Kelsey Turnbow is an American soccer player who plays as a forward for San Diego Wave FC of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), the highest division of women’s professional soccer in the United States. She was awarded at the 2017 West Coast Conference Freshman of the Year and won the 2020 NCAA Women’s Division I championship.
Kelsey Turnbow was born on January 10, 1999, in Spokane Valley, Washington. She started playing high school soccer for Central Valley High School. Later she played also for Pinnacle High School in Phoenix, Arizona. She also regularly played for the US youth national teams.
Kelsey Turnbow played college soccer for Santa Clara. She helped the team to win the 2020 NCAA Women’s Division I championship, scoring in regulation and the penalty kick shootout in the final, and was named the 2020-21 College Cup Offensive Most Outstanding Player.
In the second round of the 2021 NWSL Draft, with the 18th overall pick, the Chicago Red Stars selected Kelsey Turnbow from Santa Clara. However, she opted not to join the Red Stars for the 2021 NWSL season and returned to Santa Clara, where she led the team to the semifinals of the 2021 NCAA College Cup.
Kelsey Turnbow started her professional career for San Diego Wave FC. In December 2021, the San Diego Wave Futbol Club announced it had acquired the rights to Mexican international Katie Johnson, Makenzy Doniak, and Kelsey Turnbow in a trade with the Chicago Red Stars. Kelsey Turnbow made her club debut in March 2022 as a starter in San Diego Wave FC’s inaugural match against Angel City FC.
Kelsey Turnbow recorded her first professional assist on April 17, 2022, during the 2022 NWSL Challenge Cup, on a goal by Jodie Taylor against Portland Thorns, and her first league assist on May 15, also to Taylor, against the Red Stars.
Kelsey Turnbow photos
