In 2014, while at Kentucky, Wright was awarded the Honda Inspiration Award which is given to a collegiate athlete "who has overcome hardship and was able to return to play at the collegiate level".[2] She overcame a serious injury and the loss of her mother to cancer as a freshman, but rebounded to become one of the top soccer players in the country.[3][4][5][6]
Wright attended and played for West Jessamine High School where she was named All-American, as well as Kentucky's Miss Soccer.[7]
Wright played club soccer for Ohio Elite. In 2007 was named second team All-State, and in 2008 was named Underclassman Athlete of the Year of Jessamine County, and Academic First Team Region 14. In 2009 was named Central Kentucky Soccer Conference Most Valuable Player. Wright was named to Kentucky First team All-State in 2009 and 2010.[1]
Wright played for Kentucky Wildcats from 2011 to 2014 during which she was named First Team All-American, ESPNW Female Athlete of the Year finalist, SEC Defensive Player of the Year, First Team All-SEC, 2014 HONDA Award winner,[8]
and MAC Hermann Award finalist.[1]
During her four years playing for Wildcats, Wright played over 7,000 minutes, scored 30 goals and provided 25 assists. Wright set a new Wildcat record of eight career game-winning goals.[9]
Wright was selected with the eighth overall pick in the 2015 NWSL College Draft by the Chicago Red Stars. The Red Stars had acquired the pick along with an international roster spot for the 2014 and 2015 seasons from FC Kansas City in exchange for defender Amy LePeilbet.[10] In her first season, Wright played 19 games for the Red Stars, starting in 17, for a total of 1533 minutes and provided 2 assists.
In 2016, she was named to the NWSL Best XI for the season and nominated for the Defender of the Year award.[11]
In 2017, Wright appeared in all 24 regular season matches for the Red Stars and their single post-season appearance. Wright started in 24 of those games, resulting in a combined total of 2,130 minutes on the field and 4 assists.[11]
On November 1, 2016, Wright joined Newcastle Jets on loan.[12] In October 2017 she extended her loan for another season.[13]
On November 26, 2018, Wright returned to Newcastle for the remainder of the 2018-19 W-League season, marking her third consecutive year with the team.[14]
Wright competed with United States youth national teams at various age-groups:under-15,[16]
under-18,[17]
under-20,[18]
under-23,[19]
Wright received her first international call up to the senior team on October 6, 2016.[20][21] Wright's call-up marks the first time a University of Kentucky player has been chosen to play for the USWNT.[22]
Arin Wright is the daughter of Letita (née Walton) and Bruce Gilliland, and has a sibling Saylor.[1] Her mother had great influence on her soccer career.[7] She married her husband Evan Wright in October 2018.[23] In October 2019, the two announced they were expecting a baby in April 2020.[24]
