DeAira Jackson
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 2002 (age 22–23) | ||
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||
| Position(s) | Goalkeeper | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Orlando Pride | ||
| College career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2021–2022 | Cal State Fullerton Titans | 16 | (0) |
| 2023–2024 | Grand Canyon Antelopes | 43 | (0) |
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2025– | Orlando Pride | 0 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
DeAira Jackson (born 2002) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for the Orlando Pride of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). She played college soccer for the Cal State Fullerton Titans and the Grand Canyon Antelopes.
Early life and college career
[edit]Jackson grew up in Fontana, California, one of two daughters born to James Jackson and Regena Weatherford.[1] She attended Rancho Cucamonga High School, where she played soccer, track and field as a hurdler, and one season of football as a kicker.[1][2]
Cal State Fullerton, Grand Canyon
[edit]Jackson matriculated to California State University, Fullerton, in 2020 after graduating early, but the season was cancelled that year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[1] She played 16 games, starting 10 of them, throughout two seasons with the Fullerton Titans.[1] She was named to the Big West Conference all-freshman team in 2021.[1] She also began training in rugby sevens after winning Next Olympic Hopeful, a TV show organized by the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee.[2]
Jackson transferred to Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Arizona, in 2023, becoming the primary keeper for the Antelopes soccer team.[3] In her debut season, she started all 23 games and kept 7 clean sheets (plus 3 combined shutouts), earning second-team All-Western Athletic Conference honors.[3] She helped them win the 2023 WAC tournament and was named to the all-tournament team.[3] She made 5 saves in a 1–0 defeat to USC in the NCAA tournament, allowing only a goal from the penalty spot.[3] In her senior season in 2024, she started all 20 games and kept 9 clean sheets, being named first-team All-WAC and the WAC Goalkeeper of the Year.[3]
Club career
[edit]Jackson was invited to train as a non-roster trialist with the Orlando Pride in the 2025 preseason.[4] On February 12, Orlando announced that they had signed Jackson to a short-term contract.[5]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e "DeAira Jackson". Cal State Fullerton Titans. Retrieved February 12, 2025.
- ^ a b Nguyen, Thuc Nhi (May 6, 2020). "'Next Olympic Hopeful' DeAira Jackson eager to make an impact with rugby sevens". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 12, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e "DeAira Jackson". Grand Canyon Antelopes. Retrieved February 12, 2025.
- ^ "Orlando Pride Announces 2025 Preseason Roster". Orlando Pride. January 20, 2025. Retrieved February 12, 2025.
- ^ "Orlando Pride Signs midfielder Aryssa Mahrt and goalkeeper DeAira Jackson to short-term contracts". Orlando Pride. February 12, 2025. Retrieved February 12, 2025.
External links
[edit]- Living people
- 2002 births
- 21st-century American sportswomen
- Soccer players from California
- Sportspeople from Fontana, California
- American women's soccer players
- Women's association football goalkeepers
- Cal State Fullerton Titans women's soccer players
- Grand Canyon Antelopes women's soccer players
- Orlando Pride players