Reese Tappan

Reese Tappan
Tappan with the Carolina Ascent in 2026
Personal information
Full name Reese Elizabeth Tappan[1]
Date of birth (2002-11-25) November 25, 2002
Height 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Positions
Team information
Current team
 Carolina Ascent
Number 2
Youth career
Pacific Northwest SC
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2021–2024 Washington State Cougars 78 (2)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2025–2026 Spokane Zephyr 34 (1)
2026– Carolina Ascent 1 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 05:44, August 16, 2026 (UTC)

Reese Elizabeth Tappan (born November 25, 2002) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a center back for USL Super League club Carolina Ascent. She played college soccer for the Washington State Cougars. She previously played in the USL Super League for the Spokane Zephyr.

Early life

Tappan grew up in Newcastle, Washington, as one of two children born to Dave and Lori Tappan.[2] She began playing soccer at age of 5 and joined club team Pacific Northwest SC.[3] She attended Liberty High School, where she played three years of basketball in addition to soccer.[2] With the soccer team, she played as a center back and helped Liberty win two consecutive state championships.[4] In the 2017 final, Tappan was responsible for two of the team's three assists in their 3–0 victory over Columbia River.[5]

College career

At the age of 15, Tappan committed to Washington State University. In her freshman season with the Cougars, she played in all 21 matches, starting all but 4.[4] She worked together with the Washington State backline to form a defense that was second in the Pac-12 Conference in terms of goals allowed.[2] The following season, she kicked off the year with her first collegiate assist, a throw-in to Margie Detrizio in the season opener.[6] In both her sophomore and junior seasons, she started all 19 games of the campaign.[2] She also led the team in minutes as a junior.[2][7]

Tappan capped off her college career with a senior season that earned her a spot on the All-WCC First Team after playing every single minute of the year.[8] On October 19, 2024, she conceded a penalty kick in an eventual 4–3 loss to Gonzaga after committing a handball inside the box. However, just 15 minutes later, she atoned for her error by scoring a penalty kick of her own, which was also her first college goal.[9] She ended up making a total of 78 appearances for the Washington State, starring in every match available to the Cougars.[2] Tappan was also a 2024 WCC All-Academic Honorable mention and a one-year team captain.[10]

Club career

Spokane Zephyr

After leaving college, Tappan spent two weeks as a trialist with Spokane Zephyr FC[8] before signing a contract with the club on February 22, 2025.[10][11] She made her professional debut on March 15, coming on as a second-half substitute in a 3–2 win over DC Power FC.[12] On April 3, she recorded her first start with Spokane, playing 90 minutes in a victory over Brooklyn FC.[2] Tappan made 6 appearances in her rookie season as Spokane finished 5th in the USL Super League standings, one spot shy from the playoffs.[13]

Tappan kicked off her second professional season on a positive note, receiving recognition on the October 2025 USL Super League Team of the Month after leading the league in passes and having the second-highest number of clearances that month.[14] On March 14, 2026, she scored her first professional goal,[13] a header to open the scoring in a 3–0 victory over Brooklyn.[15] Tappan ended up playing every minute of Spokane's season, becoming one of the league's five Iron Women for 2025–26,[16] and ranked first in the league in blocks.[17] She earned USL Super League All-League Second Team honors for her performances.[17] In May 2026, the Zephyr folded after two seasons.[18]

Carolina Ascent

In July 2026, Tappan joined fellow USL Super League club Carolina Ascent alongside former Zephyr teammate Hope Hisey.[19] She made her club debut on August 15, 2026, contributing to a 1–0 victory over DC Power FC to open the season.[20]

Career statistics

Club

As of August 15, 2026[13]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup Playoffs[a] Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Spokane Zephyr FC 2024–25 USL Super League 6 0 — — 6 0
2025–26 28 1 — — 28 1
Career total 34 1 0 0 0 0 34 1

Honors and awards

Individual

References

  1. ↑ "Washington State University Celebrates the Class of 2024 - Fall Commencement" (PDF). Washington State University. p. 35. Retrieved June 11, 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Reese Tappan - Soccer". Washington State University Athletics. Retrieved June 11, 2025.
  3. ↑ Phung, Allyson. "Reese Tappan's story of soccer scholarship success". The Patriot Press. Retrieved June 11, 2025.
  4. 1 2 "WSU Soccer: Reese Tappan goes from wide-eyed freshman to stalwart outside back". 247Sports. Retrieved June 11, 2025.
  5. ↑ "Liberty Patriots girls soccer win 2A state title". Renton Reporter. November 27, 2017. Retrieved June 11, 2025.
  6. ↑ "Cougar Comeback Falls Short at No. 9 Michigan". Washington State University Athletics. August 18, 2022. Retrieved June 11, 2025.
  7. ↑ "Washington State Women's Soccer Preview: The Defense Looks For a Breakout in 2024". Washington State Cougars On SI. August 16, 2024. Retrieved June 11, 2025.
  8. 1 2 Seuferling, Connor. "From WSU to USL: Former Coug Reese Tappan's career is reaching new heights". The Daily Evergreen. Retrieved June 11, 2025.
  9. ↑ "WSU Falls to Gonzaga in Second-Half Scoring Frenzy". Washington State University Athletics. October 19, 2024. Retrieved June 11, 2025.
  10. 1 2 Seuferling, Connor. "Coug gone pro: Reese Tappan signs with Spokane pro club Zephyr FC". The Daily Evergreen. Retrieved June 11, 2025.
  11. ↑ "Zephyr Signs on Diligent Defender Reese Tappan". USL Spokane. Retrieved June 11, 2025.
  12. ↑ "Spokane Zephyr FC Offense Shines in Second Home Match of Spring Season". USL Spokane. Retrieved June 11, 2025.
  13. 1 2 3 Reese Tappan at Soccerway
  14. ↑ "Gainbridge Super League Team of the Month – October". GainbridgeSuperLeague.com. USL Super League. Retrieved November 5, 2025.
  15. ↑ "Zephyr FC Dominate Brooklyn FC 3-0 in First Home Match of The Spring Season". USL Spokane. Retrieved March 15, 2026.
  16. ↑ Gainbridge Super League [@gainbridgesuperleague]; (May 20, 2026). "𝙄𝙧𝙤𝙣 𝙨𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙥𝙚𝙣𝙨 𝙞𝙧𝙤𝙣 ⚔ 2,520 minutes, 28 matches, and zero seconds missed on the pitch this season! 🤯". Retrieved May 21, 2026 – via Instagram.
  17. 1 2 "Gainbridge Super League Announces 2025/26 All –League Teams". Gainbridge Super League. Retrieved May 27, 2026.
  18. ↑ "Official Zephyr FC Club Statement". Spokane Zephyr FC. May 20, 2026. Retrieved May 21, 2026.
  19. ↑ Clark, Harrison (July 9, 2026). "Carolina Ascent Adds All-League Defender Reese Tappan". Carolina Ascent FC. Retrieved July 9, 2026.
  20. ↑ "Carolina Ascent Earns First Win of 2026 Fall Season Over DC Power, 1-0". Carolina Ascent FC. Retrieved August 16, 2026.
  21. ↑ "Gainbridge Super League Announces 2025/26 All-League Teams". USL Super League. May 26, 2026. Retrieved May 27, 2026.
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