Ashley Lawrence

Biography

Ashley Lawrence was a key contributor to Canada’s gold medal at Tokyo 2020. She started all six of Canada’s matches and played fulltime in four of them. She assisted on Adriana Leon’s goal against Great Britain in the preliminary round and scored in the penalty shootout against Brazil in the quarterfinal. In her Olympic debut at Rio 2016, Lawrence started five of Canada’s six games, picking up an assist on Deanne Rose’s goal that opened the scoring in the bronze medal match against Brazil. The year before, she had been part of Canada’s fourth-place finish at the Toronto 2015 Pan American Games. 

Lawrence has represented Canada at three FIFA Women’s World Cups, starting with the tournament hosted in Canada in 2015 in which she scored her first senior international goal during Canada’s quarterfinal run. At France 2019, she played every minute of Canada’s four games. She was also on the field for every minute of Canada’s three games in 2023. 

Lawrence notched a hat trick against Guyana during the Concacaf Olympic Qualifier where Canada finished second overall to earn a spot in Rio 2016. She was named to the Best XI at the tournament. During the Concacaf Olympic Qualifying Tournament in early 2020, Lawrence scored two goals in Canada’s opening 11-0 win over St Kitts and Nevis as they went on to finish second and secure their ticket to Tokyo 2020. In September 2023 she helped Canada beat Jamaica in the two-leg Concacaf Olympic Playoff to clinch a spot at Paris 2024.

In 2018 and 2022, Lawrence was part of Canada’s runner-up finishes at the Concacaf Championships. In 2024, she led the Canadian backline to three clean sheets at the inaugural Concacaf Gold Cup as Canada advanced to the semifinals. 

Lawrence earned her first senior cap in January 2013 in the Four Nations Tournament in China. Among the other tournaments in which she has represented Canada are the Cypus Cup (2013, 2015), multiple Algarve Cups (which Canada won in 2016), and the SheBelieves Cup (2023, 2024). In 2019 she was named Canada Soccer’s Female Player of the Year. 

Lawrence captained Canada’s under-17 teams at the CONCACAF Championship and FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2012 after representing Canada at the 2010 FIFA U-17 World Cup as a 15 year old. She was twice named the under-17 Canadian Player of the Year (2011-12). 

Lawrence played collegiately for the University of West Virginia, leading the Mountaineers to the NCAA Tournament Challenge Cup Final as a senior in 2016. She and fellow Canadian team member, Kadeisha Buchanan, were key pieces of four straight Big 12 regular season titles and three Big 12 Tournament Championships.

Upon turning pro in 2017 she signed with Paris Saint-Germain. She won the French league title in 2021 and the Coupe de France in 2018 and 2022. In 2023 she signed with English club Chelsea, reaching the final of the 2024 Champions League.

A Little More About Ashley

Getting into the Sport: Started playing soccer at age 5… Grew up participating in swimming, soccer and dancing… Outside Interests: Graduated from West Virginia University in 2016 with a degree in business… Created the ‘Yes She Canada’ organization to promote and develop women’s soccer… Hosts an event every holiday season to collect toys and canned goods for families in need…  Enjoys reading business books, cooking, dancing, watching movies, and hanging out with friends… Odds and Ends: Favourite motto: “Once you know your purpose, it is the steps you take, in the face of adversity that make it legitimate”… Biggest inspiration has been Christine Sinclair and the admiration has only grown while playing alongside her… Always listens to music and talks to her mom before a game… Always travels with her teddy bear… Nickname: Ash…