Riley Jackson

Club career

North Carolina Courage head coach Sean Nahas first invited Jackson to train with the Courage in the summer of 2022. The next summer, she was offered professional terms and decided to give up her college eligibility and sign with the club. She had a foot injury that kept her out for the rest of the year.

Jackson made her professional debut as a 90th-minute substitute for Ashley Sanchez in the season-opening 5–1 win over the Houston Dash on March 16, 2024. She earned her first start in her 12th appearance on June 23, a 3–1 home win over the Chicago Red Stars. On July 26, she scored her first professional goal, a stoppage-time equalizer from outside the box, against Racing Louisville in the NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup; following the 1–1 draw, she scored the opening penalty kick in the shootout victory. She played in 18 regular-season games in 2024, starting 3, as the Courage placed fifth in the league. She was an unused substitute in the playoff quarterfinal loss to the Kansas City Current. On March 15, she scored her first regular-season goal in a season-opening 1–1 road draw with Racing Louisville. Following the season, the Courage signed Jackson to a three-year contract extension through 2028.

On May 2, 2026, Jackson made her 50th regular-season appearance, becoming the youngest Courage player and fourth-youngest NWSL player to reach the milestone.

International career

Jackson was first called into camp with the United States youth national team at the under-15 level in October 2019. When youth soccer returned from its COVID-19 pandemic hiatus, Jackson traveled abroad for the first time to play for the national under-17 team at the 2022 CONCACAF Women's U-17 Championship in the Dominican Republic. She recorded two assists at the 2022 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup, where the United States fell to Nigeria in the quarterfinals on penalties. Jackson was one of two United States players whose penalties were saved in the shootout.

Jackson played friendlies for the under-20 team before being selected to the roster for the 2024 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup. She played all but 45 minutes at the U-20 Women's World Cup, helping the United States finish in third place, its best result since 2012. She converted a penalty kick in a shootout win over Germany in the quarterfinals. She was called up by Emma Hayes into Futures Camp, training concurrently with the senior national team, in January 2025.

Jackson was called up to the senior national team for the first time in January 2026. She made her senior international debut on January 27, starting the entire match and assisting Trinity Rodman's goal in a 5–0 friendly win over Chile.

Career statistics Club

International

+ Appearances and goals by national team and yearNational teamYearAppsGoals United States2026 1 0 Total 1 0

Honors and awards

North Carolina Courage NWSL Challenge Cup: 2023

United States U-20 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup bronze medal: 2024

United States SheBelieves Cup: 2026