Natalie Hammond (soccer)

Natalie Hammond
Hammond with the Houston Dash in 2026
Personal information
Birth name Natalie Marceline Bain[1]
Date of birth (2003-12-29) December 29, 2003
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Position Center back
Team information
Current team
 Houston Dash
Number 8
Youth career
Kings Hammer
2018–2021 Notre Dame Academy Pandas
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2022–2025 Xavier Musketeers 85 (9)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2022–2025 Kings Hammer 22 (2)
2026– Houston Dash 1 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of August 9, 2026

Natalie Hammond (née Bain; born December 29, 2003) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a center back for the Houston Dash of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). She played college soccer for the Xavier Musketeers, earning All-American honors three times. She was named the USA Today national high school player of the year in 2022.

Early life

Hammond grew up in Alexandria, Kentucky.[2] She attended Notre Dame Academy in Park Hills, Kentucky,[3] where she played for the soccer team for four seasons.[4] In her senior year in 2021, she led Notre Dame Academy to a 28–0–1 record and the KHSAA state championship, allowing just four goals all season and scoring the lone goal in the state final.[2][5] She was named MVP of the district, regional, and state tournaments; a United Soccer Coaches high school All-American; and the USA Today High School Player of the Year.[2][6] She played club soccer for Kings Hammer Academy, earning ECNL all-conference honors.[7]

College career

Hammond started all 23 games for the Xavier Musketeers as a freshman in 2022, contributing to 11 shutouts. In the NCAA tournament, she had an assist in the first round win over Tennessee. She was named second-team All-Big East and named to the Big East all-freshman team. In 2023, she helped the team match a program record 13 shutouts in 20 games as a sophomore, winning a share of the Big East regular-season title and earning a program best four seed in the NCAA tournament. She was named first-team All-Big East and second-team All-American.[2]

Hammond scored a career-high 3 goals and helped record 10 shutouts in 21 games as a junior in 2024. She helped the Musketeers to their third consecutive Big East tournament title game, though they lost all three. She was named first-team All-Big East, the Big East Defensive Player of the Year, and second-team All-American, becoming the first multiple-time All-American in program history.[2] In her senior year in 2025, she started 21 games and again scored 3 goals while helping post 12 shutouts.[8] Voted team captain,[9] she led Xavier finally over the hump in the Big East tournament, winning the second tournament title in program history.[10] She was named first-team All-Big East for the third time, Big East Defensive Player of the Year for the second time, and fourth-team All-American, becoming the first three-time All-American in program history.[8] The Cincinnati Enquirer called her "arguably the most decorated player in Xavier women's soccer history".[9]

Club career

Hammond joined the Houston Dash as a non-roster invitee in the preseason in January 2026.[11] On April 10, the Dash announced they had signed Hammond to her first professional contract on a one-year deal; she arrived the next month after finishing college.[12] She made her professional debut on August 8, coming on as a second-half substitute in a 1–1 draw with the Kansas City Current.[13]

International career

Hammond received her first international call-up with the United States under-23 team, training concurrently with the senior national team, in October 2025.[14]

Personal life

Hammond is the daughter of Aly and Thomas Bain and has two siblings.[2] She married Luke Hammond in July 2026.[15]

Honors and awards

Xavier Musketeers

Individual

  • Second-team All-American: 2023, 2024
  • Fourth-team All-American: 2025
  • Big East Defensive Player of the Year: 2024, 2025
  • First-team All-Big East: 2023, 2024, 2025
  • Second-team All-Big East: 2022
  • Big East all-freshman team: 2022

References

  1. ↑ "Our Newest Alumnae" (PDF). The Notre Damian. Notre Dame Academy. Summer 2022. p. 3. Retrieved October 16, 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Natalie Bain". Xavier Musketeers. Retrieved October 16, 2025.
  3. ↑ Weber, James. "Kentucky high school soccer: Notre Dame Pandas lead all-state girls selections". The Enquirer. Retrieved July 5, 2026.
  4. ↑ Tracy-Noren, Helen (September 10, 2022). "Get to know National Soccer Player of the Year, Notre Dame Academy alum Natalie Bain". BVM Sports. Retrieved July 5, 2026.
  5. ↑ Weber, James (October 31, 2021). "Kentucky high school soccer: Notre Dame tops historic season with 1-0 win in state final". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved October 16, 2025.
  6. ↑ "United Soccer Coaches Announces 2021 Fall High School All-Americans". United Soccer Coaches. December 6, 2021. Retrieved October 16, 2025.
  7. ↑ "ECNL Girls Ohio Valley All-Conference Teams". Elite Clubs National League. August 8, 2022. Retrieved October 16, 2025.
  8. 1 2 "Samantha Erbach and Natalie Bain Named United Soccer Coaches All-Americans". Xavier Musketeers. January 26, 2026. Retrieved January 26, 2026.
  9. 1 2 Li, Yanyan (August 5, 2026). "How former Xavier soccer star Natalie Bain made it to the NWSL". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved August 15, 2026.
  10. ↑ "Women's Soccer Wins 2025 BIG EAST Championship". Xavier Musketeers. November 9, 2025. Retrieved January 26, 2026.
  11. ↑ "Houston Dash Announce 2026 Preseason Roster". Houston Dash. January 26, 2026. Retrieved January 26, 2026.
  12. ↑ "Houston Dash Sign Two-Time Big East Defensive Player of the Year Natalie Bain". Houston Dash. April 10, 2026. Retrieved August 2, 2026.
  13. ↑ "Houston Dash Finish Homestand with Late Equalizer". Houston Dash. August 8, 2026. Retrieved August 15, 2026.
  14. ↑ "24 Players Named for U.S. U-23 WNT Training Camp to Run Concurrently with USWNT Upcoming FIFA Window". United States Soccer Federation. October 16, 2025. Retrieved October 16, 2025.
  15. ↑ Nat:) [@nataliehammond08]; (July 30, 2026). "the details 📸". Retrieved August 2, 2026 – via Instagram.
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