Celia Balf

Celia Balf

Senior Editor, Women’s Soccer

I'm a women’s soccer writer who has been covering the USWNT and iterations of the NWSL for more than a decade. As a former Division 1 soccer player, collegiate coach, and mentor for young athletes, I’ve found a way to weave my deep connection and understanding of the sport into storytelling, with a purpose. I am equally obsessed with the X’s and O’s of soccer as I am with the cultural revolution players like Trinity Rodman have made with their hair and viral celebrations. 

My football story: I have a vivid memory of my dad running back and forth in the living room with an Arsenal flag, my brother claiming the name ‘Henry’ because of Thierry Henry, and my household being an Arsenal-only home. Sure, I was born into it, but on the women’s side, I grew up obsessing over Alex Scott’s outside-back rapidness on the wing, and Kelly Smith’s filthy goals – both of which played in the U.S. for the Boston Breakers way back when. I would go to every single one of the Breakers home games and gawk over the former Arsenal Women's players.  

Areas of expertise:

  • American women’s soccer stories
  • USWNT and NWSL features 
  • Tactical insight 

Favorite footballing memory: I sat at a table with Megan Rapinoe, Kelley O’Hara, and Carli Lloyd days after they won the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Journalists were invited to the homecoming celebration in downtown Los Angeles following the tournament. I somehow, at the ripe age of 18 or so, ended up at a table alongside one of the greatest soccer journalists of all time, Grant Wahl. As the roundtable of questions and answers began, Wahl looked at me, sweating, anxious, and avoiding eye contact at all costs to my idols, and said “Would you like to ask the first question?” I proceeded to take a deep breath and asked probably the stupidest question, ever, yet, that moment will forever be one of my favorites. RIP to Grant Wahl, and thank you for creating spaces for young up-and-coming journalists to speak.

My All-Time XI: Hope Solo, Lucy Bronze, Wendie Renard, Becky Sauerbrunn, Kelley O’Hara, Michelle Akers, Julie Ertz, Aitana Bonmati, Marta, Mia Hamm, Kelly Smith

Favorite stories I've written: 

Rapinoe's No. 15 Reign FC jersey is retired, her impact will forever be a part of Seattle
Inside Emma Hayes' brilliant soccer mind, strategy and focus on common goals
USWNT and NWSL stars to express surprise and admiration for Crystal Dunn following retirement

Articles by Celia Balf
  1. Florida State vs Stanford, 2025

    No. 3 Florida State upset No. 1 Stanford for Women's College Cup

    Florida State ended Stanford’s 17-match unbeaten run on Monday, winning its fifth national championship with an 87th-minute winner at CPKC Stadium in Kansas City. The No. 3 seed defeated the top-seeded Cardinal in the College Cup final for the second time in three years, adding a third national title in five seasons.

  2. Claire Hutton USWNT vs Canada

    'Start of an important year' - USWNT to face Chile in Santa Barbara

    The U.S. women’s national team will close out January with a friendly against 45th-ranked Chile in Santa Barbara, Calif., marking the program’s first international match in the city. The USWNT will face Chile at UC Santa Barbara, the same campus where the team first held a training camp in 1991 before winning the inaugural FIFA Women’s World Cup in China.

  1. Girma returns as Hayes announces USWNT squad vs. Italy

    Naomi Girma has returned to the U.S. women’s national team as manager Emma Hayes named a 26-player squad for the year-ending friendlies against Italy. Manchester United goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce misses out after suffering an eye socket fracture, while Trinity Rodman was not called in following a limited appearance in the Washington Spirit’s playoff win last weekend.