Riley Tiernan: From Unknown to NWSL Star, A Success Story

Riley Tiernan: From ‘underdog’ to NWSL star

On a cloudy day in March in Los Angeles, Riley Tiernan was preparing for a decisive moment. Her Angel City FC teammate, Katie Zelem, sent the ball to Claire Emslie, who centered the ball. With Seattle Reign defenders approaching, Tiernan rose and, with an unstoppable header, sent the ball to the upper left corner of the goal.

This goal, impressive for anyone, is even more so for someone who, four weeks earlier, didn’t have a professional contract. Now, at 23 years old, Tiernan is a finalist for the Rookie of the Year award, along with Maddie Dahlien from Seattle and Lilly Reale from Gotham FC. Her path to the top has been unusual, starting as a guest at training camp.

“She went from being an ‘underdog’ to a star. She had to fight to be seen, to have a place in the team, to have a place in the starting eleven. She won each of those battles.”

Julie Uhrman, President and co-founder of Angel City

Tiernan quickly made an impact, leading the rookies in goals and standing out in the fight for the Golden Boot. Although Angel City did not make the playoffs, Tiernan’s season was a bright spot, with 8 goals, 1 assist, and 18 shots on goal. “I just wanted to have the chance to play,” said Tiernan, surprised by the unexpected success.

Tiernan celebrates a goal against Washington in May.

From a young age, Riley demonstrated remarkable tenacity. Her sister Madison, who is also a soccer player, remembers her competitiveness and determination. This same passion led her to excel in youth soccer and then in college.

Madison Tiernan, left, has guided her sister Riley in her soccer journey.

In her first year at Rutgers, Riley was named Rookie of the Year and excelled with school records in assists. An incident in a college game, where she received a red card, threatened to tarnish her achievements, but also spurred her to prove her worth. The elimination of the college draft from the NWSL in 2024 forced Tiernan to seek a contract or compete in training camps. The uncertainty was tough, but she finally received an invitation to try out with Gotham and Angel City.

With the help of her sister Madison, Tiernan hired an agent and joined the Angel City training camp. The pressure was high, but Tiernan remained focused. She found solace in reading the Bible and in the support of her sister.

Angel City was one of the two teams that offered Tiernan an invitation to try out at training camp.After weeks of training, Tiernan received the news he had been waiting for: Angel City offered him a contract. In a match against Bay FC, Tiernan scored a spectacular goal, celebrating with a backflip. His impact on the team and his competitive mentality have been praised by the coaching staff.

“I work hard. I am tough. I am from Jersey, tough.”Although she has had some games without scoring, Tiernan remains focused on giving her best for the team. Her coach, Alexander Straus, emphasizes the importance of her overall performance and her continuous growth.

“It was better that they didn’t give her anything,” says Madison Tiernan about her sister Riley. “Now, if someone has something to say, they can look her in the face and say, ‘I earned every inch of my contract.’”

After a home game, Tiernan was greeted by a group of fans with a personalized jersey celebrating her New Jersey roots. Tiernan, proud of her journey, continues to prove her worth on the field and leave a mark on professional soccer.