Ryan Williams

Club career Williams was drafted by the North Carolina Courage with the 40th and final pick of the 2018 NWSL College Draft, becoming the first player from TCU to be drafted into the NWSL. She was signed to a national team replacement contract on May 31, 2018. Williams made her professional debut on June 3, coming on for Jaelene Hinkle late in a 1–1 draw against the Houston Dash. She was waived two weeks later but signed again the next month as a national team replacement. She appeared in two games at the exhibition 2018 Women's International Champions Cup, making her first start for the Courage in a 1–0 win over French club Lyon in the final. She was unused for the rest of the season, and the Courage went on to win the NWSL Shield and Championship, defeating the Portland Thorns 3–0 in the title game.

Williams agreed to a new contract ahead of the 2019 season but was moved to a supplemental spot on the final roster. Williams made her first NWSL start on June 1, winning 3–0 against the Orlando Pride. She played her first full match in a 2–1 win at the Washington Spirit on June 29. However, after 4 appearances (3 starts), she was listed out with injury for the rest of the season. North Carolina went on to win their second consecutive NWSL Shield and Championship, defeating the Chicago Red Stars 4–0 in the title game. Williams's contract option was exercised at the end of the season.

When the 2020 season was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Williams and her roommate Cari Roccaro prepared training videos for their teammates to follow from a safe distance. A new month-long tournament, the Challenge Cup, was announced in place of the beginning of the regular season. Williams started in one Challenge Cup match, a 1–0 win over the Chicago Red Stars on July 5. She also started 4 games of the Fall Series, recording her first professional assist on a goal scored by Lynn Williams during a 4–1 loss to the Houston Dash on October 4. After the season, she signed a one-year contract with an option to extend for an additional year.

Williams appeared in 17 games (2 starts) for the Courage in the 2021 regular season as they finished fifth in the standings. She also appeared in 4 games (1 start) in the NWSL Challenge Cup. She made her playoff debut in the closing minutes of the Courage's 1–0 quarterfinal loss to the eventual champions Washington Spirit.

Williams appeared in 3 games off the bench during the 2022 NWSL Challenge Cup ahead of the regular season. She was an unused substitute in the Challenge Cup final, which the Courage won 2–1 against the Washington Spirit. She finished the 2022 regular season with 3 assists in 18 appearances (10 starts) as the Courage placed 7th of 12 teams, missing the playoffs.

Williams started all 8 games in the 2023 NWSL Challenge Cup, playing the full match in a 2–0 victory over Racing Louisville in the final. She started all 22 games and made 2 assists in the regular season as the Courage finished in third place. In the playoffs, she played every minute of their first-round 2–0 loss to eventual champions NJ/NY Gotham FC.

Williams received two yellow cards and was sent off on June 8, 2024, with her second card giving Sophia Smith a penalty that led to a 1–0 away loss to the Portland Thorns. She finished the regular season with 25 starts and 2,237 minutes played, with just her red card and one-match suspension keeping her from an iron woman season. She ranked top two in the league in multiple defensive metrics, including tackles, challenges, and interceptions, and ranked first in attempted passes. North Carolina finished the regular season in fifth place, losing 1–0 to the Kansas City Current in the playoff quarterfinals. Williams signed a contract extension near the end of the season, keeping her with the club through 2027. She was named to the NWSL Best XI Second Team at the end of the season.

Williams scored her first professional goal—in the eighth season of her career—on April 26, 2025, and also assisted Ashley Sanchez's stoppage-time winner as the Courage came back twice to win 3–2 against the previously unbeaten Kansas City Current, the Courage's first win of the year. Head coach Sean Nahas had recently restructured the defense into a back three which allowed Williams to contribute to the attack more freely. On June 21, Williams marked her 100th regular-season appearance with a 2–1 win over the Houston Dash. She was even closer to an iron woman season in 2025, missing only four minutes in one game the entire season.

Williams was named a team captain going into the 2026 season alongside Natalie Jacobs and Kailen Sheridan.

International career

Williams was called up by Emma Hayes to camp with the United States national team in January 2025, her first national team call-up at any level.

Career statistics updated|November 9, 2024|

Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025 26 1

26 1

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Honors North Carolina Courage Women's International Champions Cup: 2018 NWSL Championship: 2018, 2019 NWSL Shield: 2018, 2019 NWSL Challenge Cup: 2022, 2023

Individual

NWSL Best XI Second Team: 2024 First-team All-Big 12: 2017 Big 12 All-Newcomer team: 2014