Stella Spitzer

Stella Spitzer (born April 4, 2010) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a forward for USL Super League club Carolina Ascent. She debuted for the Ascent at age 14, becoming the youngest player in the USL Super League, and signed professionally at age 15 in 2025.

Early life

Spitzer grew up in the Columbus suburb of Lewis Center, Ohio, the daughter of Alison, a teacher, and Joel, an attorney. When she was ten, she moved to Dallas, Texas alone, so she could play for the ECNL club Solar SC, where she competed against girls several age groups up and boys her age and several age groups up. At age 14, she joined Sioux Falls City in the amateur Women's Premier Soccer League (WPSL) in preparation for moving to the professional game. She also signed contracts with Nike Hyundai and Wasserman at the time.

Club career

Carolina Ascent FC announced on June 21, 2024, that Spitzer had joined the club on an academy contract (allowing her to retain college eligibility) before the inaugural season of the USL Super League. Carolina head coach Philip Poole said of her: "The potential is there, the ingredients, the appetite, mindset, competitiveness is all there". After the game, Poole said that "Stella's 99.9 percent going to miss out on college altogether. She's already at the professional level". Spitzer made just one more appearance for the rest of the season as the Ascent won the Players' Shield.

On July 25, 2025, the Ascent announced Spitzer had signed her first professional contract with the club on a long-term deal, making the 15-year-old the youngest professional in the league. She made the only appearance of her first professional season on September 25, replacing captain Taylor Porter as a 66th-minute substitute in a 1–0 loss to the Spokane Zephyr. During the 2026 FIFA World Cup, she was the only girl in a Hyundai advertisement featuring several teenagers from top clubs.

International career

Spitzer was called into training camp with the under-15 team in 2024 and 2025, and the under-16 team in 2026 in Antalya, Turkiye.

Honors and awards

Carolina Ascent USL Super League Players' Shield: 2024–25