Michelle Chinwendu Alozie (born 28 April 1997) is a professional footballer who plays as a forward for National Women’s Soccer League team Houston Dash. Born in the United States, she represents the Nigeria women’s national team.
Early life
Alozie was born and raised in Apple Valley, California to Nigerian parents from Imo State, Nigeria.[1] She attended the Granite Hills High School in her hometown.[3]
College career
Alozie attended Yale University and played soccer for the Yale Bulldogs from 2015 to 2018.[3] She suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in her senior season. Alozie transferred as a graduate to the University of Tennessee to continue playing for the Tennessee Volunteers.
Club career
Alozie registered for the 2019 National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) College Draft but was not selected
BIIK Kazygurt
In January 2020, Alozie signed a contract with BIIK Kazygurt, the defending champions of the Kazakhstani women’s football championship. She trained with the team for three months before COVID-19 ended the season, and she returned to California.
Houston Dash
Alozie joined the Houston Dash, where Alozie’s childhood friend Ally Prisock was playing, as a preseason trialist without a contract in 2021. Dash assistant Twila Kilgore had previously recruited Alozie when Kilgore was head coach of the Pepperdine Waves. Alozie signed a national team replacement contract during the 2021 Houston Dash season, then signed a full contract for the remainder of the season in August 2021. In the 2022 season, Alozie made her first postseason start in the Dash’s NWSL Playoffs appearance.
In December 2022, Alozie signed a two-year contract extension with the Dash.
International career
Alozie made her international debut for Nigeria on 10 June 2021 as a 65th-minute substitution in a 0–1 friendly loss to Jamaica.[6] The game was part of the 2021 US Summer Series taking place in Houston where Alozie was training with the Dash. She was named to Nigeria’s roster by national team manager Randy Waldrum after one training session with the team the day prior.[4]
On 16 June 2023, Alozie was named to the 23-player Nigerian squad for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. She played every minute of the tournament for the Super Falcons with Nigeria eventually losing to England on penalties after a 0–0 draw in the Round of 16.
In December 2023, Alozie was named to the CAF Women’s Africa Best XI as one of the world’s best African players.
Off-field medical career
Alozie obtained a Bachelors Degree in Molecular Biology from Yale University. She works part-time as a cancer research technician at the Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston, Texas.
