Tina Ellertson

Christina “Tina” Ellertson is an American former professional soccer defender and member of the US women’s national soccer team. She attended University of Washington and competed in soccer, becoming one of UW’s most respected forwards. She was named Pacific-10 Conference co-player of the year in 2003 and in 2004, was named player of the year.

Ellertson was one of three players drafted for Saint Louis Athletica in September 2008. Ellertson was consistently present in the Athletica black line, playing 1748 minutes during the season, the most of anyone on the team. She made the All-Star team and was nominated for WPS’s Defender of the Year award.

In 2013, she was chosen in the first round of the National Women’s soccer league’s supplemental draft by Portland Thorns FC despite saying that she would no longer play in the league. She made five appearances for the Thorns before in 2014 announcing her retirement to focus on coaching and on her family.

Ellertson tried out for the women’s national soccer team and earned her first cap against Ukraine in 2005 before the new coach moved her to defender. She was named to the U.S. roster for the 2007 FIFA Women’s World Cup and competed against Nigeria and against Brazil.