Meet Long Island's professional soccer stars in MLS and NWSL
11 players from Long Island will compete in the 2024 seasons of Major League Soccer and the National Women's Soccer League. Five of those LIers play for local clubs, including two World Cup champions, a set of brothers and a teenager.
Click on each league, position or county to see the corresponding players.
Credit: Ed Quinn
Crystal Dunn
2024 TEAM: Gotham FC
HOMETOWN: Rockville Centre
HIGH SCHOOL: South Side (2010)
POSITIONS: Winger, midfielder, fullback
NWSL stats: 127 appearances, 38 goals, 24 assists
Career highlights: On top of playing every minute of knockout play for the 2019 World Cup winners, LI’s most decorated soccer star has been part of three NWSL championship teams — twice with the North Carolina Courage and once with the Portland Thorns — and was the league MVP in 2015. The versatile Dunn also won an NCAA title at North Carolina, an English league title with Chelsea and a bronze medal in the 2020 Olympics.
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LI's Crystal Dunn wants you to go see her play for NWSL's Gotham FC
Credit: Getty Images
Allie Long
2024 TEAM: Free agent
HOMETOWN: Huntington
HIGH SCHOOL: Northport (2005)
POSITION: Midfielder
NWSL stats: 172 appearances, 36 goals, 16 assists
Career highlights: A defensive force in midfield, Long was a fixture on two NWSL championships teams while with the Portland Thorns and appeared on the 2016 Olympic team before winning the World Cup in 2019. She returned to the area in 2021 with Gotham FC, where she captured a third NWSL title in 2023.
Past coverage
Mother of twins. Professional soccer player. Gotham FC's Allie Long works to have it all.
Credit: NYCFC
Christian McFarlane
2024 TEAM: NYCFC
HOMETOWN: Elmont
HIGH SCHOOL: N/A
POSITION: Defender
MLS stats: N/A
Career highlights: McFarlane was the third youngest first-team signing in MLS history when he inked a homegrown deal with NYCFC in 2021 as a 14-year-old. The British-born McFarlane grew up on Long Island and in Queens, but has played for English youth national teams. He’s appeared in 27 matches for NYCFC II in MLS Next Pro.
Credit: Getty Images
Tim Melia
2024 TEAM: Sporting Kansas City
HOMETOWN: Great River
HIGH SCHOOL: East Islip (2004)
POSITION: Goalkeeper
MLS stats: 238 appearances, 66 clean sheets, 70.8 save percentage
Career highlights: Melia wasn’t given much opportunity early in his career until joining Sporting KC in 2015, taking over as starter and never looking back. He was the MLS Comeback Player of the Year that season and led Sporting to U.S. Open Cup titles in 2015 and 2017.
Past coverage
Tim Melia rewarded for his hard work in MLS nets with Goalkeeper of the Year award
Credit: Getty Images
Emily Menges
2024 TEAM: Bay FC
HOMETOWN: Garden City
HIGH SCHOOL: Garden City (2010)
POSITION: Centerback
NWSL stats: 160 appearances, one assist
Career highlights: Menges was a major presence for the Portland Thorns during 10 years with the club, making the second-most appearances in team history and winning two NWSL championships as a fan favorite. Ahead of 2024, she was traded to expansion side Bay FC, where she will be the club’s most experienced player.
Credit: AP/Eduardo Munoz Alvarez
Dylan Nealis
2024 TEAM: Red Bulls
HOMETOWN: Massapequa
HIGH SCHOOL: Massapequa (2016)
POSITION: Defender
MLS stats: 70 appearances, three assists
Career highlights: After winning a national championship at Georgetown, Dylan Nealis was drafted by expansion club Inter Miami in 2020. He spent 2021 with Nashville SC before joining the Red Bulls in a trade ahead of the 2022 season. He’s made 30 starts in two seasons with New York.
Past coverage
Dylan Nealis reunited with brother Sean Nealis for Red Bulls
Credit: Getty Images/Al Bello
Sean Nealis
2024 TEAM: Red Bulls
HOMETOWN: Massapequa
HIGH SCHOOL: Massapequa (2015)
POSITION: Centerback
MLS stats: 107 appearances, three goals, one assist
Career highlights: Sean Nealis was an MLS SuperDraft pick by the Red Bulls in 2019 after starring at Hofstra. He became a regular on the back line in 2021 and was named captain in 2023, the first New York-born player to captain the MLS original club.
Past coverage
Credit: Getty Images
Tim Parker
2024 TEAM: St. Louis CITY SC
HOMETOWN: Hicksville
HIGH SCHOOL: Hicksville (2011)
POSITION: Centerback
MLS stats: 246 appearances, six goals, four assists
Career highlights: Previously a member of the Vancouver Whitecaps, Red Bulls and Houston Dynamo, Parker endeared himself to St. Louis fans by scoring the expansion club’s first MLS goal in 2023. The veteran has been a consistent starter on MLS backlines since 2015, winning a Supporters’ Shield with RBNY in 2018.
Credit: AP/AJ Mast
Cari Roccaro
2024 TEAM: Chicago Red Stars
HOMETOWN: East Islip
HIGH SCHOOL: East Islip (2012)
POSITION: Midfielder
NWSL stats: 113 appearances, five goals, two assists
Career highlights: Roccaro was part of the U-20 Women’s World Cup champions in 2012 while she was a freshman at Notre Dame. She was the No. 5 pick in the 2016 draft by the Houston Dash and has since played for the North Carolina Courage and Angel City, joining Chicago in 2023 via trade.
Credit: Getty Images
Meredith Speck
2024 TEAM: North Carolina Courage
HOMETOWN: Rockville Centre
HIGH SCHOOL: Sacred Heart (2011)
POSITION: Midfielder
NWSL stats: 80 appearances, four goals, four assists
Career highlights: Speck is the longest tenured member of the Courage, having played for the club since before it relocated from Western New York in 2017. She’s won three NWSL championships, once in Western New York and twice in North Carolina.
Credit: Getty Images
Jasmyne Spencer
2024 TEAM: Angel City FC
HOMETOWN: Bay Shore
HIGH SCHOOL: Bay Shore (2008)
POSITION: Forward, midfielder
NWSL stats: 172 appearances, 16 goals, nine assists
Career highlights: Spencer has been part of the NWSL since its inception, playing for the Washington Spirit, Western New York Flash, Orlando Pride, OL Reign and Houston Dash before joining expansion Angel City in 2022. She’s also spent time on loan in the Australian W-League.
