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Vanessa DiBernardo

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Vanessa DiBernardo
DiBernardo with Kansas City Current in 2024
Personal information
Full name Vanessa Sue DiBernardo[1]
Date of birth (1992-05-15) May 15, 1992 (age 32)
Place of birth Naperville, Illinois, U.S.
Height 5 ft 4 in (1.63 m)
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Kansas City Current
Number 16
Youth career
2000–2010 America's Soccer Club
2007–2010 Waubonsie Valley
2008 Chicago Red Eleven
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2010–2013 Illinois Fighting Illini 73 (43)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2011 Chicago Red Stars (WPSL)
2012–2013 Chicago Eclipse Select
2014–2022 Chicago Red Stars 155 (12)
2015–2017 → Perth Glory (loan) 22 (12)
2023– Kansas City Current 23 (4)
International career‡
United States U-17
2011–2012 United States U-20 20 (3)
2013–2015 United States U-23 7 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of April 27, 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of January 25, 2014

Vanessa Sue DiBernardo (born May 15, 1992) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Kansas City Current of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). She previously played for and captained the Chicago Red Stars. Internationally, DiBernardo was a member of the United States national under-20 team that won the 2012 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup.

Early life

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DiBernardo was raised in Naperville, Illinois, where she attended Waubonsie Valley High School and helped lead the soccer team to state championship wins in 2007, 2008, and 2010.[2][3] In 2009, she was named to the ESPN Rise All-American Third Team and earned Beacon News Girls Soccer Player of the Year and Chicago Sun-Times All-Area honors.[2] During her senior year in 2010, she was named Gatorade Illinois Player of the Year,[4] IHSSCA Illinois Player of the Year, and was ranked fifty-first in the country for high school seniors by Top Drawer Soccer.[2]

College career

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University of Illinois

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As a freshman in 2010, DiBernardo led the Big Ten Conference in goals and points and was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year.[5] During her sophomore year, she led her team with 17 goals[2] and was named to the MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List.[6] Despite missing a portion of her junior season due to the 2012 U-20 World Cup, DiBernardo still led the Illini in points, goals, and shots.[2] In October 2012, she was named Player of the Week by the Big Ten Conference, Top Drawer Soccer and College Sports Madness after scoring a hat-trick and helping the team defeat the University of Michigan.[7] Unable to play the full season again due to a knee injury[8] which kept her out for seven games, she tallied seven goals in 15 games and had a career high seven assists.[2] DiBernardo finished her Illini career setting the school's record for most career assists and tying the school's record for most career shots.[2] She was named to the Hermann Trophy Watch List for a third time.[9] In 2014, she was awarded the Big Ten Medal of Honor, which recognizes one male and one female student from the graduating class of each Big Ten member school, for demonstrating joint athletic and academic excellence throughout their college career.[10]

Club career

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Chicago Red Eleven

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In 2008, DiBernardo played for the Chicago Red Eleven in the W-League.[2]

Chicago Red Stars, 2014–2022

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DiBernardo was selected as the fourth overall pick in the 2014 NWSL College Draft by the Chicago Red Stars.[11][12][13] She previously played for Red Stars' head coach Rory Dames with the Red Stars' WPSL team in 2011 and with the Chicago Eclipse Select in 2012–2013.[14] Of her and Julie Johnston's signing, Coach Dames said, "In Julie and Vanessa, we picked up the best holding midfielder and the best attacking midfielder in the draft. They will form the spine of our team down the middle for years to come. With both of them having the experience of winning the U20 World Cup, they are both proven winners at the highest level."[15]

In her rookie season DiBernardo appeared in 23 out of 24 matches and scored 1 goal and provided 3 assists.

In 2015 DiBernardo played in all 21 matches for the Red Stars, she scored 2 goals and provide 5 assists, and was voted by fans as the team Unsung Hero. The Red Stars finished the season in 2nd place and qualified for the play-offs for the first time. Chicago lost to FC Kansas City 3–0 in the semi-final.[16]

DiBernardo once again played in every match for Chicago in 2016. She provided 7 assists in 2016 which led the team and was the second highest in the league. Chicago once again qualified for the play-offs but lost the semi-final in extra time to the Washington Spirit.[16] DiBernardo was named to the 2016 NWSL Second XI.[17]

In 2017 DiBernardo appeared in 21 games and scored 3 goals. Chicago was eliminated in the semi-finals for the third straight season.[16]

DiBernardo suffered a stress fracture in her hip during the 2018 Thorns Spring Invitational which would sideline her for the first two months of the 2018 NWSL season.[18] She returned to the field on June 17 against the Portland Thorns. DiBernardo appeared in 12 games in 2018 and scored 2 goals. She was named to the NWSL Best XI for the month of August.[19]

DiBernardo logged significant playing time in 2019, starting 20 regular season matches and all of Chicago's playoff matches on their run to the 2019 NWSL Championship final, where they fell 0–4 to the North Carolina Courage. In July, she won another monthly NWSL Best XI award.[19]

Adapting to the unique 2020 NWSL schedule, DiBernardo featured in both the NWSL Challenge Cup and NWSL Fall Series, starting in all of Chicago's knockout round matches en route to the 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup final, where the team lost 0–2 to the Houston Dash. She registered a goal and an assist in a September 20 match against Sky Blue FC.[20]

In 2021, DiBernardo started in the NWSL Championship final for the third straight year with the Red Stars, but her game was cut short by a 12th-minute injury. Chicago fell short again, losing 1–2 to the Washington Spirit.[21]

DiBernardo was named team captain of the Red Stars for the 2022 season.[19] She played 2,433 minutes across all club competitions in 2022, starting in 29 matches across the regular season, NWSL Challenge Cup, and postseason.[22] She was named NWSL Player of the Month in September.[19]

Loan to Perth Glory

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DiBernardo joined Perth Glory of the W-League on loan for the 2015–16 season.[23] She returned to Perth for the 2016–17 season and scored 6 goals in 14 games. Perth advanced to the 2017 Grand Final but lost to Melbourne City 2–0.[16]

Kansas City Current, 2023–

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DiBernardo a two-year contract as a free agent with the Kansas City Current on December 7, 2022.[24] She made her debut for Kansas City on April 15, 2023. She scored a goal and had an assist in a 2023 NWSL Challenge Cup match against her former Chicago Red Stars team on June 14, 2023.[25]

DiBernardo joined the Kansas City Current as a free agent in December 2022, signing a two-year contract.[24] She debuted in April 2023 and scored a goal and contributed an assist against her former team, the Chicago Red Stars, in a NWSL Challenge Cup match that June.[25] Her 2023 season was cut short with a concussion sustained against the Portland Thorns later in June.[26] She would be placed on the Season Ending Injury list before the final match of the regular season.[27]

Vanessa DiBernardo scored the first-ever goal at CPKC Stadium on opening day of the 2024 season. Her goal helped propel the Kansas City Current to a 5–4 victory over Portland Thorns FC.

International career

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DiBernardo has represented the United States at the under-20 and under-23 levels.[28] During the 2012 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup, she helped the U.S. advance to the semi-finals after scoring the game-opening goal against China. The team defeated China 2–1.[29] The team later defeated Germany 1–0 to clinch the championship.[30]

In August 2013, DiBernardo was called up to the senior national team camp ahead of a friendly match against Mexico on September 3 while still in college. She did not end up playing in the match.[31][32]

In December 2019, DiBernardo was called up for a training camp with the senior national team.[33]

Personal life

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DiBernado's father Angelo DiBernardo competed at 1984 Summer Olympics and other international matches, as a member of the USA men's national soccer team; they are the only father/daughter relationship among soccer players that represented USA.[28][34] Her father was born in Argentina of Italian descent, so Vanessa would be eligible to play for either country's national team.[35]

Honors

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Kansas City Current

United States U20

Individual

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup Japan 2012 – List of Players: USA" (PDF). FIFA. September 14, 2012. p. 16. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 17, 2019. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h "Vanessa DiBernardo". University of Illinois. Archived from the original on February 10, 2014. Retrieved February 5, 2014.
  3. ^ Helfgot, Mike (March 29, 2010). "Girls soccer preview: Waubonsie Valley's Vanessa DiBernardo is a big name for high school soccer". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on December 23, 2012. Retrieved February 5, 2014.
  4. ^ "Waubonsie's Vanessa DiBernardo named Gatorade Illinois Girls Soccer POY". Chicago Tribune. May 13, 2010. Archived from the original on November 18, 2015. Retrieved February 5, 2014.
  5. ^ "Big Ten Conference Announces Women's Soccer Postseason Honors". Big Ten Conference. November 10, 2010. Archived from the original on February 10, 2014. Retrieved February 6, 2014.
  6. ^ "DiBernardo Named To MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List". University of Illinois. Archived from the original on February 10, 2014. Retrieved February 6, 2014.
  7. ^ "Athlete profile, Vanessa DiBernardo". The Columbia Chronicle. October 15, 2012. Archived from the original on February 10, 2014. Retrieved February 10, 2014.
  8. ^ "Dibernardo Recovering From Injury". WRSP Fox Illinois. October 3, 2013. Archived from the original on October 30, 2014. Retrieved February 10, 2014.
  9. ^ "Hermann Trophy: DiBernardo, Roccaro, Miller make watch list". Chicagoland Soccer News. August 20, 2013. Archived from the original on February 10, 2014. Retrieved February 6, 2014.
  10. ^ Vorva, Jeff (May 8, 2014). "Naperville's DiBernardo receives Big Ten Medal". Naperville Sun. Archived from the original on August 22, 2022. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
  11. ^ Hays, Graham (January 17, 2014). "Who scored in NWSL Draft?". espnW. ESPN. Archived from the original on February 5, 2014. Retrieved February 5, 2014.
  12. ^ "Chicago Red Stars Select Johnston, DiBernardo, and Brock in 2014 NWSL College Draft". Our Sports Central. January 17, 2014. Archived from the original on April 7, 2014. Retrieved February 5, 2014.
  13. ^ Lauletta, Dan (January 18, 2014). "Red Stars snag U-20 WC vets Johnston, DiBernardo". The Equalizer. Archived from the original on January 27, 2014. Retrieved February 5, 2014.
  14. ^ "College Report: Waubonsie Valley's Vanessa DiBernardo drafted 4th by Chicago Red Stars". The Beacon-News. Aurora, Illinois: Sun-Times Media. January 17, 2014. Archived from the original on May 8, 2014. Retrieved January 25, 2014.
  15. ^ Braeback, Jeremiah. "Red Stars add Johnston, DiBernardo, Brock in 2014 College Draft". NWSL News. Archived from the original on February 10, 2014. Retrieved February 5, 2014.
  16. ^ a b c d "V.DiBERNARDO". Archived from the original on April 3, 2019. Retrieved April 3, 2019.
  17. ^ "Christie Rampone named to 2016 NWSL Second XI". October 6, 2016. Archived from the original on April 3, 2019. Retrieved April 3, 2019.
  18. ^ "Shining again: Naperville natives Vanessa DiBernardo, Casey Short come back from injuries to spark Chicago Red Stars". Chicago Tribune. July 19, 2019. Archived from the original on April 3, 2019. Retrieved April 3, 2019.
  19. ^ a b c d Stars, Chicago Red (October 14, 2022). "Chicago Red Stars Captain, Midfielder, Vanessa DiBernardo, Named to NWSL Best XI". Chicago Red Stars. Archived from the original on February 18, 2023. Retrieved October 19, 2022.
  20. ^ "Vanessa DiBernardo 2020 Match Logs". FBref.com. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  21. ^ "National Women's Soccer League Official Site | NWSL". www.nwslsoccer.com. Archived from the original on November 20, 2021. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  22. ^ "Vanessa DiBernardo 2022 Match Logs". FBref.com. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  23. ^ "US International Vanessa DiBernardo goes for Glory". Perth Glory. November 12, 2015. Archived from the original on November 19, 2015. Retrieved November 12, 2015.
  24. ^ a b "Kansas City Current sign two veteran free agents through 2024 season - Kansas City Current". www.kansascitycurrent.com. December 7, 2022. Archived from the original on January 3, 2023. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
  25. ^ a b "Vanessa DiBernardo 2023 Match Logs". FBref.com. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  26. ^ Sperry, Daniel (July 21, 2023). "KC Current roster injury update: Challenge Cup play". Kansas City Star. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
  27. ^ "Vanessa DiBernardo Soccer Stats & News". www.rotowire.com. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  28. ^ a b "Injured Megan Rapinoe Replaced by Vanessa DiBernardo on U.S. WNT Roster That Will Face Mexico on Sept. 3 at RFK Stadium". U.S.Soccer. August 29, 2013. Archived from the original on February 4, 2014. Retrieved January 25, 2014.
  29. ^ Bell, Jack (August 31, 2012). "U.S. Women Advance to Semifinals at U-20 World Cup". The New York Times. Archived from the original on March 28, 2018. Retrieved February 5, 2014.
  30. ^ "Naperville's DiBernardo helps U.S. win World Cup". Daily Herald. Associated Press. September 8, 2012. Archived from the original on January 27, 2024. Retrieved February 5, 2014.
  31. ^ "Injured Megan Rapinoe Replaced by Vanessa DiBernardo on U.S. WNT Roster That Will Face Mexico on Sept. 3 at RFK Stadium". U.S. Soccer. August 29, 2013. Archived from the original on May 17, 2014. Retrieved May 15, 2014.
  32. ^ Grainey, Tim (September 10, 2013). "Vanessa DiBernardo sets sights on NWSL, USWNT". The Equalizer. Archived from the original on October 31, 2013. Retrieved May 15, 2014.
  33. ^ "ANDONOVSKI NAMES 24-PLAYER ROSTER FOR U.S. WOMEN'S NATIONAL TEAM DECEMBER IDENTIFICATION TRAINING CAMP IN FLORIDA". US Soccer. November 17, 2019. Archived from the original on April 21, 2021. Retrieved July 6, 2020.
  34. ^ "DiBernardo Follows in Fathers Footsteps". U.S. Soccer. August 6, 2012. Archived from the original on April 29, 2013. Retrieved January 25, 2014.
  35. ^ "Vanessa DiBernardo sets sights on NWSL, USWNT". The Equalizer. September 10, 2013. Archived from the original on October 31, 2013. Retrieved January 25, 2014.
  36. ^ "Match Report: Kansas City Current win NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup with 2-0 victory over NJ/NY Gotham FC". Kansas City Current. October 25, 2024. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  37. ^ NWSL (November 18, 2024). "NWSL Announces Winners of 2024 NWSL Best XI Awards, presented by Amazon Prime | National Women's Soccer League Official Site". NWSL. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
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