the 2013 NWSL Supplemental Draft as their second pick (tenth pick overall). Barnes was key component in the Reign's defense playing primarily as a center-back for the squad throughout the 2013 season. During a home match against FC Kansas City on June 9, 2013, her defensive skill was especially highlighted when she reached a shot just before it crossed the goal line that had bounced over goalkeeper Hope Solo's head. With a diving tackle into the netting, Barnes tipped the ball over the crossbar and out of the goal. Along with teammate Christine Nairn, Barnes was one of only two players on the Reign to play in all 22 matches during the 2013 season. She was the only player to start every game tallying 1,949 minutes. After the season ended, Barnes earned team honors for Defender of the Year.