# Emma Sears

Emma Sears (born February 23, 2001) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a forward for Racing Louisville FC of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) and the United States national team. She played college soccer for the Ohio State Buckeyes and was drafted by Louisville in the second round of the 2024 NWSL Draft.

## Early life and college career

Sears was born in New Brunswick, New Jersey, and lived in both England and Laguna Beach, California before moving to Dublin, Ohio. Sears attended Dublin Jerome High School where she was a four-year letterwinner and three-year starter for the girls' soccer team. She was named first team All-Ohio after both her junior and senior seasons. Sears played club soccer for Ohio Premier.

### Ohio State Buckeyes

Sears attended the Ohio State University and featured in 83 matches for the Buckeyes from 2019 to 2023. She primarily played as a wide forward, but transitioned during her fifth year to a deeper playmaking position. She scored 25 goals, including the game-winner against Bucknell University in extra time in the first round of the 2022 NCAA tournament, and tallied 15 assists in total for the Buckeyes. Sears was a second team All-Big Ten honoree in Spring 2021 and 2022, and a first team All-Big Ten honoree in 2023. She graduated with a degree in health science in 2023.

## Club career
### Racing Louisville

Sears was selected 28th overall in the second round of the 2024 NWSL Draft by Racing Louisville FC. She signed a one-year contract with an option for an additional year. She made her professional debut as a 66th-minute substitute against the Orlando Pride on the opening matchday on March 16. She scored her first professional goal in a 5–1 win over the Utah Royals on April 20. She earned her first start for Louisville against the Orlando Pride on May 5. Her next two goals for Racing were voted back-to-back NWSL Goals of the Week. She scored the first from a tight angle near the corner flag in a 3–3 draw to the Kansas City Current on May 18; the second set up a 1–0 win over the Chicago Red Stars on May 25. On May 22, Sears's contract was extended through the 2026 season.

## International career

Sears was called up to the United States national team in October 2024 for the team's Olympic gold medal victory tour, her first national call-up at any level. She earned her first cap as a 55th-minute substitute for Yazmeen Ryan in a 3–1 friendly win over Iceland on October 27, 2024. She assisted Lynn Williams for the USWNT's opening goal and scored herself in the 90+3rd minute, becoming the first player to score and assist on her USWNT debut since Christen Press in 2013.

## Personal life

Sears has a twin sister, Bronwen, who played collegiate soccer for the Miami RedHawks.

## Career statistics
### International

    As of match played February 23, 2025
| National Team | Year | Apps | Goals |
| United States | 2024 | 3 | 1 |
| United States | 2025 | 1 | 0 |
| Total | Total | 4 | 1 |

#### International goals

    Scores and results list United States's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Sears goal.
Key (expand for notes on "international goals" and sorting) :
| Location | Geographic location of the venue where the competition occurred Sorted by country name first, then by city name |
| Lineup | Start – played entire match on minute (off player) – substituted on at the minute indicated, and player was substituted off at the same time off minute (on player) – substituted off at the minute indicated, and player was substituted on at the same time (c) – captain Sorted by minutes played |
| Goal in match | Goal of total goals by the player in the match Sorted by total goals followed by goal number |
| # | NumberOfGoals.goalNumber scored by the player in the match (alternate notation to Goal in match) |
| Min | The minute in the match the goal was scored. For list that include caps, blank indicates played in the match but did not score a goal. |
| Assist/pass | The ball was passed by the player, which assisted in scoring the goal. This column depends on the availability and source of this information. |
| penalty or pk | Goal scored on penalty-kick which was awarded due to foul by opponent. (Goals scored in penalty-shoot-out, at the end of a tied match after extra-time, are not included.) |
| Score | The match score after the goal was scored. Sorted by goal difference, then by goal scored by the player's team |
| Result | The final score. Sorted by goal difference in the match, then by goal difference in penalty-shoot-out if it is taken, followed by goal scored by the player's team in the match, then by goal scored in the penalty-shoot-out. For matches with identical final scores, match ending in extra-time without penalty-shoot-out is a tougher match, therefore precede matches that ended in regulation |
| aet | The score at the end of extra-time; the match was tied at the end of 90' regulation |
| pso | Penalty-shoot-out score shown in parentheses; the match was tied at the end of extra-time |
| | Light-purple background color – exhibition or closed door international friendly match |
| | Light-yellow background color – match at an invitational tournament |
| | Light-orange background color – Olympic women's football qualification match |
| | Light-blue background color – FIFA women's world cup qualification match |
| | Pink background color – Continental Games or regional tournament |
| | Orange background color – Olympic women's football tournament |
| | Blue background color – FIFA women's world cup final tournament |
| NOTE on background colors: Continental Games or regional tournament are sometimes also qualifier for World Cup or Olympics; information depends on the source such as the player's federation. NOTE: some keys may not apply for a particular football player ||
| Goals | Cap | Date | Location | Opponent | Lineup | Min | Assist/pass | Score | Result | Competition |
| 1 | 1 | 2024-10-27 | Nashville, Tennessee | Iceland | {{{4}}}. on 55' (off Ryan) | 90+3' | unassisted | 3–1 | 3–1 | Friendly |