Crystal Thomas

Crystal Elaine Marie Thomas (born January 18, 1994) is an American soccer player who plays for Hibernian in the Scottish Women's Premier League.

Crystal Thomas
Personal information
Full name Crystal Elaine Marie Thomas[1]
Date of birth (1994-01-18) January 18, 1994
Place of birth Elgin, Illinois, United States
Height 1.63 m (5 ft 4 in)
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
 Hibernian
Number 22
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2012–2013 Notre Dame Fighting Irish 46 (13)
2014–2016 Georgetown Hoyas 47 (19)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2017 Washington Spirit 1 (0)
2017 Medkila IL 10 (1)
2018 Valur 18 (5)
2019–2020 Washington Spirit 13 (3)
2019–2020 → Perth Glory (loan) 10 (2)
2021 Orlando Pride 9 (0)
2022–2023 Hibernian 10 (4)
International career
2013 United States U20
2017 United States U23
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of May 1, 2023

Early life

Thomas grew up in Chicago and graduated from Wheaton Academy in West Chicago. She helped the school claim a state title in 2009 as well as three Class 2A super-sectional and sectional titles (2009–11), and four regional titles (2009–12). As a senior in 2012 she tied a school record, scoring 36 goals, and was an all-state first team selection.[2]

Thomas played club soccer with Chicago Sockers, helping the team win a pair of Illinois state cup titles in 2010 and 2011. She also spent time with the Olympic Development Program Region II team, captaining at both at region and state level.[3][4]

College

Thomas began playing college soccer at the University of Notre Dame in 2012. As a freshman, Thomas appeared in all of the Fighting Irish's 24 matches including 19 starts. She scored a team-leading 10 goals as well as registering two assists as Notre Dame claimed the Big East Conference regular season title. At the end of the year she was named to the Big East All-Rookie team and was a Big East second-team selection.[3][5] After two seasons with Notre Dame, Thomas transferred to Georgetown in 2014. She scored the game-winning overtime goal to beat George Washington in her Hoyas debut but then suffered a torn hamstring and redshirted for the season.[6] After nine months out, Thomas returned to play a further 46 games in the next two seasons, scoring 18 goals and 8 assists,[7] and earned Big East second-team honors both years.[8][9] She most notably scored the only goal in Georgetown's 1–0 NCAA quarter-final win over Santa Clara to send the Hoyas to their first ever College Cup in 2016.[10]

Club career

Washington Spirit

Thomas registered for the 2017 NWSL College Draft but was not selected.[11] She signed a professional contract with Washington Spirit in April 2017 having spent preseason on trial with the team.[12] She made her pro debut and only appearance of the 2017 season on April 29 as a 65th-minute substitute during a 1–0 defeat to Houston Dash.[13] On May 19, 2017, Thomas was waived by Washington.[14]

Medkila

In June 2017, Thomas signed with Norwegian Toppserien team Medkila IL. She made 10 appearances during the 2017 Toppserien season, scoring one goal in a defeat to Kolbotn on October 28 as Medkila finished in last place and were relegated.[15]

Valur

Thomas moved to Iceland to sign for Valur ahead of the 2018 Úrvalsdeild season. She played in all 18 league games, scoring five goals, and scored another two goals in three Icelandic Cup appearances.[16]

Return to Washington

After two years in Scandinavia, Thomas returned to the NWSL and re-signed with Washington Spirit on May 23, 2019.[17] During the 2019 season she scored three goals and was named NWSL Player of the Week for week 20 after scoring a goal and an assist in a 3–0 win away at Orlando Pride on October 5.[18][19]

During the 2019–20 NWSL offseason, Thomas joined Perth Glory for the 2019–20 W-League season.[20]

With the 2020 NWSL season disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Spirit's schedule was limited to nine games.[21] Thomas featured in one game during the 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup and a further three games during the Fall Series, scoring once, an 88th-minute equalizer in a 1–1 tie with Chicago Red Stars on September 26.[22] She was waived and placed on the offseason re-entry wire as part of the team's end of season roster moves in December 2020.[23]

Orlando Pride

On February 23, 2021, after a short trial period during preseason, Thomas signed a one-year contract with Orlando Pride.[24] She made her debut on May 1, 2021, as an 82nd-minute substitute for Sydney Leroux in a 0–0 draw with North Carolina Courage in the team's last 2021 NWSL Challenge Cup group game.[25] Thomas' contract expired at the end of the season and she released to the waiver wire.[26]

Hibernian

On May 4, 2022, Thomas signed with Scottish Women's Premier League team Hibernian ahead of the 2022–23 season.[27]

On June 13, 2023, Thomas left Hibernian after only one season. She hit 8 goals in 13 matches and quickly became a fan favorite.

She recently experienced a career ending concussion.

International career

Thomas has been called up to training camps for both the United States under-20 and under-23 teams.[28][29]

Career statistics

Club summary
As of July 24, 2021.[30][15][16][31]
Club Season League Cup[lower-alpha 1] Other Total
Division AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Washington Spirit 2017 NWSL 10——10
Medkila IL 2017 Toppserien 10100—101
Valur 2018 Úrvalsdeild 18532—217
Washington Spirit 2019 NWSL 133——133
2020 —103[lower-alpha 2]141
Total 1331031174
Perth Glory (loan) 2019–20 W-League 102——102
Orlando Pride 2021 NWSL 9010—100
Hibernian 2022 SWPL 13 8 13 8
Career total 741952318222
  1. Includes the Norwegian Cup, Icelandic Cup and NWSL Challenge Cup
  2. 2020 Fall Series

Honors

College

Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Georgetown Hoyas

References
  1. Crystal Thomas at the Norwegian Football Federation (in Norwegian)
  2. Cren, Matt Le (November 27, 2020). "She's got the Spirit: Elgin's Crystal Thomas thrives from Wheaton to Notre Dame to Georgetown to pro ranks with Washington". chicagotribune.com.
  3. "Crystal Thomas". Notre Dame Fighting Irish - Official Athletics Website. July 9, 2018.
  4. "Sockers FC Chicago - Crystal Thomas". www.sockersfcchicago.com. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
  5. "2012 Women's Soccer Postseason Awards Announced". www.bigeast.com.
  6. Cren, Matt Le (July 20, 2016). "Elgin's Crystal Thomas sits, learns while recovering from hamstring strain". chicagotribune.com.
  7. "Crystal Thomas - Women's Soccer". Georgetown University Athletics.
  8. "BIG EAST 2015 Women's Soccer Annual Awards Announced". www.bigeast.com.
  9. "BIG EAST Announces 2016 Women's Soccer Regular-Season Awards". www.bigeast.com.
  10. Gordon, Jennifer (November 26, 2016). "Crystal Thomas' strike leads Georgetown to the College Cup – Equalizer Soccer".
  11. "NWSL Reveals Preliminary List of Eligible Players for the 2017 College Draft". Women's Soccer United. January 5, 2017.
  12. "Washington Spirit sign Crystal Thomas". www.nwslsoccer.com.
  13. "Washington Spirit falls 1-0 to Houston Dash in defensive battle". Washington Spirit. April 29, 2017.
  14. Anderson, Jason (May 19, 2017). "Washington Spirit release Crystal Thomas". Black And Red United.
  15. "Crystal Thomas - Profil". Norges Fotballforbund (in Norwegian).
  16. "Leikmaður - Crystal Thomas". www.ksi.is (in Icelandic).
  17. "Washington Spirit sign forward Crystal Thomas". Washington Spirit. May 23, 2019.
  18. "Week 20 Player of the Week: Crystal Thomas, Washington Spirit". www.nwslsoccer.com. October 8, 2019.
  19. "Orlando Pride vs. Washington Spirit". www.nwslsoccer.com.
  20. "Glory land versatile forward Thomas". Perth Glory FC. November 13, 2019.
  21. "NWSL, CPL delay start of 2020 seasons due to Covid-19". SportBusiness. March 21, 2020.
  22. Anderson, Jason (September 26, 2020). "Recap: Late Thomas goal gives Spirit 1-1 draw at Chicago Red Stars". Black And Red United.
  23. Small, Jordan (December 22, 2020). "Washington Spirit Waive Six Players". Washington Spirit.
  24. "Orlando Pride Signs Forward Crystal Thomas Ahead of 2021 Campaign". www.orlandocitysc.com.
  25. "North Carolina Courage vs. Orlando Pride". www.nwslsoccer.com.
  26. "Orlando Pride Exercises Options on Nine Players Following 2021 Season". www.orlandocitysc.com.
  27. "Crystal Thomas becomes a Hibee!". Hibernian FC.
  28. "Five Notre Dame Soccer Players Head To U.S. Under-20 Women's National Team Camp". Notre Dame Fighting Irish - Official Athletics Website. June 26, 2013.
  29. "U.S. U-23 Women's National Team set for first 2017 training camp". SoccerWire.
  30. "Crystal Thomas NWSL profile". National Women's Soccer League.
  31. "Crystal Thomas - Soccerway profile". Soccerway.
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