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#23 | MARGARET "MIDGE" PURCE


DATE OF BIRTH: September 18, 1995

HEIGHT: 5-4

HOMETOWN: Silver Spring, Maryland

POSITION: Forward

ACQUIRED: Trade with Portland Thorns in 2020

COLLEGE: Harvard University

COUNTRY: USA

PRONOUNS: She/Her


BIOGRAPHY

PROFESSIONAL:
2023: Purce was named the 2023 NWSL Final MVP for her two-assist performance in the championship game. The forward appeared in 12 matches with eight starts in the 2023 regular season, notching four
goals and two assists.

2022: Purce scored four goals in her 21 appearances.

2021: Purce started in all 18 games, was named to the NWSL Best XI, was an MVP Finalist and tied for second in the NWSL with nine goals. She scored two goals in her four appearances for the 2021 NWSL
Challenge Cup.

2020: Purce was traded to NJ-NY in January 2020. She made nine appearances, scored one goal and had two assists.

2018-2019: Purce was selected with the No. 4 pick by Portland Thorns in 2018 NWSL Dispersal Draft. She scored eight goals and had an assist in her 44 appearances with the team. She was named NWSL Goal of the Week in June 2019 and NWSL Team of the Month, Player of the Week in August 2019.

2017: Purce was drafted with the No. 9 overall pick to Boston Breakers in 2017 NWSL College Draft. She had one goal and two assists in 22 appearances.

COLLEGE:
2013-16: Purce played at Harvard University, where she played 69 matches, starting in 63 of them. She scored 42 goals and had 12 assists. She ended her collegiate career as third all-time scorer in school
history and was two-time Ivy League Player of the Year. She was named to the 2016 All-America First Team, 2016 MAC Hermann semifinalist, 2015 NSCAA Mid-Atlantic Region Second Team, All-Ivy League first team four times, 2013 Ivy League Rookie of the Year (First rookie to be awarded POTY in league history) and NSCAA/Continental Tire Women’s All-American Third Team.

INTERNATIONAL
2023: 2023 SheBelieves Cup champion. 2022: Purce made 11 appearances, scoring two goals and adding one assist. She became a two time SheBelieves Cup champion in 2022.

2021: Purce scored her first senior national team goal. She made seven appearances with a total of two goals and two assists. She also won the 2021 SheBelieves Cup.

2019-20: Purce received her first USWNT Senior cap in 2019. From 2019 through 2020 Purce made two appearances with the team.

2015-18: Purce represented the United States on the Youth U-23 Women’s National Team. She received her first call up with the senior team in 2017 for the 2017 Tournament of Nations. She earned her second call up in 2018, but sustained an injury and did not appear.

2013-14: Purce made four appearances and three starts in the 2014 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup. She scored a goal for the US during a friendly match and again Mexico during the 2014 CONCACAF U20 Championship.

2011-12: Purce was a part of the US U-17 squad. She played in the 2012 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.

PERSONAL:
Purce co-founded and currently serves as a board member for the Black Women's Players Collective, a nonprofit with the goal of advancing opportunities for black girls in sport. In 2023, she was named to the
Forbes 30 under 30 list in sports category for her work with the Black Women’s Players Collective.
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Purce is a star forward on the U.S. Women’s National team and reigning NWSL Champion. She was also named the NWSL Championship MVP after her two-assist performance to help Gotham FC to capture the championship title. Before her professional career, Purce attended Harvard University, where she was named Ivy League Player of the Year twice and an All American. Purce co-founded and currently serves as a board member for the Black Women's Players Collective, a nonprofit with the goal of advancing opportunities for black girls in sport. In 2023, she was named to the Forbes 30 under 30 list in sports category for her work with the Black Women’s Players Collective.

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