Madison Wolfbauer

Madison Elise Wolfbauer (born August 2, 1999) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a center back for Campeonato Nacional Feminino club Rio Ave. She played college soccer for the Illinois Fighting Illini and the Bowling Green Falcons. She has previously played for Thonon Evian, ÍBV, Keflavík, the Houston Dash, and DC Power FC.

Early life

Wolfbauer was born in Dearborn, Michigan, to Robert and Jamie Wolfbauer. Her father played college football at North Dakota State, and her mother played soccer at Schoolcraft. She has a younger sister, Mia, who played college soccer for Grand Valley State and Madonna University. Wolfbauer grew up in Canton, Michigan, and attended Canton High School, where she captained the basketball team as a senior. She played club soccer as a midfielder for the Michigan Hawks, winning the under-18/19 ECNL championship in 2017.

College career

Wolfbauer dealt with injury during two seasons with the Illinois Fighting Illini, redshirting her first year and maing 10 appearances as a sophomore in 2018. She then transferred to the Bowling Green Falcons in 2019 but tore her ACL and meniscus before the season. Following her recovery, she started every game in the spring of 2021, leading the Green Falcons in scoring with five goals in eight games. She helped Bowling Green win the Mid-American Conference tournament, qualifying for the NCAA tournament, and was named first-team All-MAC and Bowling Green State University's comeback player of the year across all sports. Having been converted from striker to defender, she scored two goals in 23 appearances in all competitions. The next month, Wolfbauer signed a national team replacement contract with National Women's Soccer League club Houston Dash and debuted as a substitute in a Summer Cup game against the Kansas City Current on July 20.

Wolfbauer signed with USL Super League club DC Power FC on September 4, 2024. She made her club debut in a 1–1 draw with Dallas Trinity on September 7. Later in the month, she scored DC's first two home goals, with the help of two penalties, in a 2–2 draw with the Spokane Zephyr. She ranked second in minutes played for DC during their inaugural season behind only Susanna Fitch.

In August 2025, Wolfbauer signed with newly promoted Campeonato Nacional Feminino club Rio Ave.