Just four weeks ago, Bay FC goalkeeper Jordan Silkowitz experienced something she could only dream of as a kid: she was called up for the U.S. Women’s National Team. Only three years into her professional career, this was the fourth time she earned the honor. “Ever since I knew what the National Team was, I knew that’s what I wanted to do,” she stated earlier this year. Although she didn’t get to play in either of the national team’s friendlies against Spain, her time training with the team is a testament to how far she’s come in her career.
After playing for two colleges, she was the first from her university to be drafted to play in the NWSL. When she didn’t get time on the pitch on that team, she was loaned abroad. After being traded to Bay FC, she didn’t play in her first year and thought about quitting the sport entirely. But Silkowitz stuck with it, honing her craft on a daily basis, and when the opportunity presented itself, she was ready. In two seasons since, the Fairfax, Va. Native has become a standout goalkeeper that Bay FC relies on week in and week out, and her talents are now acknowledged nationally to boot. While she started as a virtual unknown, Silkowitz has become a cornerstone of Bay FC, along with a fan favorite.
The College Years: From Ohio to Iowa
Before going pro, Silkowitz racked up impressive stats on two college teams. Her collegiate career began at Ohio State University (2018 – 2019), where she was a Big Ten All-Freshman Team selection, appeared in all 18 matches, posted a 1.32 goals-against average, tallied 58 saves that year, was a part of five clean sheets, and made eight scoreless appearances. Silkowitz then transferred to Iowa State University (2020 – 2022), where she started in every match, was named the Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Week five times, posted 1.00 (2020) and 1.38 (2021) goals-against average, made 58, 76, and 100 saves respectively, and finished 2022 with the fifth most saves in ISU history (234).
Going Pro: Kansas City and Brisbane
Her professional career began as the first Iowa State player to be drafted into the NWSL when she joined the Kansas City Current as the 18th overall pick in the 2023 NWSL Draft. Silkowitz recently portrayed this moment as special, but also nerve-wracking and surprising.
Iowa State head coach Matt Fannon described Silkowitz as “…the kind of person who has so much natural talent that she could be good for any team at any level. The thing that really sets her apart is her work rate. She is so dedicated to her development and her passion soaks into everyone around her… what really makes us love Silk is the human that she is. She has an infectious intensity and is simply a wonderful young woman. While we are going to miss her here, we are incredibly excited to see her career develop in the NWSL.”
Although she didn’t record time on the pitch for the Current, she learned a lot from training alongside her peers: “I was really fortunate to get drafted to such an incredible organization at Kansas City,” Silkowitz said in an interview for Bay FC last year. “I got to learn behind some of the best goalkeepers in the world: AD Franch, Almuth Schult and Cassie Miller. I just felt very fortunate to be surrounded by people that have accomplished what I aspire to accomplish in my career.”
With an eye toward gaining playing time, she was loaned to Brisbane Roar FC in September 2023. She appeared in 18 matches and recorded three clean sheets Down Under, helping her get back on her current trajectory.
NWSL Play: Bay FC (2024 – 2025)
Before and during a Bay FC match
She finally made her way to Bay FC when she was acquired via a trade in August 2024, which she saw this as an essential next step in her development: “I really wanted to have an opportunity to compete and play, and that wasn’t going to happen at Kansas City, so I was really grateful that [we] saw eye-to-eye on that and found an opportunity… Bay wants to trailblaze and be the best in the world. I want to be the best in the world. And I want to compete for championships. I want to bring a championship to the city. I think it’s exciting where this club is moving and that was a really big piece for me. I wanted to be a part of that.”
As excited as she was for the opportunity, Silkowitz didn’t see the pitch with her new club in 2024. With two seasons in the league without gameplay, she reached a crossroads and even considered quitting the sport going into the 2025 season: “Soccer was a scary place for me. It felt so vulnerable. I felt I was one moment away from stepping away from the game for good. I was just falling out of love with it.”
She rediscovered her love of the game with encouragement from her mother. After telling her that she was considering a more traditional career, she recalls her mother telling her, “I promise you, you don’t want to work a nine-to-five. Play soccer as long as you can.” Partnering with Daniel Ball, her coach from Iowa State and now the Chicago Stars goalkeeper coach, Silkowitz rekindled this interest: “Since the 2025 season started, when I got the opportunity, I just never looked back. I ran with it, but I think I had a strong foundation in who I was as a goalkeeper, and Dan really helped me find that. He’s been probably the most influential person in my career.”
Before the 2025 season began, the opportunity Silkowitz had been waiting for finally arrived. Katelyn Rowland, the four-time NWSL Champion and veteran goalkeeper who guided Bay FC to the playoffs in the club’s expansion season, retired and put Silkowitz in position to be the starting goalkeeper. That year, she started in 24 matches, recorded her first clean sheet a week after debuting, and finished fifth in saves (74). Moreover, she was nominated a league-leading 13 times and won NWSL Save of the Week four times. She was signed to a new contract through 2027, with a team option for 2028, in August.
U.S. Women’s National Team
Her accomplishments were noticed nationally as she earned her first international call-up to the U-23 Women’s National Team in May 2025, her first senior call-up in November, and several USWNT camp invitations since then. “It’s just a dream come true, especially getting to experience that with my family. The last name on the back of my jersey isn’t just me — it’s my whole family. Getting to represent them and experience all of these moments together means everything.”
Bay FC Streak in 2026
Before and during a Bay FC match
Her run of good form has continued in 2026. Heading into Sunday’s season finale, Silkowitz has played 2,493 minutes and accumulated the second highest season saves total (114 and counting) in NWSL history. Her 72.55% save percentage is the fourth in the NWSL (with a minimum of 10 appearances), and her seven clean sheets are the fourth most.
At the April 25 match against Gotham FC, she recorded the most saves in a single match (12) in league play this season, also the single-match record in Bay FC’s club history. She has been nominated for Save of the Week nine times (tied for the most this season) and won twice, most recently for her diving snag of an Angel City FC shot attempt last Saturday. She returned to the U-23 WNT in April and June and joined the senior squad earlier this month.
Commenting on her professional career overall, Silkowitz said, “I’ve learned so much just in my like four years of being a pro… I’m such a believer in like hard work works… just continuing to have that perseverance and drive.”
The fans are on board; there are frequently cut-outs of Silkowitz’s head looming over the stands. A few enterprising fans have even begun to bring Silky Saves counters to the matches to chronicle her exploits. She’s even received attention from Tamerra Griffin of The New York Times’ sports vertical The Athletic, who grouped her with others in the league who’ve had “stellar seasons and individual growth.”
With only one home match left this season, there is still time to see the fan-favorite goalkeeper in action. Who knows – maybe you’ll see her break another club or league saves record.
Silkowitz’s fans at the Kansas City Current match in Oct. 2026
To give back to the community, Jordan Silkowitz launched Silky Saves for the Bay in partnership with Second Harvest of Silicon Valley in early September. Given that 1 in 6 members of the community face food insecurity, Second Harvest provides nutritious food to vulnerable neighbors and they’re inviting fans to donate to the cause.
Moreover, Sheryl Sandberg and Tom Bernthal along with Katharine Carroll and Alison H. Rosenthal will match every donation made toward the campaign until they raise $150,000. Bay FC partner Sutter Health is also contributing to these efforts. As of Friday, Oct. 30, $83,670.81 has been raised through 297 generous gifts from supporters.
