# Talia Staude

Natalia Staude (/ˈstaʊdi/ STOW-dee; born April 30, 2001) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a defender for the North Carolina Courage of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). She played college soccer for the Virginia Cavaliers and was drafted by the Courage in the 2024 NWSL Draft. She represented the United States at the under-15 and under-17 level, winning CONCACAF championships at both levels.

## Early life and college career

Staude was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, to Alisa and Greg Staude, and has a younger sister, Kiera. Her family moved to Atlanta, Georgia, when she was an infant. Her mother and grandfather played college basketball; her sister plays college soccer at Georgia.
Staude played high school soccer for the Westminster Schools, a private school in Atlanta, and helped the school win three GHSA titles; she missed her junior season while playing for her club team. She was a United Soccer Coaches All-American in 2016–17 and 2017–18. She scored eight goals as a senior in 2018–19 and was named The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Girls' Soccer Player of the Year and All-American by TopDrawerSoccer. She played club soccer for Tophat Soccer Club. She also lettered in high school basketball and swimming.

### Virginia Cavaliers

Staude committed to the University of Virginia in April 2017. She became a starter partway through her freshman season in 2019 and was named to the Freshman Best XI first team by TopDrawerSoccer. She scored her first college goal against SIUE in the first round of the 2020 NCAA tournament, where Virginia reached the semifinals. She scored a 90th-minute game winner against NC State in September 2021 and later helped Virginia reach the 2021 ACC tournament final. She scored in the first round of the 2022 NCAA tournament, where Virginia lost in the quarterfinals to eventual champions UCLA. As a graduate student in 2023, she co-captained the team and had three goals, including one in her final game for the school. She played 103 games for the Cavaliers, second-most in program history.

## Club career
### North Carolina Courage

The North Carolina Courage selected Staude 24th overall in the second round of the 2024 NWSL Draft with their highest pick of the night. She was signed to a three-year contract.

#### Tampa Bay Sun (loan)

On August 20, 2024, she was loaned to USL Super League club Tampa Bay Sun FC for the rest of the year. She made her professional debut as a starter for the Sun against Lexington SC on September 8, in which she recorded her first professional goal and assist in a 3–2 win. She finished her loan with 12 appearances (10 starts).

## International career

Staude was called up to her first youth national team training camp with the United States national under-14 team in June 2014. She played with the under-15 team in 2015 and 2016, winning the 2016 CONCACAF Girls' U-15 Championship. She trained with the under-17 team throughout 2017 and 2018. She recorded three assists in one game at the 2018 CONCACAF Women's U-17 Championship, a tournament the United States won, and played at the 2018 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup. While in college, she played friendlies for the under-20 team in 2019. She played friendlies with the under-23 team against NWSL clubs in the preseasons of 2022 and 2023.