M.A. Vignola


Mary Alice Vignola is an American professional soccer player who plays as a defender for Portland Thorns FC of the National Women's Soccer League and the [United States women's national women's association football|soccer team|United States national team].

Early life

Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, Vignola was adopted at birth. She is a biracial African American, and her adoptive parents are white. She has an older brother who is also adopted.
Vignola began playing soccer recreationally when she was five years old. She played youth soccer for Ohio Elite, competing in the Elite Clubs National League as a forward. She also played high school soccer for St. Ursula Academy in Cincinnati, scoring 35 goals and being credited with 26 assists in her high school career.

College career

Vignola played in NCAA Division I for the Tennessee Volunteers women's soccer team. During her sophomore season, she switched positions from forward to outside back. In 2019, the Southeastern Conference named her to the All-SEC first team.

Club career

Vignola declined to register for the 2019 NWSL College Draft and sought playing opportunities overseas.

Þróttur, 2020

In 2020, Vignola signed with Icelandic club Knattspyrnufélagið Þróttur, competing in the Úrvalsdeild kvenna, where she scored six goals in 12 appearances. She scored her first professional goal on June 23, 2020, a long-range equalizing goal during second-half stoppage time in a 2–2 draw against Fylkir.

Valur, 2021

In 2021, Vignola transferred to Icelandic competitors Valur. She tore her right acetabular labrum in her first match with the club but continued playing through the injury, scoring two goals in 18 appearances and winning the Úrvalsdeild kvenna.
After winning the league, Vignola competed in the 2021–22 UEFA Women's Champions League with Valur.

Angel City FC, 2022–2025

NWSL expansion club Angel City FC recruited Vignola and signed her on December 5, 2021, making her the team's second-ever player signing after Christen Press. The team was required to negotiate a trade of $30,000 in NWSL allocation money and protection in the 2022 NWSL Expansion Draft with the Washington Spirit, which had acquired the rights to sign Vignola through the league's discovery process. The club provided rehabilitation services for her hip injury, and she debuted late in her rookie season on September 5, 2022, as an 80th-minute substitute for Madison Hammond in the 2022 Copa Angelina against the Mexico women's national football team.
Vignola made her first start for Angel City on April 15, 2023, against Racing Louisville FC. On June 10, 2023, she scored her first goal for Angel City in a 1–2 loss against Washington Spirit. A week later, she scored the match-winning goal against rivals San Diego Wave FC. Vignola was named to the NWSL 2023 Best XI Second team at the conclusion of the 2023 season, contributing 3 goals and 1 assist in Angel City's first run to the playoffs.
Vignola dealt with injuries during the 2024 season but managed to contribute 1 goal and 2 assists with her limited playing time, including the match winner against Chicago Red Stars on September 1, 2024. After the conclusion of the season, on December 16, 2024, Angel City announced they had signed a new two-year contract with Vignola, keeping her with Angel City until 2026.

Portland Thorns FC, 2025–

On September 30, 2025, Vignola was traded to the Portland Thorns in a transaction that also involved Angel City acquiring Hina Sugita.

International career

Vignola earned her first United States youth camp call-up when she was 14 years old. She played for the United States women's national under-17 soccer team in a match against Germany.
Vignola earned a senior national team call-up in September 2023. She made her international debut in her hometown of Cincinnati, OH on September 21, 2023, during a match against South Africa.

Honors

Valur
Individual