Tara Rudd

About

Tara Leana Rudd (née McKeown; born July 2, 1999) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a center back for National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) club Washington Spirit and the United States national team. She played college soccer as a forward for the USC Trojans, earning first-team All-American honors in 2019. She was drafted eighth overall by the Spirit in the 2021 NWSL Draft before being converted to defender in 2023. She was named NWSL Defender of the Year in 2025.
Rudd was a youth international for the United States, appearing at the 2018 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, before making her senior debut in 2025.

Born to Conor and Tracy McKeown in Newbury Park, California, Rudd was raised with two sisters and one brother. She attended Newbury Park High School, where she played soccer and competed in hurdles in track. She was the No. 29 recruit in the class of 2017 by IMG Soccer Academy, No. 8 recruit in Southern California and the No. 4 recruit in the position of defender…Member of Cal South ODP Pro and State teams in 2011, 2012 and 2013…While playing for Newbury Park High School, Rudd earned CIF Southern Section First Team honors in 2015-16 and 2013…