LaBonta Makes History in USWNT: Late and Successful Debut at 32

Lo’eau LaBonta made history on Saturday by becoming the oldest player to debut for the United States women’s national soccer team in its 40-year history. The midfielder entered the field in the 70th minute of the match against China, which ended with a 3-0 victory for her team. With 32 years and 74 days, LaBonta has a decade of professional experience in the NWSL. Her call-up to the USWNT came earlier this month.

You have to have short-term memory, whether of victories or defeats. And when there is a defeat, you let it sink in, but you learn from it and move on. And that’s what I’ve done with every obstacle in my life.

Lo’eau LaBonta

The player is the captain of the Kansas City Current of the NWSL and was a key piece in the team’s attack in 2024, as well as in their performance at the top of the NWSL table mid-season.

In the current season, LaBonta has scored three goals in 10 matches with the Current, who leads the league. In the previous year, she recorded six goals and one assist in 24 matches, contributing to the team’s record of 57 goals scored.

Coach Emma Hayes commented after the match: “I know there’s been a lot of talk about LaBonta’s age, but I watch the league. She’s a player who didn’t give up and made sure her performances stayed high, even when she wasn’t called up to the national team. I think that should serve as a great reminder to everyone.” Hayes revealed that the coaching staff seriously considered the possibility of including LaBonta as a substitute in last year’s Olympic Games. According to ESPN Research, LaBonta completed the 10 passes he attempted on Saturday. LaBonta was called up to the United States youth national teams starting in 2007, but had not reached the senior level before this training camp.

She is the second player of Hawaiian descent to be called up to the USWNT, after Natasha Kai, a 2008 Olympic gold medalist.

LaBonta expressed her excitement about her first call-up to the USWNT: “It’s a dream come true. If you’re a professional soccer player, or even if you’re a soccer player in general, you always dream of playing for the United States women’s national team. I’ve had this dream for over 20 years. So, finally getting the call, I had to pinch myself. I thought, ‘It can’t be real because throughout this year they’ve been calling up the young players, the young prospects, and here I am receiving this call-up.”