Mya Jones

Mya Jones
Jones with the San Diego Wave in 2024
Personal information
Full name Mya Rilaine Charmaine Jones[1]
Date of birth (2001-08-01) August 1, 2001 (age 23)[2]
Place of birth Calgary, Alberta, Canada[3]
Height 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
 San Diego Wave
Number 18
Youth career
Calgary Foothills
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2019–2023 Memphis Tigers 93 (26)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2017–2019 Calgary Foothills WFC 15 (4)
2022–2023 Calgary Foothills WFC
2024– San Diego Wave 19 (2)
International career
2014–2016 Canada U15 9 (2)
2020 Canada U20 3 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of November 3, 2024

Mya Rilaine Charmaine Jones (born August 1, 2001) is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays as a forward for San Diego Wave FC of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL).

Jones played collegiate soccer for the University of Memphis, and was drafted 42nd in the 2024 NWSL Draft. She represented Canada at the under-15 and under-20 levels.

Early life and education

[edit]

Jones was born in Calgary, Alberta, to parents Jason Jones and Kristin Sherriff. In high school, Jones ran track and field and was a six-time academic honoree.[4] She played youth soccer with Calgary Foothills WFC, competing with the club from ages 12[5] to 21.[6] Additionally, Jones played with the Alberta South REX program[7] and trained with the Whitehaps FC Girls Elite REX program in her youth.[8]

College career

[edit]

Jones played on the Memphis Tigers women's soccer team for five seasons, playing as a forward and a midfielder.[4] She scored her first collegiate goal on September 12, 2019, in a 6–0[9] win over Southeastern Louisiana. Jones completed her first year at Memphis with 3 goals and 8 assists, ranking second in single-season assists by a freshman at her school. She was also included in the 2019 AAC All-Rookie Team, the 2019 AAC All-Conference First Team, and she was named the 2019 AAC Rookie of the Year.[4]

As a sophomore, Jones started in all 12 of Memphis' matches, recording 4 assists. Her only goal of the season came in a 3–1 defeat to Ole Miss on March 1, 2021.[10] She was named the 2020–21 AAC Midfielder of the Year for her performances.[4] Growing into a more attacking threat in her junior year,[11] Jones scored one more goal than the season prior, ending the year with 2.[12] She played for the Tigers in 19 matches, starting in each one.[13] In 2021, Jones was named to the AAC All-Conference Second Team and the 2021 AAC Preseason All-Conference Team.[4]

In her senior year, Jones played and started in 19 games, similarly to the previous season. She was the team leader in goals, scoring 9, including 3 game-winners. She also finished the season with 2 assists. Jones made the 2022 AAC All-Conference First Team and the 2022 United Soccer Coaches All-South Region First Team.[4]

In her final year at Memphis, Jones led the Tigers in assists, notching 11. She also scored 11 goals, the second-highest on the team. Her goal tally was the highest in the entire AAC in conference play. Jones had three multi-goal games over the course of two months near the end of 2023. She finished the season with 22 matches under her belt, each of them starts.[4] She also received numerous accolades for her 2023 performance, including the AAC Championship Most Outstanding Offensive Player title and a unanimously-decided AAC Offensive Player of the Year award.[14] Jones was named to the 2023 AAC Championship All-Tournament Team and the 2023 AAC All-Conference First Team, as well. Finally, Jones was named to the MAC Hermann Trophy Watchlist in 2023.[4]

Jones finished her college career with 26 goals in 93 matches played.[12]

Club career

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From 2017 to 2019, she played with Calgary Foothills WFC in United Women's Soccer.[15][16][17] She also played with them in 2022 and 2023 and was named the 2022 All-United Women’s Soccer Most Valuable Player.[18]

On January 12, 2024, Jones was selected by San Diego Wave FC as the 14th pick in the third round of the 2024 NWSL Draft.[19][20] She was the 42nd overall pick and became the first player from the University of Memphis to be drafted into the National Women's Soccer League.[21][22][23] The Wave signed Jones to a two-year contract to start her professional career.[24] Jones made her NWSL debut on April 27, 2024. In her first appearance, she was named to the starting lineup and contributed to a 2–1 victory over Bay FC.[25][26] Jones scored her first professional goal on June 19, 2024, in a 2–1 defeat to NJ/NY Gotham FC.[27] In the 48th minute of the game, Jones intercepted a pass from opposing goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger and outmuscled her defender before scoring with her left foot.[28]

International career

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Jones has represented Canada at U-15, U-17, and U-20 levels.[29] She was 12 years of age when she made her youth team debut under eventual Canada women's national soccer team coach Bev Priestman.[30] Jones was also part of the Canada team that won the 2014 CONCACAF Girls' U-15 Championship and earned a silver medal at the 2016 CONCACAF Girls' U-15 Championship.[31] In 2020, Jones appeared in the 2020 CONCACAF Women's U-20 Championship,[32] where Canada made it to the quarterfinals before being eliminated by the United States.[33]

Career statistics

[edit]
As of November 3, 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Playoffs[a] League Cup[b] Continental[c] Other[d] Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
San Diego Wave FC 2024 NWSL 19 2 0 0 0 0 4 0 1 0 24 2
Career total 19 2 0 0 0 0 4 0 1 0 24 2
  1. ^ Includes NWSL Playoffs
  2. ^ Includes the NWSL Challenge Cup
  3. ^ Includes CONCACAF W Champions Cup
  4. ^ Includes NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup

Honors

[edit]

San Diego Wave

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Mya Jones at Soccerway
  2. ^ Mya Jones at the Canadian Soccer Association
  3. ^ "Mya Jones".
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h "Mya Jones – 2023 – Women's Soccer". University of Memphis Athletics. Retrieved 2024-07-02.
  5. ^ "Mya Jones – Calgary Foothills Soccer Club". gofoothills.ca. Retrieved 2024-07-07.
  6. ^ Kaake, Michael (March 23, 2024). "Inspirational Calgarians Mya Jones, Grace Stordy paving the way for future soccer stars". Calgary Herald.
  7. ^ FC, Whitecaps. "Mya Jones | Vancouver Whitecaps". Whitecaps FC. Retrieved 2024-07-07.
  8. ^ Hawksworth, Jeannie. "Academy Boys and REX Girls players selected for 2017–18". Alberta Soccer. Retrieved 2024-07-07.
  9. ^ "Memphis collects fourth consecutive shutout behind 6–0 win". University of Memphis Athletics. Retrieved 2024-07-07.
  10. ^ "Women's Soccer vs Ole Miss on 3/1/2021 – Box Score". University of Memphis Athletics. Retrieved 2024-07-07.
  11. ^ ""This girl needs an opportunity:" Calgary coaches say midfielder deserves Team Canada attention – Calgary | Globalnews.ca". Global News. Retrieved 2024-07-07.
  12. ^ a b "Mya Jones – 2023 – Women's Soccer". University of Memphis Athletics. Retrieved 2024-07-07.
  13. ^ "Mya Jones – 2023 – Women's Soccer". University of Memphis Athletics. Retrieved 2024-07-07.
  14. ^ "American Athletic Conference Announces 2023 Women's Soccer Honors". theamerican.org. 2024-01-12. Retrieved 2024-07-07.
  15. ^ https://www.uwssoccer.com/roster_players/18233856?subseason=380347
  16. ^ https://www.uwssoccer.com/roster_players/24276318
  17. ^ https://www.uwssoccer.com/roster_players/33701207
  18. ^ https://www.uwssoccer.com/news_article/show/1295420
  19. ^ Emerick, Tyler (2024-01-13). "San Diego Wave Selects Two Players in 2024 NWSL Draft". San Diego Wave Fútbol Club. Retrieved 2024-07-07.
  20. ^ "2024 NWSL College Draft Results | College Soccer". TopDrawerSoccer.com. Retrieved 2024-07-02.
  21. ^ "Jones Drafted to San Diego Wave; Becomes First Memphis Tiger Drafted in National Women's Soccer League". University of Memphis Athletics. Retrieved 2024-07-02.
  22. ^ Dylan, Jonah. "Mya Jones becomes first Memphis women's soccer player selected in NWSL draft". The Commercial Appeal. Retrieved 2024-07-02.
  23. ^ "Mya Jones: From Calgary to Memphis to San Diego". localmemphis.com. 2024-01-26. Retrieved 2024-07-07.
  24. ^ Emerick, Tyler (2024-02-06). "San Diego Wave FC Signs 2024 NWSL Draft Pick Mya Jones". San Diego Wave Fútbol Club. Retrieved 2024-07-02.
  25. ^ Emerick, Tyler (2024-04-28). "San Diego Wave FC Defeats Bay FC 2–1 at Snapdragon Stadium". San Diego Wave Fútbol Club. Retrieved 2024-07-02.
  26. ^ "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 2024-07-02.
  27. ^ Union-Tribune, Tom Krasovic | The San Diego (2024-06-20). "Another 'devastating' late goal stuns Wave in final minutes". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved 2024-07-02.
  28. ^ Stone, Chris (2024-06-20). "Back-to-Back Heartbreakers for Wave, This Time a Loss to Host NJ/NY Gotham". Times of San Diego. Retrieved 2024-07-02.
  29. ^ "Canadian Mya Jones signs two-year deal with NWSL's San Diego Wave". Sportsnet.ca. Retrieved 2024-07-03.
  30. ^ FC, Whitecaps. "Mya Jones | Vancouver Whitecaps". Whitecaps FC. Retrieved 2024-07-03.
  31. ^ "Profile – Canada Soccer". 2020-01-28. Retrieved 2024-07-03.
  32. ^ "From the Sidelines: Mya Jones Makes History". Calgary Minor Soccer Association. 2024-05-07. Retrieved 2024-07-03.
  33. ^ "U-20 USWNT Dominates Canada 4–0 to Reach Pivotal 2020 Concacaf Women's U-20 Championship Semifinals". www.ussoccer.com. Retrieved 2024-07-03.
  34. ^ Emerick, Tyler (2024-03-16). "San Diego Wave FC Defeat 1–0 NJ/NY Gotham FC in 2024 UKG NWSL Challenge Cup". San Diego Wave Fútbol Club. Retrieved 2024-07-07.
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