.jpg) | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Danesha LaVonne Adams[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1986-06-06)June 6, 1986 (age 39) | ||
| Place of birth | Bellflower, California, United States | ||
| Height | 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) | ||
| Position | Forward/Midfielder | ||
| College career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2004–2007 | UCLA Bruins | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2007 | Cleveland Internationals Women | 5 | (10) |
| 2008 | Pali Blues | 11 | (6) |
| 2009 | Chicago Red Stars | 12 | (0) |
| 2010–2011 | Philadelphia Independence | 27 | (4) |
| 2011 | Medkila | 7 | (4) |
| 2012–2013 | Vittsjö | 11 | (7) |
| 2013 | Sky Blue FC | 20 | (3) |
| 2013 | Ataşehir Belediyespor | 7 | (8) |
| 2014 | Washington Spirit | 13 | (1) |
| 2015 | Medkila IL | ||
| International career‡ | |||
| United States U-20 | |||
| United States U-21 | |||
| 2006 | United States | 1 | (0) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2017–2020 | Houston Cougars (assistant) | ||
| 2020–2024 | Pacific Tigers (co-head coach) | ||
| 2025– | Texas Southern Tigers | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of May 19, 2013 ‡ National team caps and goals as of November 8, 2009 | |||
Danesha LaVonne Adams (born June 6, 1986) is an American retired soccerforward andmidfielder. She is the head coach of theTexas Southern Tigers. She played forPortland Thorns FC in theNational Women's Soccer League (NWSL).[2] She previously played forSky Blue FC andWashington Spirit of the NWSL,Chicago Red Stars andPhiladelphia Independence in theWPS,Medkila IL in Norway'sToppserien,Vittsjö GIK in the SwedishDamallsvenskan,[3] andAtaşehir Belediyespor in Turkey's Women's First Football League as well as for theCleveland Internationals andPali Blues in theW-League.[4]
Born inBellflower, California to LaVonne and Lawrence Adams, Danesha attendedWalnut High School inWalnut, California for one year, earning Rookie of the Year honors and playing on the Region-IV Olympic Development Program (ODP) Team. After moving to Ohio with her family, Adams finished her high school career atShaker Heights High School inShaker Heights, Ohio where she would set the school's single-season record for goals and assists
Adams played club soccer for the FC Slammers and helped the team to two state championships. She was named MVP of the Under-19 Super Group at the 2003 Surf Cup after leading her team to the title and helped her team capture the Frosted Flakes Kellogg's Cup in 2000, earning a picture on a Kellogg's cereal box. Adams was a Third-Team All-Ohio selection.
Adams attendedUCLA where she played four years for theBruins. As a freshman, she played in all 25 games, starting 23. She ended the season ranked second on the team and fourth in thePac-10 Conference in scoring with 28 points (12 goals and 4 assists). She also ranked first on the team with five game-winning goals. Adams scored four goals during the NCAA Tournament, including game winners over Duke in the third round and Princeton during the semi-final. She was named a Soccer America and Soccer Buzz Freshman All-American. Other season honors included: Pac-10 Player of the Week, 2004 NCAA All-Tournament Team, and Soccer America's Team of the Week.
As a sophomore, she started all 26 matches and led the Pac-10 in scoring with 46 points on 21 goals and four assists, setting a new single-season school record with nine game-winning goals. Adams was named to the NSCAA/adidas second-team All-American and was a member of Soccer America's Collegiate MVP Team. She was also named First-team Soccer Buzz All-American, First-team All-Pac-10, and was a member of the all-tournament team at the NCAA College Cup. During the NCAA Tournament, she scored a record four goals in the Bruins' 5–0 victory over Virginia during the NCAA Quarterfinals and tallied a total of six goals during UCLA's run to the NCAA Final. During her junior year, Adams played and started 19 matches. She missed the first four matches of the year while competing at the FIFA Under-20 World Championships in Russia and later missed two more matches while competing with the full U.S. Women's National Team. Adams earned third-team NSCAA/adidas All-America honors, was a Soccer Buzz second-team All-American and First-team All-Pac-10 selection. She ranked second on the team in scoring with 28 points on twelve goals and four assists. She also ranked second in game-winning goals with seven. Adams was named Soccer America's National Player of the Week after scoring three goals in victories over number three-ranked Texas A&M and number eleven UConn.[5]
Adams signed with theChicago Red Stars for the2009 WPS season. She made 12 appearances for the club, making two starts.[6]
Adams signed with thePhiladelphia Independence for the 2010 season. Her goal in the 103rd minute of the WPS Super Semi-final gave the Independence a 2–1 overtime win over theBoston Breakers leading the team to the 2010 WPS Championship.[7][8]
In 2013, Adams signed withSky Blue FC for the inaugural season of theNational Women's Soccer League (NWSL).[9][10][11][12]
On January 10, 2014, theHouston Dash selected Adams with the ninth pick in the 2014 NWSL Expansion Draft.[13] Just a few days later, on January 13, 2014, the Houston Dash traded Adams to theWashington Spirit forStephanie Ochs.[14]On September 12 Washington Spirit waived Adams.[15]
On September 15, 2014, Adams was selected byPortland Thorns FC, from among players waived by NWSL clubs, for the 2015 season.[2][16]
On November 1, 2013, Adams signed for the Turkish teamAtaşehir Belediyespor inIstanbul.[4] She capped in all the seven matches of the Women's First League's first half season, and scored eight goals.[4]
As a junior international, Adams took part in the2006 U-20 World Championship, where she was theUnited States's top scorer with three goals and was included in the competition's all-star team.[17] She made her first and only appearance for theUnited States women's national soccer team one month later in a friendly match againstChinese Taipei, providing an assist forMegan Rapinoe at the 82nd minute.[18]
Shecoached for theUniversity of Houston from 2017 until 2020, when she accepted an assistant coach position with thePacific Tigers. In the preseason of 2021, she and J.J. Wozniak were selected as interim co-head coaches and at the end of the season, were promoted to permanent co-head coaches.
After leaving Pacific in 2024, she was hired as the head coach atTexas Southern in 2025.[19]
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2006 | 1 | 0 |
| Total | 1 | 0 | |
