# Madison Ayson

Madison Francis Ayson (born January 22, 2001) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a defender for Canberra United FC of the Australian A-League. She has formerly played for the Houston Dash in the National Women's Soccer League. Ayson played college soccer for the Stanford Cardinal and the Xavier Musketeers.

## Early life

Born in Roseville, California, Ayson grew up alongside two older brothers in the neighboring town of Rocklin. She played soccer and ran track at Granite Oaks Middle School, where she was a member of a 4x100m relay team who broke the school record. Ayson then attended Rocklin High School, where she captained the soccer team for three years and helped lift the school to several division playoff appearances. Outside of school, Ayson played club soccer for the San Juan Spirits before switching to Davis Legacy SC in 2017.

## College career
### Stanford Cardinal

Ayson matriculated at Stanford University from 2019 to 2022, playing for the Cardinal soccer team in all four years of her tenure at Stanford. As a freshman, Ayson played as a center back and did not start in any of her 13 collegiate appearances. She was part of the Cardinal team who won the 2019 NCAA College Cup, which culminated in a penalty shootout victory over North Carolina. Ayson recorded her first (and only) Cardinal goal on August 29, 2021, in a 6–0 drubbing of San Diego State. In her time at Stanford, she made 44 appearances and 5 starts.

### Xavier Musketeers

In May 2023, Ayson transferred to Xavier University as a graduate student. She played with the Musketeers women's soccer program for one year, racking up 22 appearances. Ayson also scored a career-high 3 goals, netting her first in a 5–1 victory over Western Kentucky on August 27, 2023.

## Club career
### Houston Dash

After initially training with Houston Dash as a preseason non-roster invitee, Ayson signed a short-term contract with the Texan club on April 27, 2024. She made her professional debut on July 20, coming on as a substitute in an NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup defeat to the Kansas City Current. At the end of the season, Ayson and the Dash agreed to a mutual contract termination, giving Ayson the chance to explore opportunities abroad.

### Canberra United

On November 29, 2024, Australian A-League club Canberra United FC signed Ayson to a one-year contract. One day later, she made her A-League debut in a 2–1 loss to the Central Coast Mariners. On March 14, 2025, Ayson scored her first A-League goal in a match against Western United FC, but she also later conceded a game-winning own goal that helped Western United beat Canberra 4–3.

## Career statistics
### Club

    As of March 17, 2025
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | Cup | Cup | Playoffs | Playoffs | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Houston Dash | 2024 | NWSL | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Canberra United FC | 2024–25 | A-League | 10 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 10 | 1 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 13 | 1 |
* ↑ Includes NWSL Playoffs and A-League Finals Series
* ↑ Includes NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup

## Honors
### Stanford Cardinal

* NCAA Division I women's soccer championship: 2019
* Pac-12 Championship: 2019, 2022