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Sam Angel (soccer)

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Sam Angel
Angel with the Chicago Stars in 2025
Personal information
Full name Samantha Sophie Cary Angel[1]
Birth name Samantha Sophie Cary[2]
Date of birth (2000-10-26) October 26, 2000 (age 25)
Place of birth St. Charles, Missouri, U.S.
Height 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Positions
Team information
Current team
 DC Power FC
(on loan from Chicago Stars)
Number 25
Youth career
St. Louis Scott Gallagher
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2019–2023 Iowa Hawkeyes 97 (5)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2021 Chicago Red Stars Reserves
2022 Racing Louisville (USL W) 11 (0)
2024–2025 IFK Norrköping 38 (3)
2025– Chicago Stars 4 (0)
2026 → Boston Legacy (loan) 0 (0)
2026– → DC Power FC (loan) 2 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 16:34, August 22, 2026 (UTC)

Samantha Sophie Cary Angel (née Cary; October 26, 2000) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a left back or center back for USL Super League club DC Power FC, on loan from Chicago Stars FC of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). Angel played college soccer for the Iowa Hawkeyes, where she set program records in career appearances, starts, and minutes. She was selected by Racing Louisville FC in the 2024 NWSL Draft, but instead started her professional career with Swedish club IFK Norrköping.

Early life

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Angel was born and raised in St. Charles, Missouri.[3] She began playing club soccer in second grade, starting off at a small club before joining St. Louis Scott Gallagher SC.[4] Angel also ran track in middle school.[5] She attended Francis Howell North High School,[6] where she was a three-time all-state, all-region, and all-conference selection. She was a consistent team leader in goals and assists and helped lead the school to two district titles and one conference title.[3]

College career

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Angel matriculated at the University of Iowa and majored in public health.[7] She joined the Hawkeyes soccer program in 2019 after graduating from high school a semester early.[8] She scored her first collegiate goal on September 13, 2019, netting a long-range strike in a 4–0 win over Northern Colorado.[9] The next season, the Hawkeyes won the 2020 Big Ten title and advanced to the NCAA tournament, where the team recorded their first-ever NCAA victory with a win over Campbell in the first round. Angel provided the game-winning assist as the Hawkeyes triumphed by a 1–0 scoreline.[10] The team was subsequently knocked out of the competition by UCLA.[11]

During the summer leading up to her junior year of college, Angel played for the Chicago Red Stars Reserves.[12] She would again seek out other playing opportunities in her 2022 offseason, eventually signing for Racing Louisville FC's USL W League team. She played in 11 matches as Louisville finished third in the Great Lakes Division.[13]

In Angel's fifth year, the Hawkeyes secured another Big Ten title, marking Angel's second such honor with the team.[14] Angel found individual success, winning the Defensive Player of the Tournament award and being named to the tournament first team.[3][15] She was also named to the overall Big Ten second team and was recognized as a conference Player to Watch for the fourth consecutive season.[3] Upon her departure from the program, Angel left the University of Iowa women's soccer program as the all-time leader in games played (97), games started (96), and minutes played (8,322). Across her 5-year college career, the left back also had 5 goals and 11 assists while being the anchor on the Iowa defensive backline.[3]

Club career

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After completing her college career, Angel was drafted by the Racing Louisville FC NWSL team in the fourth round of the 2024 NWSL Draft. As the 48th overall pick, Angel became the first Hawkeye to ever be drafted into the National Women's Soccer League.[16] She spent five weeks training with Racing Louisville and appeared in one preseason match.[17] Ultimately, she departed from the club in March 2024 in search of development and playing time.[18][19]

IFK Norrköping

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On March 1, 2024, Angel signed her first professional contract with Damallsvenskan club IFK Norrköping, inking a one-year deal.[20] She immediately slotted in as the starting left back and quickly started logging minutes with the Swedish team, starting in 26 of 26 Damallsvenskan league games.[17][21] She scored her first Damallsvenskan goal on May 5, 2024, helping Norrköping beat rivals Linköping.[22] In August 2024, Angel signed a 1-year contract extension with Norrköping, keeping her with the club through November 2025. She finished her rookie season as an Iron Woman, playing every minute of every game. She was a staple on the backline and helped IFK Norrköping finish 5th place in Damallsvenskan, the highest league finish in team history.[23]

The following year, Angel helped lead the team to a historic Svenska Cupen run, where they reached the final before being defeated by Hammarby.[24] She appeared in all of Norrköping's matches prior to her departure. In her final match with the club, she scored the game-tying goal against Växjö DFF in an eventual 1–1 draw.[25]

Chicago Stars

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Angel returned to the United States in June 2025, signing a two-year contract with Chicago Stars FC.[25] She made her NWSL debut on August 31, 2025, starting and playing 72 minutes in a 1–1 draw with the Washington Spirit.[26] Angel would go on to make 3 more appearances in her first year with Chicago as the Stars finished the season in last place.[27]

On April 6, 2026, Angel joined NWSL expansion team Boston Legacy FC on loan through June with the mutual option for the clubs to extend the loan for the rest of the season.[28] She did not earn any playing time for Boston before being recalled to Chicago on July 1, 2026.[29]

On July 17, 2026, Angel was sent out on loan once again, this time to USL Super League club DC Power FC through the end of the year.[30] She debuted for the club on August 15, 2026, earning the start in DC Power's season-opening loss to the Carolina Ascent.[31]

Personal life

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Sam Angel is the daughter of Kim and Andrew Cary, and has one brother, Zac. She is married to Trey Angel. The couple met on the online dating app Tinder while at the University of Iowa and married in December 2023.[32][18]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of July 1, 2026[13][21]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup[a] Playoffs Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Racing Louisville FC (USL W) 2022 USL W League 11 0 — — 11 0
IFK Norrköping 2024 Damallsvenskan 26 2 1 0 — 27 2
2025 12 1 5 0 — 17 1
Total 38 3 6 0 0 0 44 3
Chicago Stars FC 2025 NWSL 4 0 — — 4 0
2026 0 0 — — 0 0
Total 4 0 0 0 0 0 4 0
Boston Legacy FC (loan) 2026 NWSL 0 0 — — 0 0
Career total 53 3 6 0 0 0 59 3
  1. ↑ Includes Svenska Cupen

References

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  1. ↑ Chicago Stars FC [@thechicagostars]; (March 2, 2026). "Hit 'em with the full govy 🪪🧐". Retrieved March 2, 2026 – via Instagram.
  2. ↑ "Spring 2023 Commencement Program" (PDF). University of Iowa. p. 82. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 25, 2025. Retrieved February 24, 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "Samantha Cary - Women's Soccer 2019-20". Iowa Hawkeyes Athletics - Official Athletics Website. Archived from the original on February 25, 2025. Retrieved February 26, 2025.
  4. ↑ "SLSG MO ECNL Girls Excel On-and-Off the Field". www.slsgsoccer.com. June 14, 2021. Archived from the original on October 15, 2025. Retrieved February 26, 2025.
  5. ↑ Cary, Samantha (March 15, 2023). "Ask Me Anything! With Sam Cary #4". Girls Soccer Network. Archived from the original on March 22, 2023. Retrieved February 26, 2025.
  6. ↑ "Three Lady Crusaders, two Lady Jays among all-state soccer honorees | Fulton Sun". www.fultonsun.com. June 12, 2016. Archived from the original on October 15, 2025. Retrieved February 26, 2025.
  7. ↑ Elzinga, Isaac. "Meet the Player: Samantha Cary". The Daily Iowan. Archived from the original on March 22, 2025. Retrieved February 26, 2025.
  8. ↑ Boenitz, Joel. "Q&A with University of Iowa Division I soccer player Sam Cary". FHNtoday.com. Archived from the original on January 13, 2025. Retrieved February 26, 2025.
  9. ↑ "Iowa Dominates Bears, Moves to 7-0". Iowa Hawkeyes Athletics - Official Athletics Website. Archived from the original on March 27, 2025. Retrieved February 26, 2025.
  10. ↑ "Iowa Shuts Out Campbell; Marks Program's First NCAA Tournament Win". Iowa Hawkeyes Athletics - Official Athletics Website. Archived from the original on March 16, 2025. Retrieved February 26, 2025.
  11. ↑ Rodriguez, Alicia (April 30, 2021). "UCLA score last-minute winner, advance in NCAA Tournament". Bruins Nation. Archived from the original on October 1, 2024. Retrieved February 26, 2025.
  12. ↑ Vann, Leah (August 25, 2021). "3 things to know about Iowa women's soccer". www.thegazette.com. Archived from the original on October 15, 2025. Retrieved February 26, 2025.
  13. 1 2 "Racing Louisville FC - 2022 Regular Season - Roster - # - Sam Cary - D". www.uslwleague.com. Archived from the original on February 25, 2025. Retrieved February 25, 2025.
  14. ↑ "In the making: Soccer star Samantha Cary talks about her jersey's inclusion in 'Hawkeye Histories | Sporting Stories' – Main Library Gallery news". October 9, 2024. Archived from the original on March 17, 2025. Retrieved February 26, 2025.
  15. ↑ "The Unconventional Rise of Missouri Soccer Star Sam Cary". Missouri Youth Soccer Association. Archived from the original on March 1, 2025. Retrieved February 26, 2025.
  16. ↑ Martin, Derek (January 13, 2024). "Former Hawkeye Cary picked in NWSL Draft". KMAland.com. Archived from the original on October 16, 2025. Retrieved February 26, 2025.
  17. 1 2 Smith, Morgan. "FHN Alum Sam Cary Continues her Professional Soccer Career in Sweden". FHNtoday.com. Archived from the original on April 24, 2025. Retrieved February 26, 2025.
  18. 1 2 Lundell, Axel (August 22, 2024). "De träffades strax före krisen – tvingades vara nykära på distans". www.nt.se (in Swedish). Archived from the original on February 15, 2025. Retrieved February 26, 2025.
  19. ↑ "Cary departs Racing to sign with Swedish club". Racing Louisville FC. Archived from the original on July 26, 2025. Retrieved February 26, 2025.
  20. ↑ Gustafsson, David (March 1, 2024). "Välkommen till IFK Norrköping, Samantha Cary!". IFK Norrköping (in Swedish). Archived from the original on April 22, 2025. Retrieved February 26, 2025.
  21. 1 2 Sam Angel at Soccerway
  22. ↑ Jonsson, Henrik (May 25, 2024). "Lämnade USA – och skrev derbyhistoria". www.nt.se (in Swedish). Archived from the original on December 7, 2024. Retrieved February 26, 2025.
  23. ↑ Lundell, Axel (August 1, 2024). "Succébacken förlänger med IFK: "Inte en fråga"". www.nt.se (in Swedish). Archived from the original on August 6, 2024. Retrieved February 26, 2025.
  24. ↑ Gustafsson, David (May 21, 2025). "IFK Norrköping föll i Svenska Cupens final: "Gav allt"". IFK Norrköping (in Swedish). Archived from the original on June 14, 2025. Retrieved June 27, 2025.
  25. 1 2 "Chicago Stars FC Signs Samantha Cary Angel". Chicago Stars. June 23, 2025. Archived from the original on July 15, 2025. Retrieved June 27, 2025.
  26. ↑ "Washington Spirit vs Chicago Stars FC". Chicago Stars FC. Archived from the original on August 30, 2025. Retrieved September 1, 2025.
  27. ↑ Sam Angel at FBref.com Edit this at Wikidata
  28. ↑ "Defender Sam Angel joins Boston Legacy FC on loan from Chicago Stars". Boston Legacy FC. April 6, 2026. Archived from the original on April 16, 2026. Retrieved April 6, 2026.
  29. ↑ "Chicago Stars FC Defender Sam Angel Recalled from Loan to Boston Legacy FC". Chicago Stars FC. July 1, 2026. Archived from the original on July 1, 2026. Retrieved July 1, 2026.
  30. ↑ "Chicago Stars FC Loans Defender Sam Angel to DC Power FC". OurSports Central. July 18, 2026. Retrieved July 20, 2026.
  31. ↑ "POST MATCH FACTS: DC Power (0-1-0 0 pts.) 0 v. 1 Carolina Ascent FC (1-0-0, 3 pts.)". DC Power Football Club. Retrieved August 22, 2026.
  32. ↑ Cary, Sam [@samcaryangel]; (December 10, 2024). "One year ago, in front of so much love from family and friends, I made the best decision of my life and said forever to my best friend. One year of marriage has gone by in the blink of an eye, and I am beyond grateful for my life partner, my rock, and the love of my life. It wouldn't have been half as fun without you💕 One down, and here's for forever and always with you Trey Angel🤍" – via Instagram.
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