Melissa Lowder

Melissa Anne Lowder (born January 29, 1997) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for NWSL club Bay FC. She played college soccer for the Santa Clara Broncos.

Melissa Lowder

Lowder with Bay FC in 2025
Personal information
Full name	Melissa Anne Lowder[1]
Date of birth	(1997-01-29) January 29, 1997 (age 28)
Place of birth	San Diego, California, U.S.
Height	5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Position(s)	Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team	Bay FC
Number	1
College career
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2015–2018	Santa Clara Broncos	63	(0)
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2019–2020	Utah Royals	0	(0)
2021	Chicago Red Stars	0	(0)
2021–2022	Beach Soccer LA	10	(1)
2022	San Diego Wave	0	(0)
2023	Þór/KA	21	(0)
2024–	Bay FC	0	(0)
International career
2019–	United States (beach soccer)	9	(0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career

Utah Royals

Lowder was signed on a temporary basis by the Utah Royals on May 28, 2019, as a National Team Replacement player, serving as a backup goalkeeper.^[2] She was promoted to the team's Supplemental Roster on July 24, 2019.^[3] The club option for Lowder's NWSL contract was exercised ahead of the 2020 National Women's Soccer League season.^[4] Lowder earned her first start on September 26, 2020, during the 2020 NWSL Fall Series. In her professional debut she helped Utah earn a 2–2 draw with OL Reign.^[5] She was not given a new contract by Utah following the 2020 season.^[6]

Chicago Red Stars

Subsequently, Lowder was brought in to the Chicago Red Stars during the 2021 preseason, earning a spot as a National Team Replacement Player prior to the start of the campaign.^[7]

San Diego Wave

In 2022, Lowder appeared on the preseason roster of the San Diego Wave and was eventually signed ahead of the club's inaugural season.^[8][9] She did not make any appearances before her contract expired at the end of the year.^[10]

Þór/KA

Following her departure from San Diego, Lowder moved abroad for the first time in her career, joining Þór/KA in Iceland's ahead of the 2023 Besta deild kvenna season. This was her first time in her professional career playing as a starter, and she made 21 appearances throughout the 2023 season.^[11]

Bay FC

Lowder returned to the NWSL and signed with expansion side Bay FC on January 29, 2024, joining the preseason roster.^[12] It was announced on March 11, 2024, that Lowder suffered a season ending anterior cruciate ligament injury, less than a week before Bay FC's inaugural NWSL regular season match away to Angel City FC.^[13][14] It was reported previous to her injury that Lowder was seen as Bay's starting goalkeeper heading into the 2024 NWSL season.^[15]