Mya Rilaine Charmaine Jones (born August 1, 2001) is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays as a forward for San Diego Wave FC of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL).
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Mya Rilaine Charmaine Jones[1] | ||
Date of birth | [2] | August 1, 2001||
Place of birth | Calgary, Alberta, Canada[3] | ||
Height | 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m) | ||
Position(s) | Forward | ||
Team information | |||
Current team | San Diego Wave | ||
Number | 18 | ||
Youth career | |||
Calgary Foothills | |||
College career | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2019–2023 | Memphis Tigers | 93 | (26) |
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2024– | San Diego Wave | 18 | (2) |
International career | |||
2014–2016 | Canada U15 | 9 | (2) |
2020 | Canada U20 | 3 | (0) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of October 16, 2024 |
Jones played collegiate soccer for the University of Memphis, and was drafted 42nd in the 2024 NWSL Draft. She represented Canada at the under-15 and under-20 levels.
Early life and education
editJones was born in Calgary, Alberta, to parents Jason Jones and Kristin Sherriff. In high school, Jones ran track and field and was a six-time academic honoree.[4] She played youth soccer with Calgary Foothills WFC, competing with the club from ages 12[5] to 21.[6] Additionally, Jones played with the Alberta South REX program[7] and trained with the Whitehaps FC Girls Elite REX program in her youth.[8]
College career
editJones played on the Memphis Tigers women's soccer team for five seasons, playing as a forward and a midfielder.[4] She scored her first collegiate goal on September 12, 2019, in a 6–0[9] win over Southeastern Louisiana. Jones completed her first year at Memphis with 3 goals and 8 assists, ranking second in single-season assists by a freshman at her school. She was also included in the 2019 AAC All-Rookie Team, the 2019 AAC All-Conference First Team, and she was named the 2019 AAC Rookie of the Year.[4]
As a sophomore, Jones started in all 12 of Memphis' matches, recording 4 assists. Her only goal of the season came in a 3–1 defeat to Ole Miss on March 1, 2021.[10] She was named the 2020–21 AAC Midfielder of the Year for her performances.[4] Growing into a more attacking threat in her junior year,[11] Jones scored one more goal than the season prior, ending the year with 2.[12] She played for the Tigers in 19 matches, starting in each one.[13] In 2021, Jones was named to the AAC All-Conference Second Team and the 2021 AAC Preseason All-Conference Team.[4]
In her senior year, Jones played and started in 19 games, similarly to the previous season. She was the team leader in goals, scoring 9, including 3 game-winners. She also finished the season with 2 assists. Jones made the 2022 AAC All-Conference First Team and the 2022 United Soccer Coaches All-South Region First Team.[4]
In her final year at Memphis, Jones led the Tigers in assists, notching 11. She also scored 11 goals, the second-highest on the team. Her goal tally was the highest in the entire AAC in conference play. Jones had three multi-goal games over the course of two months near the end of 2023. She finished the season with 22 matches under her belt, each of them starts.[4] She also received numerous accolades for her 2023 performance, including the AAC Championship Most Outstanding Offensive Player title and a unanimously-decided AAC Offensive Player of the Year award.[14] Jones was named to the 2023 AAC Championship All-Tournament Team and the 2023 AAC All-Conference First Team, as well. Finally, Jones was named to the MAC Hermann Trophy Watchlist in 2023.[4]
Jones finished her college career with 26 goals in 93 matches played.[12]
Club career
editOn January 12, 2024, Jones was selected by San Diego Wave FC as the 14th pick in the third round of the 2024 NWSL Draft.[15][16] She was the 42nd overall pick and became the first player from the University of Memphis to be drafted into the National Women's Soccer League.[17][18][19] The Wave signed Jones to a two-year contract to start her professional career.[20]
Jones made her NWSL debut on April 27, 2024. In her first appearance, she was named to the starting lineup and contributed to a 2–1 victory over Bay FC.[21][22] Jones scored her first professional goal on June 19, 2024, in a 2–1 defeat to NJ/NY Gotham FC.[23] In the 48th minute of the game, Jones intercepted a pass from opposing goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger and outmuscled her defender before scoring with her left foot.[24]
International career
editJones has represented Canada at U-15, U-17, and U-20 levels.[25] She was 12 years of age when she made her youth team debut under eventual Canada women's national soccer team coach Bev Priestman.[26] Jones was also part of the Canada team that won the 2014 CONCACAF Girls' U-15 Championship and earned a silver medal at the 2016 CONCACAF Girls' U-15 Championship.[27] In 2020, Jones appeared in the 2020 CONCACAF Women's U-20 Championship,[28] where Canada made it to the quarterfinals before being eliminated by the United States.[29]
Career statistics
edit- As of October 16, 2024
Club | Season | League | Playoffs[a] | League Cup[b] | Continental[c] | Other[d] | Total | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
San Diego Wave FC | 2024 | NWSL | 18 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 23 | 2 |
Career total | 18 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 23 | 2 |
- ^ Includes NWSL Playoffs
- ^ Includes the NWSL Challenge Cup
- ^ Includes CONCACAF W Champions Cup
- ^ Includes NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup
Honors
editSan Diego Wave
References
edit- ^ Mya Jones at Soccerway
- ^ Mya Jones at the Canadian Soccer Association
- ^ "Mya Jones".
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Mya Jones – 2023 – Women's Soccer". University of Memphis Athletics. Retrieved 2024-07-02.
- ^ "Mya Jones – Calgary Foothills Soccer Club". gofoothills.ca. Retrieved 2024-07-07.
- ^ Kaake, Michael (March 23, 2024). "Inspirational Calgarians Mya Jones, Grace Stordy paving the way for future soccer stars". Calgary Herald.
- ^ FC, Whitecaps. "Mya Jones | Vancouver Whitecaps". Whitecaps FC. Retrieved 2024-07-07.
- ^ Hawksworth, Jeannie. "Academy Boys and REX Girls players selected for 2017–18". Alberta Soccer. Retrieved 2024-07-07.
- ^ "Memphis collects fourth consecutive shutout behind 6–0 win". University of Memphis Athletics. Retrieved 2024-07-07.
- ^ "Women's Soccer vs Ole Miss on 3/1/2021 – Box Score". University of Memphis Athletics. Retrieved 2024-07-07.
- ^ ""This girl needs an opportunity:" Calgary coaches say midfielder deserves Team Canada attention – Calgary | Globalnews.ca". Global News. Retrieved 2024-07-07.
- ^ a b "Mya Jones – 2023 – Women's Soccer". University of Memphis Athletics. Retrieved 2024-07-07.
- ^ "Mya Jones – 2023 – Women's Soccer". University of Memphis Athletics. Retrieved 2024-07-07.
- ^ "American Athletic Conference Announces 2023 Women's Soccer Honors". theamerican.org. 2024-01-12. Retrieved 2024-07-07.
- ^ Emerick, Tyler (2024-01-13). "San Diego Wave Selects Two Players in 2024 NWSL Draft". San Diego Wave Fútbol Club. Retrieved 2024-07-07.
- ^ "2024 NWSL College Draft Results | College Soccer". TopDrawerSoccer.com. Retrieved 2024-07-02.
- ^ "Jones Drafted to San Diego Wave; Becomes First Memphis Tiger Drafted in National Women's Soccer League". University of Memphis Athletics. Retrieved 2024-07-02.
- ^ Dylan, Jonah. "Mya Jones becomes first Memphis women's soccer player selected in NWSL draft". The Commercial Appeal. Retrieved 2024-07-02.
- ^ "Mya Jones: From Calgary to Memphis to San Diego". localmemphis.com. 2024-01-26. Retrieved 2024-07-07.
- ^ Emerick, Tyler (2024-02-06). "San Diego Wave FC Signs 2024 NWSL Draft Pick Mya Jones". San Diego Wave Fútbol Club. Retrieved 2024-07-02.
- ^ Emerick, Tyler (2024-04-28). "San Diego Wave FC Defeats Bay FC 2–1 at Snapdragon Stadium". San Diego Wave Fútbol Club. Retrieved 2024-07-02.
- ^ "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 2024-07-02.
- ^ Union-Tribune, Tom Krasovic | The San Diego (2024-06-20). "Another 'devastating' late goal stuns Wave in final minutes". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved 2024-07-02.
- ^ Stone, Chris (2024-06-20). "Back-to-Back Heartbreakers for Wave, This Time a Loss to Host NJ/NY Gotham". Times of San Diego. Retrieved 2024-07-02.
- ^ "Canadian Mya Jones signs two-year deal with NWSL's San Diego Wave". Sportsnet.ca. Retrieved 2024-07-03.
- ^ FC, Whitecaps. "Mya Jones | Vancouver Whitecaps". Whitecaps FC. Retrieved 2024-07-03.
- ^ "Profile – Canada Soccer". 2020-01-28. Retrieved 2024-07-03.
- ^ "From the Sidelines: Mya Jones Makes History". Calgary Minor Soccer Association. 2024-05-07. Retrieved 2024-07-03.
- ^ "U-20 USWNT Dominates Canada 4–0 to Reach Pivotal 2020 Concacaf Women's U-20 Championship Semifinals". www.ussoccer.com. Retrieved 2024-07-03.
- ^ Emerick, Tyler (2024-03-16). "San Diego Wave FC Defeat 1–0 NJ/NY Gotham FC in 2024 UKG NWSL Challenge Cup". San Diego Wave Fútbol Club. Retrieved 2024-07-07.