Simone Jackson

Simone Peyton Jackson (born January 28, 2003) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a forward for Damallsvenskan club FC Rosengård, on loan from the Orlando Pride. She played college soccer for the USC Trojans. She has represented the United States at the youth international level.

Early life

Jackson was born and raised in Redondo Beach, California. She began playing soccer with an AYSO team at age four. She attended Bishop Montgomery High School, where she played for the soccer, tennis, and track teams, and co-founded the school's Black Student Union. She committed to USC when she was a freshman.

College career

Jackson scored 5 goals and added 8 assists in 20 games (8 starts) in her freshman season with the USC Trojans in 2021, earning second-team All-Pac-12 honors. She scored a late equalizer in a 2–2 draw against Penn State in the second round of the NCAA tournament, but they lost on penalty kicks. She missed two games in her sophomore season while at the 2022 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup but returned to start the last 16, scoring 6 goals with 3 assists, and was named first-team All-Pac-12. She scored 5 goals in 15 games (10 starts) in her junior season in 2023, being named second-team All-Pac-12. In her senior season in 2024, she scored 6 goals with 2 assists in 22 games (17 starts), earning third-team All-Big Ten honors. USC won their first-ever outright regular-season title, doing so in their first year in the Big Ten Conference. Jackson scored in four of her last five college games, including in the quarterfinals of the NCAA tournament, where she also made her penalty in shootout loss to Wake Forest after a 2–2 draw.

Club career

Jackson joined the Orlando Pride as a non-roster invitee in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) preseason in January 2025. On May 29, the Pride announced that they had signed Jackson to her first professional contract on a four-year deal. On September 2, she scored her first professional goal in Orlando's CONCACAF W Champions Cup debut, a 3–0 win over Alajuelense.

On August 19, 2026, Jackson joined Swedish club FC Rosengård on loan until June 30, 2026.

International career

Jackson was first called up to the United States youth national team at the under-14 level in 2016. She was called up to the under-23 team to play against NWSL competition in the 2023 preseason.

Personal life

Jackson is the middle of three children born to Ann-Frances McLyn and John Jackson Jr. Her father is a sports commentator who played professional football and minor league baseball in the 1990s, having also played both sports at USC. Her older brother, John Jackson III, played wide receiver at USC before being signed by the Chicago Bears. Her grandfather, John Jackson Sr., was on the coaching staff for the USC Trojans football team in the 1970s.

Honors and awards

USC Trojans Big Ten Conference: 2024

United States U20 CONCACAF Women's U-20 Championship: 2022

Individual

First-team All-Pac-12: 2022 Second-team All-Pac-12: 2021, 2023 Third-team All-Big Ten: 2024