Speed is an unteachable attribute that every athlete, no matter the sport, desires. Everyone wants to know who is the fastest. When it comes to women’s soccer, finding the answer to this question isn’t so simple. Top sprint speed is a niche statistic that isn’t tracked too often in the women’s game. With the data that is available, here is a list of some of the fastest women's soccer players.
The Fastest Women's Soccer Players
#7. Lisa Evans: 18.61 mph or 29.95 km/h
WATCH | @LisaEvans_17 completes the comeback on 90 minutes to seal a 3-2 win for Scotland. #SWNT #OurGirlsOurGame
pic.twitter.com/kmw0yOBWd8— Scottish FA (@ScottishFA) June 12, 2018
For the first time, the 2019-20 UEFA Women’s Champions League listed the fastest sprint speeds from the tournament in its technical report. Evans was the second-fastest player in the tournament as she and Arsenal reached the quarterfinals before being knocked out by Paris Saint-Germain.
#6. Madison Pogarch: 19 mph or 30.5 km/h
We just found that that @maddiepogarch is training for the olympics too. Usain Pogarch. https://t.co/4K4vXpiauK pic.twitter.com/7trKMvNT5Q
— NWSL Analitica (@NwslAnalitica) July 18, 2020
I still have a hard time believing that Pogarch only hit 19 mph when back-tracking on this corner kick for the Portland Thorns. The numbers say she reached speeds of 19 mph but I swear she hit Mach 2 as she flew by everyone. The fact that Pogarch did this in the 86th minute is seriously impressive.
#5. Delphine Cascarino: 19.54 mph or 31.45 km/h
delphine cascarino said zoooom rocket goal pic.twitter.com/7hxx7glJmt
— r (@christancepress) September 1, 2019
Cascarino took home the speed crown from the 2019-20 Women’s Champions League. The France international recorded the two fastest sprints in the tournament with Olympique Lyonnais before lifting the club’s fifth straight Champions League trophy.
#4. Christen Press: 20.5 mph or 33 km/h
T FST
*zooming noises* @ChristenPress pic.twitter.com/n1QUGUQlIr— U.S. Soccer WNT (@USWNT) January 22, 2019
A slip of the tongue from commentator Ian Darke had USWNT fans believing Press hit a scorching 33 mph against Spain. Sadly, Press isn’t the fastest human being on the planet and was actually clocked in at 33 km/h. She could still beat 99% of the human population with her real top speed though.
#3. Lynn Williams: 21.27 mph or 34.24 km/h
Lynn Williams breaking past the defense and nailing the finish. pic.twitter.com/khDSa5FCYD
— John D. Halloran (@JohnDHalloran) July 7, 2019
Williams turned heads when it was revealed that her recorded speed with STATSports was faster than any of the men in the 2019-20 Champions League tournament. I swear that STATSports is hoarding all of the top speeds of women’s soccer players from us and we don’t even know it. They are like the Area 51 of women’s soccer sprint speeds.
Williams was sure to let the boys know that they have some catching up to do if they want to keep up with her.
I’ll just be over here running like a girl https://t.co/lF2ge7p0Dq
— Lynn Williams (@lynnraenie) October 28, 2020
#2. Denise O’Sullivan: 21.43 mph or 34.5 km/h
"If she can't see it, she can't be it"
days to #UKRIRL pic.twitter.com/dag2pYU16F
— FAIreland (@FAIreland) October 21, 2020
Another STATSports mystery, O’Sullivan hit this ridiculous top speed while playing for Ireland. Theoretically she could get pulled over in a school zone if she’s not careful.
#1. Ali Krieger: 21.56 mph or 34.7 km/h
And if anybody was worried about Ali Krieger's speed declining, here she is running down Kealia Ohai. pic.twitter.com/ptwPcBtX2r
— John D. Halloran (@JohnDHalloran) June 26, 2017
According to the technical report from the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup, Krieger owned the fastest recorded sprint speed in the tournament final and potentially in women’s soccer. This is the highest speed I could find making Krieger one of the fastest women’s soccer players in her prime.
