Gianna Paul

Gianna Paul (born December 28, 2004) is an American college soccer player who plays as a forward for the Alabama Crimson Tide.

Gianna Paul

Personal information
Date of birth	(2004-12-28) December 28, 2004 (age 20)
Place of birth	New York[1]
Height	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)[1]
Position(s)	Forward
Team information
Current team	Alabama Crimson Tide
Number	14
College career
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2022–	Alabama Crimson Tide	69	(28)
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2024–2025	Long Island Rough Riders	13	(14)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Early life

Paul grew up in Huntington Station, New York, on Long Island.^[1] She followed her older sister into soccer when she was five.^[2] She played two seasons of soccer at Walt Whitman High School, earning All-American honors as a senior.^[3] She also ran track in high school and won two state titles and was named All-American in the sport.^[1] She committed to Alabama in her junior year.^[4] She played club soccer for SUSA FC, earning Elite Clubs National League all-conference honors twice.^[5]

College career

Paul was an "electric" substitute during her freshman season with the Alabama Crimson Tide in 2022.^[6] In the NCAA tournament, she shook off a goal slump in the quarterfinals when she opened the scoring against Duke, leading Alabama to the first NCAA semifinal appearance in program history.^[7] She had 8 goals and 5 assists in 27 games and was named the SEC Freshman of the Year and second-team All-SEC.^[1] TopDrawerSoccer named her the fifth-best freshman in the country.^[8] In her sophomore year in 2023, she began the season with 7 goals in 10 games, but after suffering an ankle injury, she scored only once more in 11 games.^[9] She was named first-team All-SEC.^[1]

Paul started all 21 games and led the Crimson Tide with 12 goals in her junior season in 2024.^[10] She was named first-team All-SEC and fourth-team All-American, joining Reyna Reyes, Riley Parker, and Felicia Knox as the fourth All-American selection in program history.^[10]

During college, she also played for the Long Island Rough Riders in the USL W League, helping the team to the national quarterfinals in 2024.^[11]

International career

Paul was called into training camp with the United States under-18/under-19 team in 2023.^[12]

Honors and awards

Alabama Crimson Tide

• SEC tournament runner-up: 2022

Individual

• Fourth-team All-American: 2024
• All-SEC: 2023, 2024 (first team); 2022 (second team)
• SEC Freshman of the Year: 2022