Defenders

2025/26 Season:

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Previous Experience:

A versatile player capable of contributing in both the midfield and back line, Hugh brings flexibility and a team-first mentality to the Fort Lauderdale United squad. Tenacious yet creative, Hugh has the potential to impact all phases of the game as Fort Lauderdale pushes toward a Gainbridge Super League playoff berth in the final half of the season.

A native of Huntington, West Virginia, Hugh played her collegiate soccer at her hometown school, Marshall University. The midfielder made an instant impact in her first year at Marshall, earning 2020 Conference USA Freshman of the Year honors after scoring 8 goals in the 10-game season. Across four seasons at Marshall, Hugh appeared in 62 matches with 60 starts, totaling 10 goals and 9 assists in 5,036 minutes as an every match player for the Thundering Herd. In addition, Hugh spent two seasons alongside fellow Fort Lauderdale midfielder Kat Gonzalez in Huntington, making them the third pair of former collegiate teammates on the squad (Kiara Locklear & Kelli Van Treeck; Jasmine Hamid & Nia Christopher). Hugh transferred to NC State for her final year of eligibility, where she appeared in 14 matches with three starts, recording a goal and an assist in 598 minutes to close out her collegiate career.

After concluding her collegiate career, Hugh joined Pittsburgh Riveters SC of the USL W League for the summer season, where she showcased her elite versatility while helping the Riveters capture the Great Forest Division Championship in the club’s inaugural campaign. Hugh started matches at holding midfielder, outside back and center back, earning Great Forest Division Player of the Year honors and a spot on the USL W League All-League Second Team. Following her standout summer, Hugh signed her first professional contract with 15-time Cypriot First Division champions Apollon Ladies FC, making her professional debut on the European stage in the UEFA Champions League against BSC Young Boys on August 27 before earning her first start against Hibernian on August 30, logging 120 minutes across the two matches.

A dynamic midfielder with the potential to impact the game in multiple roles, Hugh will look to provide versatility and flexibility as Fort Lauderdale aims for a return to the Super League Playoffs.

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More About Abi:

• Favorite Foods
  • Sushi
  • Pizza
  • Steak
• Favorite TV Shows
  • New Girl
  • Ripple
  • Brooklyn Nine-Nine
• Favorite Movies
  • The Choice
  • Love & Basketball
  • Mr. & Mrs. Smith
• Favorite Music Artists
  • SZA
  • Olivia Dean
  • Drake
• Fun Facts
  • Abi lived & played in Cyprus!
  • She’s been to 10 countries.
  • Abi loves to clean!

2025/26 Season:

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Player Bio:

McElroy enters the 2025/26 season as one of Fort Lauderdale United FC’s Academy contract players.

Charlotte, North Carolina native and reigning Gatorade Player of the Year for the state. Selected to the US Youth Futsal National Team; invited to train with NWSL’s Portland Thorns.

• NWSL Team Camp Invites: Portland Thorns NWSL Team Training Invite July of 2025
• Awards: NC Gatorade Player of the Year, United Soccer Coaches (USC) All-American, ECNL Mid-Atlantic First Team All-Conference, USC North Carolina POY, North Carolina Soccer Coaches Association Public/Private POY, 2x Charlotte Independent School Athletic Association (CISAA) POY, 2x Charlotte Observer POY
• Other information: ODP National Team Selection, US Youth Futsal National Team Selection, Portland Thorns II WPSL Team Invite/Member

2025/26 Season:

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Player Bio:

Strickler enters the 2025/26 season as one of Fort Lauderdale United FC’s Academy contract players.

Boca Raton native and key member of the U-17 US Youth National Team. Appeared in the 2025 U17 Four Nations Tournament, winning the event. Two-time Capelli ID team member and ECNL Southeastern Conference champion. Committed to Duke University.

• Youth National Team: USYNT
• YNT Team Invite: U17 USYNT
• YNT Team Camps: 4 Nations Tournament
• Awards: 4 Nations Tournament Champion with the U17 USYNT, 2x Capelli ID team, ODP National Select Team, ECNL Southeast Conference Champions (2025), USYS National Champion (2021)

2025/26 Season:

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Previous Experience:

A versatile defender who can line up at both center and outside back, Simpson brings an attacking edge with her ability to score while also strengthening Fort Lauderdale United’s retooled back line. At 5’10”, her aerial presence adds another dimension on both ends of the pitch for the club heading into the 2025/26 campaign.

A native of Orlando, Florida, Simpson starred at The First Academy before continuing her career at Samford University in Alabama, where she became an immediate contributor and earned SOCON All-Freshman honors in 2020-21. Simpson went on to start all 97 matches she played for the Bulldogs, logging 8,379 minutes while tallying 21 goals and 4 assists across five seasons. The defender helped lead Samford to three SOCON Championships (2021, 2022, 2024), earning All-Tournament Team honors after each victory.

Simpson’s standout senior campaign in 2024 saw her earn First Team All-SOCON recognition after scoring five goals and adding an assist, including the game-winner in the conference title match against Western Carolina. Following her collegiate career, Simpson signed a temporary injury-replacement contract with the NWSL’s Orlando Pride before joining Fort Lauderdale United ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

A versatile defender with a proven scoring touch, Simpson strengthens Fort Lauderdale’s back line as the club looks to open its season with a victory on Saturday evening.

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More About Ella:

• Favorite Foods
  • Açaí Bowls
  • Tacos
  • Sushi
• Favorite TV Shows
  • The Office
  • Grey’s Anatomy
  • The Blacklist
• Favorite Movies
  • Divergent
  • Interstellar
  • Cars 2
• Favorite Music Artists
  • Coldplay
  • Noah Kahan
  • Zach Bryan
• Fun Facts
  • Ella has surfed in Texas!
  • She is the only person in her family to not attend Florida State University!
  • Ella has been to 18 concerts!

2025/26 Season:

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Previous Experience:

A versatile defender with the ability to play as a center half or outside back, McComasky pairs composure on the ball with strong one-on-one defending, making her a natural fit for Fort Lauderdale’s back line. Standing at 6’1”, she brings valuable height, aerial dominance, and physicality to a defensive unit that prides itself on toughness and control.

Born and raised in Sydney, Australia, McComasky left the Land Down Under after high school to pursue her collegiate career in the United States, beginning at Wayland Baptist University (2018) before moving to Northeast Texas Community College (2019). She made the jump to Division I in 2020, joining Incarnate Word for her final two seasons. In 2021, she starred for the Cardinals, starting all 21 matches, earning All-Southland Third Team honors and helping lead the program to the Southland Conference Final.

After wrapping up her collegiate career, McComasky signed with Canberra United for the 2022/23 campaign, where she delivered a breakout rookie season. The defender returned home the following year to join her hometown club, Western Sydney Wanderers, on a two-year deal starting with the 2023/24 season. Across a pair of campaigns with the Wanderers, McComasky logged 2,770 minutes, scored two goals, and racked up 46 tackles won, 46 blocks and 44 interceptions. The Australian native also completed 996 passes at a 71.2% accuracy rate, including 117 progressive passes. 

McComasky is the second Wanderer to join the team this offseason, reuniting with forward Sophie Harding after two seasons together from 2023 to 2025. A dynamic defender with toughness, poise, and a commanding aerial presence, McComasky will look to be a key part of a revamped Fort Lauderdale United backline as the club sets its sights on a return to the Super League Final.

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More About Madison:

• Favorite Foods
  • Sushi
  • Chocolate
  • Açai
• Favorite TV Shows
  • The Vampire Diaries
  • Grey’s Anatomy
  • New Girl
• Favorite Movies
  • Pride & Prejudice
  • Harry Potter (Series)
  • Twilight (Series)
  • Iron Man
• Favorite Music Artists
  • Dave
  • Chris Brown
  • Hozier
• Fun Facts
  • Madison has broken her collarbone THREE times.
  • She can complete a Rubix cube in under two minutes!
  • Madison loves going to the beach & reading!

2025/26 Season:

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2024/25 Season:

Julia Grosso is entering her second season with Fort Lauderdale United FC.

Grosso joined Fort Lauderdale United ahead of the second half of the season and the club’s playoff push. The 26-year-old defender immediately stepped into the starting lineup, but injuries limited her to seven appearances and 603 minutes. Despite the shortened stint, her impact was undeniable, as she recorded 54 duels won, 32 clearances and 6 interceptions. The Kentucky product delivered her lone assist of the season at the most crucial moment, setting up the game-winning goal in the 120th minute of the Semifinal.

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Previous Experience:

Grosso returns home to South Florida after a prolific start to her professional career in Australia. The dynamic Grosso earned “Player of the Year” honors for Melbourne City in 2022-23, and was an integral part in City winning the 2023-24 Premiership title. Before Australia, Grosso was a mainstay in the lineup over a five-year span for the Kentucky Wildcats, and showed her positional versatility as she started games as a forward, midfielder and defender in her collegiate career.

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More About Julia:

• Favorite Foods
  • Pasta
  • Sushi
  • Chips & Dip
• Favorite TV Shows
  • Prison Break
  • One Tree Hill
  • New Girl
  • The Summer I Turned Pretty
• Favorite Movies
  • Mamma Mia
  • Wicked
  • The Other Woman
• Favorite Music Artists
  • Taylor Swift
  • Florence & The Machine
  • Noah Kahan
• Fun Facts
  • She’s a mermaid! — (she loves the beach!)
  • Julia did competitive horseback riding! (barrel racing)
  • She learned how to surf in Australia & Hawaii.

2025/26 Season:

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2024/25 Season:

Sh’nia Gordon is entering her second season with Fort Lauderdale United FC.

Gordon was a vital and consistent presence throughout Fort Lauderdale’s inaugural season, as she was one of just two players to start all 30 matches. A versatile and selfless contributor, she filled roles at both right wing and right back amid squad injuries. The West Virginia product racked up 5 goals and a team-high 4 assists during the season, also leading the team in shots (54) in the process. The 28-year-old forward played a pivotal role in the club’s postseason push, earning Team of the Month honors in both March and May as she helped Fort Lauderdale advance to the Final.

• 2x TOTM (March & May)

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Previous Experience:

In just her first career as a rookie for West Virginia University, Gordon finished third on her team in goals and tenth in the Big 12 Conference, naming her to the All-Big 12 Freshman Team.

Gordon cemented herself as an all-out dynamic attacker, scoring both game-winning goals and insurance goals to clinch her team’s victories. She finished second on her team and tenth in the Big 12 Conference with 15 points, four goals and seven assists, in her final year for the Mountaineers.

Gordon went full throttle into the professional stage, beginning at FC Metz in France. Gordon totaled 1,362 minutes and scored three goals in her 2019/20 debut season. She then joined Dijon FCO in France, where she netted seven goals in 22 league appearances.

In 2021, Gordon played for PFC CSKA Moscow in the Russian Women’s Football Championship and UEFA Women’s Champions League. Gordon then headed to the NWSL to play for Racing Louisville FC in 2022. 

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More About Sh’Nia:

• Favorite Foods
  • Tacos
  • Pasta
  • Smoked Salmon Eggs Benedict
• Favorite TV Shows
  • Everybody Hates Chris
  • The Proud Family
  • Abbott Elementary
• Favorite Movies
  • Hoodwinked
  • Freaky Friday
  • Cheetah Girls 2
• Favorite Music Artists
  • Brent Faiyaz
  • Mint Condition
  • Snoh Aalegra
• Fun Facts
  • She started playing soccer in Germany at 6 years old!

2025/26 Season:

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2024/25 Season:

Laveni Vaka is entering her second season with Fort Lauderdale United FC.

Vaka was a dominant presence on the back line during the club’s inaugural season, earning All-League Second Team honors after starting all 18 matches she played before a season-ending knee injury in March. The BYU product anchored the defense with elite consistency, completing 977 passes and tallying 65 clearances, 45 duels won, 15 tackles won, 14 blocks and 5 interceptions. Despite appearing in 10 fewer matches than the rest, the 23-year-old defender still ranked near the top of the team in clearances (3rd), blocks (3rd), and passes completed (4th), a clear sign of her influence and importance to the FTL UTD squad. Vaka also earned a spot on the inaugural Super League Team of the Month in August.

• All-League Second Team
• 1x TOTM (August)

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Previous Experience:

Vaka made her first international debut in 2018 for the Tonga National Women’s team.

Vaka had a decorated career with Brigham Young University as a defender, awarding her the 2022 WCC Defender of the Year and 2022 NCAA First Team-All Region while also putting her on the 2022 MAC Hermann Trophy Watch list. 

In 2024, Vaka was selected by Bay FC in the NWSL Draft, creating history by becoming Tonga’s first female professional soccer player.

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More About Laveni:

• Favorite Foods
  • Corn Dogs / Hot Dogs
  • Greek Yogurt
  • Chocolate
• Favorite TV Shows
  • Bridgerton
  • Twilight
• Favorite Movies
  • Crazy Rich Asians
  • Maleficent
  • She’s The Man
  • Harry Potter (Series)
• Fun Facts
  • She has a twin sister!
  • Laveni can play the organ, piano & flute!
  • She comes from a family of 8.