Alexa Spaanstra: The Virginia Sharpshooter

Alexa Spaanstra started every single match she played at Virginia. All 107 of them. Thirty-seven goals. Thirty-four assists. Five-time All-ACC. She led the Cavaliers to the 2021 ACC title. That's the kind of consistency that doesn't get enough attention -- showing up every day for four years and being good enough to start every time. The NWSL transition was bumpier. She went 10th overall to KC Current in the 2023 draft, carved out a bench role, put up 3 goals and 2 assists, then got traded to Portland in August 2024. Now she's competing for minutes on one of the deepest attacking rosters in the league. The Virginia work ethic travels well.

The Virginia Standard

One hundred and seven matches. One hundred and seven starts. That's not just talent -- that's durability, consistency, and trust from the coaching staff. Spaanstra scored 37 goals and added 34 assists as a Cavalier, meaning she was directly involved in 71 goals across her career. She was named All-ACC five times and led Virginia to the 2021 ACC championship. The program has produced plenty of pros. Spaanstra was the engine.

Kansas City to Portland

The KC Current took her 10th overall in the 2023 draft. She was a regular bench player -- 3 goals, 2 assists -- contributing but never quite breaking through to a starting role on a deep Kansas City squad. The trade to Portland in August 2024 gave her a fresh start. New city. New system. A chance to prove the college version of herself wasn't the ceiling.

Finding Her Place

Portland's forward group is loaded. Wilson, Moultrie, Turner, Tordin, Alidou -- the competition for minutes is fierce. Spaanstra brings something different: versatility and a willingness to do the unsexy work. Her assist numbers at Virginia tell the story -- she's a creator as much as a finisher. In Vilahamn's system, that kind of player matters off the bench and in rotation. The 2026 season is her chance to show that the five-time All-ACC can become a regular contributor in the NWSL.