Midge Purce

American soccer player (born 1995)

Midge Purce

Purce with Gotham in 2023

Personal information
Full name|  Margaret Melinda Williams-Purce[1]
Date of birth|  (1995-09-18) September 18, 1995 (age 29)[2]
Place of birth|  Silver Spring, Maryland, United States
Height|  5 ft 5 in (1.65 m)
Position(s)|  Forward
Team information

Current team

|  Gotham FC
Number|  23
College career
Years|  Team|  Apps|  (Gls)
2013–2016|  Harvard Crimson|  69|  (42)
Senior career*
Years|  Team|  Apps|  (Gls)
2017|  Boston Breakers|  22|  (1)
2018–2019|  Portland Thorns|  41|  (8)
2020–|  Gotham FC[a]|  46|  (16)
International career‡
2011–2012|  United States U17|  |
2013–2014|  United States U20|  |
2015–2018|  United States U23|  |
2019–|  United States|  30|  (4)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of March 24, 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of March 10, 2024

Margaret Melinda "Midge" Williams-Purce (born September 18, 1995) is an American soccer player who plays as a forward for NJ/NY Gotham FC of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) and the United States national team. She previously played for Portland Thorns FC and the Boston Breakers. The Most Valuable Player of Gotham's 2023 NWSL Championship, she is known for her strength on the ball and her willingness to defend from the attack.

She was first selected to play for the United States at the under-17 level, appearing at the 2012 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup and the 2014 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup. She made her first appearance for the senior national team in 2019, following a strong season with the Thorns.

She played college soccer at Harvard University. In 2020, she was elected to a seat on the Board of Overseers of Harvard University with the support of Harvard Forward, an alumni climate activism group. She is an outspoken advocate for equal pay and is a co-founder and board member of the Black Women's Players Collective.

## Early life

[edit]

Purce is the daughter of James Purce, and has an older brother, JP Purce. She began playing soccer as a child, following in the footsteps of her brother.[3] She attended Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic High School in Olney, Maryland, near her hometown of Silver Spring, Maryland[4] where she was named Maryland Gatorade Player of the Year in 2012 and an NSCAA All-American in 2010 and 2011.[5]

## College career

[edit]

Purce scored 42 goals in 69 appearances with the Harvard Crimson women's soccer team. She was named Ivy League Player of the Year in both 2015 and 2016 and a first-team NSCAA All-American in 2016. She majored in psychology at Harvard[5] in pursuit of a career in law.[3]

## Club career

[edit]

Purce with Portland in 2018

### Boston Breakers, 2017

[edit]

After playing for Harvard, Purce was drafted by the Boston Breakers with the 9th pick in the 2017 NWSL College Draft.[6] She appeared in 22 games for Boston and scored one goal.[7]

### Portland Thorns FC, 2018–2019

[edit]

After the Breakers folded in January 2018,[8] the league held a dispersal draft for the Breakers' players; Purce was selected with the 4th pick by the Portland Thorns.[9]

Purce made 21 appearances and 16 starts for the Thorns in 2018, playing primarily as a right fullback. During the 2019 NWSL season, Purce moved into wide and central forward positions, and at one point scored 5 goals in a span of 5 games.[3]

### NJ/NY Gotham FC, 2020–present

[edit]

Purce was traded to Sky Blue FC in 2020.[10] During the 2021 NWSL season Purce played as a forward and scored nine goals, leading the team.[11] She came in second in the NWSL Golden Boot race and was named to the NWSL Best XI in the 2021 NWSL Awards alongside teammates Caprice Dydasco and Kailen Sheridan.[12] Purce was also a finalist for 2021 NWSL MVP following a breakout season.[13]

In January 2022, Purce signed a two-year contract extension with NJ/NY Gotham FC.[14] Though sidelined through much of the 2023 NWSL season after tearing her quad, Purce was instrumental in Gotham FC's NWSL playoff run. She assisted both goals in Gotham FC's 1-2 Championship win over OL Reign and was named the Championship MVP.[15] While at Gotham FC, Purce has established a reputation as a strong dribbler and a dynamic, attacking player who's willing and able to take on defensive responsibilities.[16][17] She is in contract with Gotham FC through the 2024 season with an option to re-sign in 2025.[18]

## International career

[edit]

### Youth USWNT (2011–2018)

[edit]

Purce was called up to the United States women's national under-17, under-20, and under-23 teams. She played in the 2012 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup, made 4 appearances and 3 starts in the 2014 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup,[19][20] and scored goals for the US U20s against France in a friendly[21] and against Mexico in the 2014 CONCACAF U20 Championship.[22]

### Senior USWNT (2017–)

[edit]

Purce received her first call-up to the United States women's national team for the 2017 Tournament of Nations but she did not appear in any of the three games.[23] She received another call-up in June 2018 for a pair of friendlies against China PR, but she sustained an ankle injury in training camp and was ruled out for the two friendlies.[24]

In November 2019, Purce received a call-up to Vlatko Andonovski's first training camp as the new USWNT head coach. After playing as a right-back and a forward during her professional career, she was called in as a defender. Purce played in her first match for the United States women's national team in their friendly against Costa Rica on November 10, 2019. She played the full 90 minutes of the game as right back, and had a cross deflected in for a Costa Rica own goal in the U.S. team's 6–0 victory.[17] Purce scored her first senior national team goal against Colombia on January 21, 2021.[25]

In November 2021, Purce was called up to her first senior national team camp as a forward.[26] She has appeared in 25 games for the national team, winning the 2021, 2022, and 2023 editions of the SheBelieves Cup as well as the 2022 CONCACAF W Championship with the United States. Following an injury in April 2023, Purce was not selected for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup squad.[27]

## Advocacy

[edit]

Purce delivers remarks during a virtual Equal Pay Day event Wednesday, March 24, 2021 at the White House.

Purce is currently serving a six-year term as a member of the Board of Overseers at Harvard University.[28] She was elected in 2020 with the support of Harvard Forward, an alumni climate activism group.[29] Purce co-founded and currently serves as a board member for the Black Women's Players Collective (BWPC), a nonprofit with the goal of advancing opportunities for black girls in sport and beyond.[30][31] She was named to the 2023 Forbes 30 under 30 list in the Sports category for her work with the BWPC.[32]

On March 24, 2021, Purce made an appearance at the White House with USWNT teammate Megan Rapinoe to raise awareness of the importance of equal pay. In her remarks to introduce First Lady Jill Biden, Purce said, "You would never expect a flower to bloom without water, but women in sport who have been denied water, sunlight, and soil are somehow expected to blossom. Invest in women, then let's talk again when you see the return."[33]

## Personal life

[edit]

Purce is the creator of The Offseason, a reality television starring NWSL players in training before the new season, which premiered in 2024.[34]

## Career statistics

[edit]

### Club

[edit]

As of March 24, 2024
Club  | Season  | League  | Cup[b] | Playoffs[c] | Other  | Total

|
|
|
|
|
|

Division  | Apps  | Goals  | Apps  | Goals  | Apps  | Goals  | Apps  | Goals  | Apps  | Goals
Boston Breakers | 2017 | NWSL | 22 | 1 | — | — | — | 22 | 1
Portland Thorns FC | 2018 | 19 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | — | 21 | 0
2019 | 22 | 8 | — | 1 | 0 | — | 23 | 8
Total  | 63  | 9  | 0  | 0  | 3  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 66  | 9
NJ/NY Gotham FC[a] | 2020 | NWSL  | — | 5 | 0 | — | 4[d] | 1 | 9 | 1
2021 | 17 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — | 22 | 11
2022 | 16 | 3 | 5 | 1 | — | — | 21 | 4
2023 | 12 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 0 | — | 20 | 5
2024 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 2 | 0
2025 | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0
Total  | 46  | 16  | 20  | 4  | 4  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 70  | 20
Career total  | 109 | 25 | 20 | 4 | 7 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 140 | 30

1. ^ a b Sky Blue FC changed its name to NJ/NY Gotham FC in 2021
2. ^ Includes the NWSL Challenge Cup
3. ^ Includes NWSL Playoffs
4. ^ Includes the NWSL Fall Series

### International

[edit]

As of match played March 10, 2024
National Team | Year | Apps | Goals

|
|
|

United States | 2019 | 1 | 0
2020 | 1 | 0
2021 | 7 | 2
2022 | 11 | 2
2023 | 6 | 0
2024 | 4 | 0
Total | 30 | 4

Scores and results list United States's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Purce goal.
List of international goals scored by Midge Purce  No.  | Date  | Venue  | Opponent  | Score  | Result  | Competition  | Ref.

|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1  | January 22, 2021 | Orlando, Florida |  Colombia | 6–0  | 6–0  | Friendly | [m 1]
2  | June 13, 2021 | Orlando, Florida |  Jamaica | 3–0  | 4–0  | Friendly | [m 2]
3  | April 12, 2022 | Chester, Pennsylvania |  Uzbekistan | 8–0  | 9–0  | Friendly | [m 3]
4  | July 4, 2022 | San Nicolás de los Garza, Mexico  |  Haiti | 3–0  | 3–0  | 2022 CONCACAF W Championship | [m 4]

## Honors and awards

[edit]

NJ/NY Gotham FC

* NWSL Championship: 2023[35]

United States

* CONCACAF Women's Championship: 2022[36]
* CONCACAF W Gold Cup: 2024[37]
* SheBelieves Cup: 2021;[38] 2022;[39] 2023[40]

Individual

* NWSL Team of the Month: June 2019,[41] August 2019[42]
* NWSL Player of the Week: 2019 week 19,[43] 2021 week 1,[44] 2021 week 21[45]
* NWSL Goal of the Week: 2019 week 8[46]
* Portland Thorns Supporters' Player Of The Year: 2019[47]
* NWSL Best XI First Team: 2021[48]
* NWSL Championship Game MVP: 2023[49]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup Canada 2014 – List of Players: USA" (PDF). FIFA. August 4, 2014. p. 16\. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 9, 2014. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
2. ^ "Midge Purce". worldfootball.net. HEIM:SPIEL Medien GmbH & Co. KG. Archived from the original on May 5, 2024. Retrieved May 5, 2024.
3. ^ a b c Goldberg, Jamie (July 3, 2019). "Portland Thorns leading goal scorer Midge Purce craves even greater heights". The Oregonian/OregonLive. Retrieved September 5, 2019.
4. ^ "Campaigning For Change: Midge Purce & Danielle Slaton". www.ussoccer.com. Archived from the original on September 25, 2020. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
5. ^ a b "Margaret Purce – Harvard". GoCrimson.com. Archived from the original on September 6, 2019. Retrieved September 6, 2019.
6. ^ National Women's Soccer League. "Boston Breakers". www.nwslsoccer.com. Archived from the original on August 17, 2022. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
7. ^ "M.Purce". July 6, 2018. Archived from the original on July 8, 2018. Retrieved July 7, 2018.
8. ^ National Women's Soccer League (January 28, 2018). "NWSL announces Boston Breakers to cease operations". www.nwslsoccer.com. Archived from the original on September 29, 2017. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
9. ^ NWSL (January 30, 2018). "With the fourth pick in today's dispersal draft, @ThornsFC select Margaret Purce". @NWSL. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
10. ^ The Equalizer Staff (January 8, 2020). "Thorns acquire No. 1 pick in 2020 draft, Raquel Rodriguez; ship Sonnett to Orlando, Purce to Sky Blue – Equalizer Soccer". Retrieved January 9, 2020.
11. ^ FC, Gotham (January 20, 2022). "NJ/NY Gotham FC Brings Back Leading Scorer, Re-Signing Margaret Purce". NJ/NY Gotham FC. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
12. ^ "National Women's Soccer League Official Site | NWSL". www.nwslsoccer.com. Archived from the original on July 4, 2024. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
13. ^ "National Women's Soccer League Official Site | NWSL". www.nwslsoccer.com. Archived from the original on January 29, 2022. Retrieved March 19, 2022.
14. ^ "Midge Purce: "Powered by Football" star talks 2022 ambitions". Her Football Hub. February 24, 2022. Archived from the original on February 24, 2022. Retrieved February 25, 2022.
15. ^ Yang, Steph. "Gotham FC earned the NWSL title, and Midge Purce owned the night". The Athletic. Archived from the original on December 4, 2023. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
16. ^ "From 'mess' to NWSL Championship contender: how Gotham FC's nightmare ended". ESPN.com. November 2, 2023. Archived from the original on December 4, 2023. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
17. ^ a b "U.S. SOCCER USWNT defenders Midge Purce, Alana Cook make the most of international debuts". prosoccerUSA.com. November 11, 2019. Archived from the original on December 19, 2019. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
18. ^ FC, Gotham (March 6, 2023). "Midge Purce Signs New Multi-Year Contract with Gotham FC". NJ/NY Gotham FC. Archived from the original on December 4, 2023. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
19. ^ James, Chelsea (July 21, 2014). "Five locals selected to national team for U20 Women's World Cup". Washington Post. Retrieved September 5, 2019.
20. ^ "Purce '17 Named to United States U-23 Training Camp". GoCrimson.com. January 3, 2018. Archived from the original on September 6, 2019. Retrieved September 5, 2019.
21. ^ Nguyen, Joe (June 16, 2014). "Mallory Pugh collects assist for U.S. U-20 in soccer game vs. France". The Denver Post. Archived from the original on September 6, 2019. Retrieved September 5, 2019.
22. ^ Borg, Simon (January 19, 2014). "USA beat Mexico again: Under-20 women's side down El Tri 4–0 for 2014 CONCACAF title". MLSsoccer.com. Archived from the original on September 8, 2019. Retrieved September 5, 2019.
23. ^ "TALENTED RETURNEES HIGHLIGHT 24-PLAYER WNT ROSTER FOR CHINA PR FRIENDLIES". May 29, 2018. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018. Retrieved June 20, 2018.
24. ^ "WNT DEFENDER MARGARET PURCE RULED OUT OF CHINA PR FRIENDLIES". June 5, 2018. Retrieved July 7, 2018.
25. ^ "Macario and Purce open USWNT accounts while Mewis injury scare sours routine Colombia win | Goal.com". www.goal.com. Archived from the original on March 19, 2022. Retrieved March 19, 2022.
26. ^ FC, Gotham (November 9, 2021). "Margaret Purce Named to U.S. Women's National Team Roster for Friendlies Against Australia". NJ/NY Gotham FC. Archived from the original on March 4, 2022. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
27. ^ "Midge Purce reveals quad tear after return to field for Gotham FC". Just Women's Sports. June 26, 2023. Archived from the original on December 4, 2023. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
28. ^ "Margaret Purce '17: Prolific Goal Setter, Scorer, and Achiever | Sports | The Harvard Crimson". www.thecrimson.com. Archived from the original on March 4, 2022. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
29. ^ Rosenberg, John S. (August 21, 2020). "Insurgent Election". Harvard Magazine. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
30. ^ Yang, Steph. "NWSL's Black Women's Player Collective seeks forward progress after a 'heavy' few weeks". The Athletic. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
31. ^ "The Black Women's Player Collective". The Black Women's Player Collective. Archived from the original on March 4, 2022. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
32. ^ "Midge Purce". Forbes. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
33. ^ "USWNT players Megan Rapinoe, Margaret Purce speak at White House on equal pay: 'So much real work to be done'". CBSSports.com. March 24, 2021. Archived from the original on March 4, 2022. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
34. ^ "The Offseason Episode One Draws 2.5 Million Views Within 24 Hours". National Women's Soccer League. October 19, 2024. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
35. ^ "NWSL Championship highlights: Gotham FC crowned champions as Rapinoe, Krieger end careers". USA Today. November 11, 2023. Archived from the original on November 12, 2023. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
36. ^ Das, Andrew (July 19, 2022). "U.S. Women Beat Canada to Claim Spot in Paris Olympics". The New York Times. Archived from the original on July 19, 2022. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
37. ^ "Horan the hero as USA down Brazil to win W Gold Cup crown". CONCACAF.com. March 11, 2024. Archived from the original on April 8, 2024. Retrieved March 11, 2024.
38. ^ "U.S. Women's National Team Rolls to Title at 2021 SheBelieves Cup, Presented by Visa, With Dominant 6-0 Victory Against Argentina". U.S. Soccer. February 25, 2021. Archived from the original on May 13, 2021. Retrieved February 25, 2022.
39. ^ "U.S. Women's National Team Defeats Iceland 5-0 to Win Third Consecutive and Fifth Overall SheBelieves Cup Title, Presented by Visa". U.S. Soccer. February 23, 2022. Archived from the original on June 8, 2023. Retrieved February 25, 2022.
40. ^ Herrera, Sandra (February 22, 2023). "USWNT vs. Brazil score: USA win SheBelieves Cup with Alex Morgan and Mallory Swanson dominating in attack". CBS Sports. Archived from the original on March 2, 2023. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
41. ^ Purdy, Jacqueline (July 8, 2019). "June Team of the Month". NWSLsoccer.com. Archived from the original on May 23, 2022. Retrieved September 5, 2019.
42. ^ NWSLsoccer.com Staff (September 5, 2019). "Thorns FC's Menges, Sinclair and Purce named to NWSL Team of the Month for August 2019". Portland Timbers. Archived from the original on September 6, 2019. Retrieved September 5, 2019.
43. ^ Levine, Matthew (August 27, 2019). "Week 19 Player of the Week: Midge Purce, Portland Thorns FC". NWSLsoccer.com. Archived from the original on September 5, 2019. Retrieved September 5, 2019.
44. ^ National Women's Soccer League [@NWSL] (May 19, 2021). "Week 1 is @100Purcent 💯 The @GothamFC star takes home @budweiserusa Player of the Week honors 👏 #NWSL21 https://t.co/ExpUNNOdBk" (Tweet). Archived from the original on May 20, 2021. Retrieved May 29, 2021 - via Twitter.
45. ^ @nwsl (October 20, 2021). "Register" (Tweet) - via Twitter.
46. ^ "MIDGE PURCE, PORTLAND THORNS FC | WEEK 8 GOAL OF THE WEEK". NWSLsoccer.com. June 4, 2019. Archived from the original on August 19, 2019. Retrieved September 5, 2019.
47. ^ "Thorns FC announce 2019 Club Awards". December 18, 2019. Archived from the original on November 14, 2023. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
48. ^ "NWSL Announces the Winners of Mastercard Inaugural 2021 Best XI Awards". NWSLsoccer.com. November 17, 2021. Archived from the original on July 4, 2024. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
49. ^ "MVP Midge Purce Pitch Side With Darian Jenkins!". cbssports.com. November 11, 2023. Archived from the original on November 12, 2023. Retrieved November 12, 2023.

### Match reports

[edit]

1. ^ "Megan Rapinoe Bags a Brace as U.S. Women's National Team Tops Colombia 6–0 to Close Out Two-Game Set in Orlando". U.S. Soccer. January 22, 2021. Archived from the original on February 27, 2021. Retrieved February 21, 2021.
2. ^ "U.S. WOMEN'S NATIONAL TEAM TOPS JAMAICA 4–0 IN SECOND MATCH OF 2021 WNT SUMMER SERIES, PRESENTED BY AT&T 5G". U.S. Soccer. June 23, 2021. Archived from the original on August 15, 2021. Retrieved August 1, 2021.
3. ^ "U.S. Women's National Team Defeats Uzbekistan 9–0 as Catarina Macario and Rose Lavelle Score Twice Each". U.S. Soccer. April 12, 2022. Archived from the original on April 13, 2022. Retrieved April 13, 2022.
4. ^ "U.S. Women's National Team Open 2022 CONCACAF W Championship With 2–0[sic] Win Over Haiti". U.S. Soccer. July 4, 2022. Archived from the original on July 5, 2022. Retrieved July 6, 2022.

## External links

[edit]

* Midge Purce at the National Women's Soccer League
* Margaret "Midge" Purce #23 at NJ/NY Gotham FC
* Midge Purce #23 Archived October 27, 2022, at the Wayback Machine at Portland Thorns FC
* Margaret Purce #16 at Harvard Crimson (archived)
* Midge Purce at U.S. Soccer

* v
* t
* e

NJ/NY Gotham FC - current squad

* 1 Hogan
* 3 Bruninha
* 4 Reale
* 6 Sonnett
* 7 Howell
* 8 Torres
* 9 González
* 11 Schupansky
* 12 Campbell
* 13 Stevens
* 14 Martin
* 15 Davidson (c)
* 16 Lavelle
* 17 Whitham
* 18 Portilho
* 20 Silva
* 21 Cook
* 22 Freeman
* 23 Purce
* 24 Kizer
* 27 Carter
* 30 Berger
* 34 Harper
* 90 Nyamekye

* Head coach: Amorós

* v
* t
* e

United States squad – 2022 CONCACAF W Championship winners (9th title)

* 1 Naeher
* 2 Sanchez
* 3 Cook
* 4 Sauerbrunn
* 5 O'Hara
* 6 Rodman
* 7 Hatch
* 8 Huerta
* 9 Pugh
* 10 Horan
* 11 Smith
* 12 Girma
* 13 Morgan
* 14 Sonnett
* 15 Rapinoe
* 16 Lavelle
* 17 Sullivan
* 18 Murphy
* 19 Fox
* 20 Kornieck
* 21 Kingsbury
* 22 Mewis
* 23 Purce
* 24 Coffey
* Coach: Andonovski

* v
* t
* e

United States squad – 2024 CONCACAF W Gold Cup winners (1st title)

* 1 Naeher
* 2 Dahlkemper
* 3 Nighswonger
* 4 Girma
* 5 Sauerbrunn
* 6 Williams
* 7 Morgan
* 8 Shaw
* 9 Purce
* 10 Horan
* 11 Smith
* 12 Davidson
* 13 Moultrie
* 14 Sonnett
* 15 Albert
* 16 Lavelle
* 17 Coffey
* 18 Murphy
* 19 Dunn
* 20 Krueger
* 21 Campbell
* 22 Rodman
* 23 Fox
* Coach: Kilgore

* v
* t
* e

2021 NWSL Teams of the Year

Best XI|

* Sheridan
* Dydasco
* Cook
* Gorden
* Pickett
* Hatch
* Fishlock
* Le Sommer
* Purce
* Rodman
* Salem

Second XI|

* Bixby
* Fox
* Huerta
* Klingenberg
* Menges
* Balcer
* Daly
* Horan
* Onumonu
* Leroux
* Pugh

*[Apps]: League appearances
*[Gls]: League goals
*[Ref.]: Reference
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template