Kelli Hubly

Kelli Elizabeth Hubly (born August 9, 1994) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a defender for Bay FC in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). During her first eight professional seasons with Portland Thorns FC, she won the 2017 and 2022 NWSL Championships, the 2021 NWSL Shield, and other awards.

Kelli Hubly

Hubly with the Portland Thorns in 2024
Personal information
Full name	Kelli Elizabeth Hubly[1]
Date of birth	(1994-08-09) August 9, 1994 (age 30)[2]
Place of birth	Elk Grove Village, Illinois, U.S.
Height	5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Position(s)	Defender
Team information
Current team	Bay FC
Number	11
College career
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2012–2014	Kentucky Wildcats	65	(10)
2016	DePaul Blue Demons	18	(1)
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2017–2024	Portland Thorns	101[2]	(2)
2025–	Bay FC	0	(0)
International career
2010	United States U17
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of January 31, 2025

Early life

Hubly was born in Elk Grove Village, Illinois and attended Elk Grove High School. Growing up she played for the club Sockers F.C. in Chicago, winning the 2010 and 2011 Illinois Cup Championships and the U.S. Youth Soccer Regional Championship in 2011.^[3]

College career

Hubly played at the University of Kentucky her first three years (2012-2014) of college, making the All-Freshman Team of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) in 2012, winning the SEC's Freshman of the Week award on October 15, 2012, and making Top Drawer Soccer's National Team of the Week on October 8, 2013.^[4] In 2014 she helped the Wildcats advance to the SEC championship game.^[4] In 2015 she transferred to DePaul University, red-shirting that year due to NCAA transfer rules. She played the following year (2016), leading the Big East Conference in assists and assists per game, and graduated in 2017.^[4]

Club career

Portland Thorns

Hubly was eligible for but not drafted in the 2017 NWSL College Draft.^[5] She instead joined the Portland Thorns as a temporary national team replacement player in 2017.^[6] Hubly made her professional debut on July 15, 2017, in the final few minutes of a 1–0 win over the North Carolina Courage.^[7][8] That fall, she won the 2017 NWSL Championship with the Thorns.

She earned her first professional start on March 24, 2018, against the Courage.^[9] After playing every minute of the first four games of the 2018 NWSL season due to an injury to usual starter Emily Menges, Hubly was signed by the Thorns on April 27, 2018, to a long-term contract.^[6]

Hubly was a key member and frequent starter for the Thorns teams that won the 2020 Fall Series (Community Shield), 2021 NWSL Challenge Cup, 2021 Women's International Champions Cup, and 2021 NWSL Shield.^[4] In the 2022 NWSL Season, Hubly played in every minute of every game for the Portland Thorns^[10][11] and was included in the 2022 NWSL Best XI Second Team.^[12] She became a free agent on December 30, 2024.^[13]

Bay FC

Hubly signed a two-year contract with Bay FC on January 31, 2025.^[14]

International

Hubly was a member of the U.S. Women's National Team at the U-15, U-17, and U-18 levels.^[3]

Honors and awards

Portland Thorns FC

• NWSL Champions: 2017, 2022^[15]
• NWSL Shield: 2021
• NWSL Challenge Cup: 2021
• NWSL Community Shield: 2020
• Women's International Champions Cup: 2021^[16]

Individual

• NWSL Second XI: 2022
• Southeastern Conference All-Freshman Team: 2012