Lo'eau LaBonta

Lo'eau Kaiulani LaBonta (born March 18, 1993) is an American professional soccer player who currently plays as a midfielder for Kansas City in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL).

Lo'eau LaBonta
LaBonta in May 2016
Personal information
Full name Lo'eau Kaiulani LaBonta
Date of birth (1993-03-18) March 18, 1993
Place of birth Rancho Cucamonga, California, United States
Height 5 ft 1 in (1.55 m)
Position(s) Midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Kansas City
Number 9
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2011–2014 Stanford Cardinal 78 (22)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015 Sky Blue FC 6 (0)
2016–2017 FC Kansas City 33 (2)
2017–2019 → Western Sydney Wanderers (loan) 21 (1)
2018–2020 Utah Royals 42 (2)
2021– Kansas City 0 (0)
National team
2015 United States U23
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 17 October 2020

Early life

Stanford University

LaBonta attended Stanford University from 2011 to 2014, she was part of the NCAA National Championship winning team in 2011.[1]

Club career

Sky Blue FC, 2015

Sky Blue FC drafted LaBonta from Stanford with the 37th overall pick in the 2015 NWSL College Draft. She made six appearances before Sky Blue FC waived her and Meg Morris in July 2015 to make room on the roster for players returning from the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup.[2][3]

FC Kansas City, 2016–2017

FC Kansas City signed LaBonta in May 2016.[4] She debuted for FCKC against the Orlando Pride shortly thereafter, and soon earned a regular starting position with the team.[3] FCKC head coach Vlatko Andonovski cited her tenacity in winning possession from opponents for her increased playing time.[5]

Western Sydney Wanderers, 2017–2019 (loan)

In October 2017, LaBonta joined Australian club Western Sydney Wanderers.[6] She played every match for the Red & Black, scoring one goal. She returned to the Wanderers for the 2018–19 season and appeared in 9 games.[7]

Utah Royals FC, 2018–2020

After FC Kansas City ceased operations after the 2017 season, LaBonta was officially added to the roster of the Utah Royals FC on February 8, 2018.[8] LaBonta appeared in 16 games for the Royals in the 2018 NWSL season.

She returned to Utah for the 2019 season and scored her first goal for the club on April 21, in a 1–0 win over the Washington Spirit.[9] LaBonta was named to the NWSL Team of the Month for August, she had 1 goal and 2 assists during the month of August.[10]

Personal life

LaBonta is engaged to Sporting Kansas City player Roger Espinoza.[11]

References
  1. "Stanford's Lo'eau LaBonta Seizing Opportunity To Go Out A Champion". November 15, 2014. Retrieved July 3, 2018.
  2. "Sky Blue FC Waives LaBonta, Morris to Make Room for Foord, Kerr". Sky Blue FC. July 2, 2015. Retrieved July 2, 2017.
  3. Gaylor, Rachel (May 25, 2017). "Player Profile – Lo'eau LaBonta". FC Kansas City. Retrieved July 2, 2017.
  4. FC Kansas City (May 28, 2016). "Blues Sign Midfielder Lo'eau LaBonta". OurSportsCentral. Retrieved July 2, 2017.
  5. Scoby, Ashley (September 10, 2016). "Development of young players a bright spot in FC Kansas City's down year". The Kansas City Star. Retrieved July 2, 2017.
  6. "LaBonta joins the Wanderers". Western Sydney Wanderers. October 19, 2017.
  7. "LeBonta returns to the Red & Black".
  8. "Utah Royals FC officially welcomes five additions to 2018 NWSL roster". February 8, 2018. Retrieved July 3, 2018.
  9. "L.LABONTA". Retrieved April 21, 2019.
  10. "August Team of the Month". September 5, 2019. Retrieved September 15, 2019.
  11. https://www.instagram.com/p/CJl9IgyJFkU/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link


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