Elise Evans: From Bay Area Star to Cardinal Captain

From the Bay Area to the collegiate and national stage, Stanford defender Elise Evans, a junior, has made a name for herself with the dedication and skill she brings to the soccer field.

Whether it was changing positions, adjusting to new competition levels, or stepping into leadership roles, Evans has attacked adjustments head on and is extremely adaptable. Growing up playing for San Jose Earthquakes—now Bay Area Surf—Evans had a unique club experience. “We were with San Jose Earthquakes Girls Academy before, but when the Development Academy disbanded during COVID, the Girls Academy side of San Jose Earthquakes was ended, so they created Bay Area surf for us because we had no league and no team at the time,” she explained. “It was all the same coaches, the same teammates, just a different name.” Despite this disruption, Evans still played phenomenally, as a key asset to the team, leading them to multiple national championships and undefeated seasons.

Because of her high level of play in high school, she adjusted well as she transitioned from club soccer to D1 soccer at Stanford, one of the top soccer programs in the country. However, there were some challenges for her. “In club, I was one of the oldest players on my team. Then, once I got to college, I was the youngest on the team, and I’m pretty young for my grade. So I was 17 playing against some 22 and 23 year olds.” Yet, she rose to the challenge, quickly adapting and leading the team as a center back and eventually becoming a team captain as a junior.

Evans was a forward when she was younger, before shifting to midfield. Then, when one of her team’s outside backs got injured, she played outside back for a tournament. After getting her first call up to the U14 national team, she played outside back and eventually got moved to center back. “Ever since then, I’ve played center back.”

When it came time to choose a college, Stanford was the obvious choice. “Stanford was always a dream place for me. My mom also played soccer here, and growing up around here, it was always a big dream for me,” Evans shared. “It’s such a great combination of academics and athletics, and all the people I’ve met here have been incredible.”

Now, as a key player for the Cardinal, Evans cherishes the moments on and off the field. Since she lives so close to her parents, they have come to every single home game, which has been great. “Getting to play in front of the same little girls and boys that, who like me, used to watch Stanford games has been super special,” she said. Also, the team’s back-to-back Final Four appearances have also been a highlight, though she remains working towards a national championship!

Evans’ talent extends beyond the college level—she has made a difference in the U.S. Youth National Team system since she was in middle school. She got called up to the first ever U14 camp for her age group in 2017, and then once she was in the youth national team system, she kept getting called up ever since. While competing with and against top talent internationally, Evans has built meaningful friendships with players like Alyssa and Gisele Thompson and Jaedyn Shaw—now U.S. Women’s National Team standouts.

In 2023, she took on a leadership role as a captain. “Being named captain was a huge honor for me, and something I definitely didn’t take lightly,” she said. Leading a team with players from different backgrounds was challenging, but it helped shape her leadership skills. “Bringing everyone together was a challenge at times, but I learned so much from it” and she has brought aspects of that leadership role back to Stanford.

As a woman of color in soccer, Evans understands the importance of representation and visibility. “Growing up, especially in the media or even on the national team, the [players] that would get promoted, although they’re amazing players… didn’t necessarily look like me.” She has always wanted to help younger players from minority communities who may not have had someone who looked like them, seeing that they had a role model who was “achieving the things that they want to achieve.” She mentioned how Naomi Girma, a former Stanford defender and USWNT member, is her mentor and inspiration. In the future, Evans hopes to play on the full women’s national team and go pro. At Stanford, she is actively working hard to earn her undergraduate degree in communication and master’s degree in sociology.

Evans is also passionate about the future of women’s soccer. “I think it’s grown so much… especially in attendance, sponsorships, and viewership,” she said. “I’d love to see more investment in women’s sports, especially at the grassroots level. It would be super cool to see NWSL teams develop academies and second teams, similar to MLS teams.”

If Evans could give any advice to girls aspiring to play at the next level, she would encourage them to “stick with it and continue to let [their] talents and uniqueness in the sport continue to shine… and not let outside noise dictate where [they] land.” She also acknowledges how everyone’s journey is different, so it's important not to compare yourself to others. “If you continue to stay on [your journey] and work really hard, you’ll be able to accomplish your dreams.” Evans continues to push boundaries, both on and off the field. She inspires young players and is changing the face of women’s soccer!