Nahomi Kawasumi (川澄 奈穂美,Kawasumi Nahomi; born 23 September 1985) is a Japanesefootballer who plays either as amidfielder orforward for Japanese clubAlbirex Niigata. A full international since 2008, she won gold at the2011 World Cup as well as silver at the2012 London Olympics and2015 World Cup. During the2011 World Cup, she scored two goals—including a lob at 35 yards away againstSweden during the semifinals—helpingJapan eventually win the tournament for the first time in its history.
Kawasumi was raised inKanagawa Prefecture about 40 minutes south ofTokyo where she began playing soccer as a youth following the lead of her older sister.[3] She played for the Rinkan Lemons while in elementary school along with future Japanese national team defenderMegumi Kamionobe.[3] Kawasumi and Kamionobe scored approximately 70% of the team's goals.[3] Kawasumi attendedNippon Sport Science University.[4]
Kawasumi signed withINAC Kobe Leonessa in 2008.[4] In 2011, she was named the league's most valuable player after captaining INAC to its first league championship title.[4] The team finished the 2011 season with a 12–3–0 record and 39 points.[5]
During the 2013 season, Kawasumi was named the league's most valuable player for a second time. Her twelve goals were second only to her teammateBeverly Goebel.[6] She was also named to the league's Best Eleven team for the fourth year in a row.[7] INAC finished first in the league with a 16–0–2 record securing their third championship in three consecutive years.[8] Their 48 points were 10 more than second place teamNippon TV Beleza.
During the2013 International Women's Club Championship, Kawasumi scored INAC's second goal during their 3–0 semi-final win against Chilean team,Colo-Colo Femenino.[9] INAC Kobe won the tournament with a 4–2 win overChelsea L.F.C. in the final.[10][11]
In September 2014, Kawasumi returned to INAC Kobe Leonessa after she finished the2014 NWSL season forSeattle Reign FC on loan.[12]
In February 2014, Kawasumi signed withSeattle Reign FC on loan for the2014 National Women's Soccer League season.[13] After scoring two goals including the game-winning goal against theBoston Breakers to lift Seattle to a 3–2 win on 6 July 2014, Kawasumi was namedNWSL Player of the Week.[14] A few weeks later during a match against the 2013 championsPortland Thorns FC, Kawasumi scored two goals and served an assist to help the Reign win 5–0.[15] She was subsequently namedNWSL Player of the Week for the second time during week 16 of the season.[16][17] Kawasumi finished the 2014 season, having scored 9 goals and provided 5 assists.[18] And she was selected to the NWSL Best XI for the 2014 Season.[19]
In June 2016, Kawasumi re-signed withNWSL clubSeattle Reign FC.[20] Kawasumi scored a brace on her debut against theBoston Breakers just days after re-signing, earning herNWSL Player of the Week honors.[21] Despite her efforts, the Reign finished fifth in the2016 NWSL season, missing the play-offs for the first time in three years. Kawasumi played in all ten matches for the Reign after re-signing, starting eight and scoring three goals.
On 13 May 2017, Kawasumi set a new NWSL single-game record with four assists in a 6–2 win over the Washington Spirit.[22] She continued her good run of form in the rest of the2017 season, playing in all 24 games and scoring six goals.[23] Despite her contribution, Seattle again finished fifth and missed the play-offs.
Following the arrival of new head coachVlatko Andonovski, Kawasumi saw her playing time diminish and finished the2018 season scoreless.[23] During the offseason, Kawasumi asked for a trade to maximize her playing time ahead of the2019 FIFA Women's World Cup and the2020 Summer Olympics in her home country.[24]
Following the conclusion of2016 NWSL season, Kawasumi signed with former clubINAC Kobe Leonessa on loan for the rest of its2016 L.League season.[25] She helped the club win the2016 Empress's Cup despite not playing in the final.[26]
On 15 January 2019,Seattle Reign FC traded Kawasumi to fellowNWSL clubSky Blue FC (laterNJ/NY Gotham FC) in exchange for American forwardShea Groom.[24] On 8 July 2023, Kawasumi and Gotham mutually agreed to terminate her contract.[27]
On 23 July 2023, Kawasumi returned to Japan to sign withWE League clubAlbirex Niigata.[28]
Kawasumi began playing for theJapan national team, also known as Nadeshiko Japan, in 2008. She scored her first international goal againstFinland at the2011 Algarve Cup.[29]
During the semi-final match of the2011 World Cup against Sweden, Kawasumi scored two goals helping Japan win 3–1 and advance to the final against theUnited States.[30][31][32] Kawasumi was in the starting line-up for the first time during the game and scored theequalizer in the 18th minute and the game-winning goal in the 64th.[33] Japan eventually defeated the United States in penalty kicks to clinch the gold medal.[34][35][36]
Kawasumi was named to Japan's roster for the2012 London Olympics and scored her first goal of the tournament during the team' first group stage match againstCanada. Japan defeated Canada 2–1.[37] Japan finished second in their group after tying bothSweden andSouth Africa 0–0.[37] After defeatingBrazil 2–0 in the quarter-finals, Japan facedFrance in the semi-finals and won 2–1 advancing to the final.[38] The team was defeated 2–1 by the United States in the final earning Japan a silver medal at the tournament.[39] Kawasumi finished the tournament having played in every match for Japan and scoring one goal.[40]
Kawasumi remained an integral part of the Nadeshiko side, helping the team finish runners-up in the2015 FIFA Women's World Cup. Her cross forced a last-minute own goal by English defenderLaura Bassett and sent Japan into the final.[41]
Following Japan's failed qualification to the2016 Summer Olympics, new national team head coachAsako Takakura left off many veterans (including Kawasumi) in favor of younger players. However, Kawasumi was surprisingly recalled to the Nadeshiko in March 2018, following a two-year absence.[42] Her experience helped the team lift the2018 AFC Women's Asian Cup. Faced with a real chance to make Japan's2019 FIFA Women's World Cup roster and with playing time diminished atSeattle Reign FC, Kawasumi requested a trade and joinedSky Blue FC in January 2019.[24]
Kawasumi has appeared in commercials forCalorieMate,[43]Toyota,[44] and skin care line Acnelogy.[45]
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | League cup[b] | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| INAC Kobe Leonessa | 2008 | Nadeshiko League | 21 | 3 | 4 | 2 | - | 25 | 5 | |
| 2009 | Nadeshiko League | 21 | 10 | 3 | 0 | - | 24 | 10 | ||
| 2010 | Nadeshiko League | 18 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 27 | 12 | |
| 2011 | Nadeshiko League | 16 | 12 | 4 | 2 | - | 20 | 14 | ||
| 2012 | Nadeshiko League | 18 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 27 | 11 | |
| 2013 | Nadeshiko League | 18 | 12 | 4 | 2 | 10 | 5 | 32 | 19 | |
| 2014 | Nadeshiko League | 9 | 1 | 2 | 0 | - | 11 | 1 | ||
| 2015 | Nadeshiko League | 23 | 4 | 5 | 1 | - | 28 | 5 | ||
| Total | 144 | 58 | 30 | 10 | 20 | 9 | 194 | 77 | ||
| Seattle Reign FC (loan) | 2014 | NWSL | 22 | 9 | - | - | 22 | 9 | ||
| Seattle Reign FC | 2016 | NWSL | 10 | 3 | - | - | 10 | 3 | ||
| 2017 | NWSL | 24 | 6 | - | - | 24 | 6 | |||
| 2018 | NWSL | 14 | 0 | - | - | 14 | 0 | |||
| Total | 70 | 18 | - | - | 70 | 18 | ||||
| INAC Kobe Leonessa (loan) | 2016 | Nadeshiko League | 11 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 15 | 2 |
| NJ/NY Gotham FC | 2019 | NWSL | 19 | 0 | - | - | 19 | 0 | ||
| 2020 | NWSL | -[c] | - | 6 | 1 | 6 | 1 | |||
| 2021 | NWSL | 24 | 1 | - | 5 | 0 | 29 | 1 | ||
| 2022 | NWSL | 20 | 1 | - | 6 | 1 | 26 | 2 | ||
| 2023 | NWSL | 4 | 0 | - | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | ||
| Total | 66 | 2 | - | 17 | 2 | 84 | 4 | |||
| INAC Kobe Leonessa (loan) | 2020 | Nadeshiko League | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | - | 10 | 0 | |
| Career total | 301 | 80 | 32 | 10 | 42 | 11 | 373 | 101 | ||
| National Team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | 2008 | 1 | 0 |
| 2009 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2010 | 7 | 0 | |
| 2011 | 13 | 6 | |
| 2012 | 16 | 3 | |
| 2013 | 11 | 3 | |
| 2014 | 17 | 6 | |
| 2015 | 11 | 1 | |
| 2016 | 4 | 1 | |
| 2017 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2018 | 8 | 0 | |
| Total | 90 | 20 | |
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 March 2011 | Lagos, Portugal |  Finland | 2–0 | 5–0 | 2011 Algarve Cup |
| 2 | 9 March 2011 | Parchal,Portugal |  Sweden | | 1–2 | 1–2 | 2011 Algarve Cup |
| 3 | 13 July 2011 | Commerzbank-Arena, Frankfurt, Germany | Sweden | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup |
| 4 | 3–1 | |||||
| 5 | 1 September 2011 | Shandong Provincial Stadium,Jinan, China |  Thailand | 1–0 | 3–0 | 2012 Summer Olympics qualification |
| 6 | 5 September 2011 | Shandong Provincial Stadium,Jinan, China |  Australia | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2012 Summer Olympics qualification |
| 7 | 29 February 2012 | Parchal,Portugal |  Norway | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2012 Algarve Cup |
| 8 | 7 March 2012 | Estádio Algarve,Faro, Portugal |  Germany | 1–2 | 3–4 | 2012 Algarve Cup |
| 9 | 25 July 2012 | City of Coventry Stadium,Coventry, United Kingdom |  Canada | 1–0 | 2–1 | 2012 Summer Olympics |
| 10 | 11 March 2013 | Estádio Algarve,Faro, Portugal |  Denmark | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2013 Algarve Cup |
| 11 | 26 June 2013 | Pirelli Stadium,Burton upon Trent, England |  England | 1–1 | 1–1 | Friendly Match |
| 12 | 22 September 2013 | Nagasaki Athletic Stadium,Isahaya,Japan |  Nigeria | 2–0 | 2–0 | Friendly Match |
| 13 | 26 May 2014 | Thống Nhất Stadium,Ho Chi Minh City,Vietnam |  Vietnam | 1–0 | 4–0 | 2014 AFC Women's Asian Cup |
| 14 | 4–0 | |||||
| 15 | 18 September 2014 | Namdong Asiad Rugby Field,Incheon,South Korea |  Jordan | 1–0 | 12–0 | 2014 Asian Games |
| 16 | 12–0 | |||||
| 17 | 22 September 2014 | Incheon Munhak Stadium,Incheon,South Korea |  Chinese Taipei | 0–3 | 0–3 | 2014 Asian Games |
| 18 | 28 October 2014 | Commonwealth Stadium,Edmonton,Canada | Canada | 0–3 | 0–3 | Friendly Match |
| 19 | 9 March 2015 | Stadium Bela Vista,Parchal,Portugal |  France | 1–0 | 1–3 | 2015 Algarve Cup |
| 20 | 7 March 2016 | Kincho Stadium,Osaka,Japan | Vietnam | 3–1 | 6–1 | 2016 AFC Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament |
INAC Kobe Leonessa
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