Texas Tech University Athletics
Former Tech Great Jaelene Daniels Announces Retirement
November 04, 2020 | Women's Soccer
Former All-American and two-time NWSL Champion retires from professional soccer.
CARY, N.C. – Former Texas Tech All-American defender and two-time National Women's Soccer League champion Jaelene Daniels (née Hinkle) announced her retirement from professional soccer Wednesday.
"In the best women's league in the world, Jaelene was one of the elite players every season," said Texas Tech head coach Tom Stone. "It's a rarity to have the chance to coach a player of Jae's quality. She amazed us on the daily. Watching her grow from a small, somewhat-shy technician into a world-class defender, confident woman and the best left back in the world has been an absolute pleasure to witness."
"Jaelene is unquestionably the best left back in the world," said North Carolina Courage head coach Paul Riley. "The complete modern full back. You can't replace Jae, but you can look back and know that she had a marvelously successful career."
The defender indeed turned in a marvelous career after graduating from Tech in 2014. A two-time All-American for the Red Raiders, Daniels was selected seventh overall in the NWSL College Draft by the Western New York Flash. She remains the highest-drafted Red Raider in program history. She appeared in 35 matches with the franchise before it moved to North Carolina and re-branded as the North Carolina Courage. One of its cornerstone players, the club held onto Daniels, who went on to help lead the Courage to three NWSL Shields and two NWSL Championships. In 2018, her back line broke the league record for fewest goals conceded. Daniels played every minute of the Courage's storming through the playoffs and the title match. She finished her career with the franchise with 106 appearances over five seasons plus the COVID-specific NWSL Challenge Cup.
Additionally, Daniels represented the United States on the national team since the U-17 levels. In October 2015, she was called into camp with the senior team in preparation for friendlies during the WNT's victory tour after winning the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup. She earned her first cap against Brazil on Oct. 21. She was selected by the U.S. again in 2016, this time for the 2016 CONCACAF Olympic Qualifiers. She played in three games. In total, Daniels won eight caps for her country during her career.
Stone secured the signing of Daniels out of renowned youth club Real Colorado just a few years into his tenure as the head coach in Lubbock. She would appear in 84 games in her Red Raider career and twice earn the title of All-American. She was an All-Region and All-Big 12 selection each of her four years at Tech while also earning Academic All-Big 12 honors three times.
It is hard to measure the impact a player of Daniels' caliber has on a program in the early stages of trying to build a winning culture. With Daniels on the back line, Tech reached its first NCAA Tournament in 2012, where they would beat North Texas in the first postseason match to be hosted at the John Walker Soccer Complex. Tech would return to the big dance a year later and advance to the second round again, doing so after recording a program-record 18 wins and ascending to a school-record sixth in the national coaches poll. In 2014, Daniels' senior campaign, the Red Raiders would reach the first Sweet Sixteen in program history.
"Jae's commitment to Texas Tech Soccer was a program-changer," said Stone. "We owe her a huge debt of gratitude for her decision to be a Red Raider."
Daniels believes she got just as much out of that decision.
"I can't thank Texas Tech and Tom Stone enough for everything they did for me during my four years in Lubbock," Daniels said. "Tom was enormously influential in my development as a player. I know that my professional career would not have taken off if it weren't for his leadership and coaching in my life. He has always kept up with my career, offering encouragement and coaching. Tom Stone is an incredible soccer coach, but he's an even better person. I'm so grateful to have spent four years of my soccer career at Texas Tech with amazing teammates, coaches and everyone else who poured into my education there."
She finished by saying, "Texas Tech provided me with an amazing education, and I'm so grateful for the time they took to not just develop me as an athlete but also as a person."
"Jae will undoubtedly be a success in all of her future endeavors as a career woman, church planter, wife, mom and any other paths she chooses to follow," Stone concluded. "Congratulations on a tremendous career, Jae."
"In the best women's league in the world, Jaelene was one of the elite players every season," said Texas Tech head coach Tom Stone. "It's a rarity to have the chance to coach a player of Jae's quality. She amazed us on the daily. Watching her grow from a small, somewhat-shy technician into a world-class defender, confident woman and the best left back in the world has been an absolute pleasure to witness."
"Jaelene is unquestionably the best left back in the world," said North Carolina Courage head coach Paul Riley. "The complete modern full back. You can't replace Jae, but you can look back and know that she had a marvelously successful career."
From The Walker to the pros, she was ?????????? everywhere she played ??
— Texas Tech Soccer (@TexasTechSoccer) November 4, 2020
After establishing herself as one of the best defenders in the world, Jae is announcing her retirement.
Best of luck in all you do post-soccer, @jaelenedaniels. pic.twitter.com/sGUGBzFEmL
The defender indeed turned in a marvelous career after graduating from Tech in 2014. A two-time All-American for the Red Raiders, Daniels was selected seventh overall in the NWSL College Draft by the Western New York Flash. She remains the highest-drafted Red Raider in program history. She appeared in 35 matches with the franchise before it moved to North Carolina and re-branded as the North Carolina Courage. One of its cornerstone players, the club held onto Daniels, who went on to help lead the Courage to three NWSL Shields and two NWSL Championships. In 2018, her back line broke the league record for fewest goals conceded. Daniels played every minute of the Courage's storming through the playoffs and the title match. She finished her career with the franchise with 106 appearances over five seasons plus the COVID-specific NWSL Challenge Cup.
Additionally, Daniels represented the United States on the national team since the U-17 levels. In October 2015, she was called into camp with the senior team in preparation for friendlies during the WNT's victory tour after winning the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup. She earned her first cap against Brazil on Oct. 21. She was selected by the U.S. again in 2016, this time for the 2016 CONCACAF Olympic Qualifiers. She played in three games. In total, Daniels won eight caps for her country during her career.
Stone secured the signing of Daniels out of renowned youth club Real Colorado just a few years into his tenure as the head coach in Lubbock. She would appear in 84 games in her Red Raider career and twice earn the title of All-American. She was an All-Region and All-Big 12 selection each of her four years at Tech while also earning Academic All-Big 12 honors three times.
It is hard to measure the impact a player of Daniels' caliber has on a program in the early stages of trying to build a winning culture. With Daniels on the back line, Tech reached its first NCAA Tournament in 2012, where they would beat North Texas in the first postseason match to be hosted at the John Walker Soccer Complex. Tech would return to the big dance a year later and advance to the second round again, doing so after recording a program-record 18 wins and ascending to a school-record sixth in the national coaches poll. In 2014, Daniels' senior campaign, the Red Raiders would reach the first Sweet Sixteen in program history.
"Jae's commitment to Texas Tech Soccer was a program-changer," said Stone. "We owe her a huge debt of gratitude for her decision to be a Red Raider."
Daniels believes she got just as much out of that decision.
"I can't thank Texas Tech and Tom Stone enough for everything they did for me during my four years in Lubbock," Daniels said. "Tom was enormously influential in my development as a player. I know that my professional career would not have taken off if it weren't for his leadership and coaching in my life. He has always kept up with my career, offering encouragement and coaching. Tom Stone is an incredible soccer coach, but he's an even better person. I'm so grateful to have spent four years of my soccer career at Texas Tech with amazing teammates, coaches and everyone else who poured into my education there."
She finished by saying, "Texas Tech provided me with an amazing education, and I'm so grateful for the time they took to not just develop me as an athlete but also as a person."
"Jae will undoubtedly be a success in all of her future endeavors as a career woman, church planter, wife, mom and any other paths she chooses to follow," Stone concluded. "Congratulations on a tremendous career, Jae."
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