1. Overview
Lindsey Michelle Horan, now known as Lindsey Michelle Heaps (born May 26, 1994), is an American professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Première Ligue club Lyon and captains the United States national team. Celebrated for her dynamic midfield play, exceptional goal-scoring ability, and strong leadership, she has established herself as a pivotal figure in women's soccer.
Horan gained prominence early in her career by making the unconventional decision to bypass college and sign a professional contract with the French club Paris Saint-Germain in 2012, where she proved to be a prolific forward. Upon her return to the United States in 2016, she joined NWSL club Portland Thorns FC, where she transitioned to a central midfield role. With the Thorns, Horan won the 2017 NWSL Championship, scoring the winning goal in the final, and was named the 2018 NWSL Most Valuable Player. Her integral contributions also helped the Thorns secure the 2020 NWSL Community Shield, the 2021 NWSL Challenge Cup, the Women's International Champions Cup, and the NWSL Shield. She later moved to Olympique Lyon, initially on loan, and has since won multiple Division 1 Féminine titles and the UEFA Women's Champions League.
On the international stage, Heaps has been a cornerstone for the U.S. National Team. She was the leading scorer for the U-17 team at the 2010 CONCACAF Women's U-17 Championship and helped the U-20 team win the 2012 CONCACAF Women's U-20 Championship. With the senior national team, she was a key player in the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup victory, earned a bronze medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, and notably captained the team to a gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics, solidifying her legacy as a highly decorated and influential leader in American soccer. She began using her married name, Heaps, for international matches in 2025.
2. Early life and background
Lindsey Michelle Horan was born on May 26, 1994, and grew up in Golden, Colorado, a city situated near Denver. Her formative years were characterized by a dedicated focus on soccer, a sport she pursued rigorously at the club level rather than through her high school.
2.1. Childhood and education
Horan attended Golden High School but made the conscious decision not to play for the school's soccer team, prioritizing her development within elite club environments. Instead, she honed her skills by playing club soccer with the Colorado Rush. Her journey into competitive youth soccer began even earlier, as she first started playing for the Colorado Edge during her U-11 tryouts. By the age of 15, Horan had already distinguished herself, becoming one of the youngest members of the United States women's national under-17 soccer team. During the lead-up to the North American, Central American, and Caribbean U-17 tournament held in Costa Rica, she demonstrated her formidable scoring prowess by netting 12 goals in just nine games, an achievement that stood as the best performance on the team. Despite her choice to forgo high school soccer, her exceptional talent was widely recognized during her sophomore year at Golden High, when she was named to the Parade Magazine High School All-American team.
2.2. Transition to professional football
In 2012, Horan was identified by ESPN as the top-ranked college prospect in the nation. She had received a prestigious scholarship offer to play for the Tar Heels at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, with plans to begin her collegiate career in the 2012 season. However, she made a significant and pioneering decision for an American female soccer player: she chose to bypass her college career entirely. Instead, in July 2012, Horan signed a professional contract with the prominent French club Paris Saint-Germain FC (PSG). This bold move marked her immediate transition to professional football, a pathway that was uncommon for American players at the time, particularly bypassing the traditional college system.
3. Club career
Lindsey Horan's club career has spanned successful tenures with prominent teams in both the United States and France, where she has consistently demonstrated her versatility as a midfielder and her capacity for prolific scoring, contributing significantly to numerous league titles and championships.
3.1. Colorado Rush (2012)
Before embarking on her professional career in Europe, Horan played for the Colorado Rush in the USL W-League, an American women's soccer league, during the 2012 season. She made three appearances for the team, scoring two goals and registering 19 shots. Her performance, particularly in a match against the Seattle Sounders Women on June 1, 2012, where she scored a goal against USWNT goalkeeper Hope Solo, left a strong impression on several national team players who were also on the Seattle roster. Following that match, veteran player Megan Rapinoe notably praised Horan, calling her "a hell of a player" due to her impactful play.
3.2. Paris Saint-Germain (2012-2016)
In July 2012, Lindsey Horan formally signed a six-figure deal to play with the professional French club Paris Saint-Germain FC (PSG). Her time with PSG marked her first major professional stint, where she primarily excelled as a striker. Over her tenure with the club, she made 58 appearances and scored an impressive 46 goals. Her final game for PSG took place on December 5, 2015, a match which saw a dominant 5-0 victory over FCF Juvisy, with Horan opening the scoring. On January 4, 2016, Paris Saint-Germain officially announced that Horan's contract had been terminated, a decision made to facilitate her return to the United States to pursue opportunities in the burgeoning NWSL.
3.3. Portland Thorns FC (2016-2022)
On January 13, 2016, Horan signed with the Portland Thorns FC of the NWSL. This move marked a significant shift in her playing style compared to her role as a striker at PSG; for the Thorns, she primarily played in central midfield, a position that aligned more closely with her responsibilities on the United States national team.
Horan quickly became a cornerstone for the Thorns, demonstrating her leadership and skill in the midfield. In the 2017 NWSL Championship, she scored the decisive goal in Portland's 1-0 victory over the North Carolina Courage, securing the championship for her team, and was subsequently named the NWSL Championship MVP for her pivotal performance. Her exceptional contributions continued into 2018, when she was named the NWSL Player of the Month for July, after scoring three goals that helped the Thorns achieve an undefeated record of three wins in three games. On September 21, 2018, Horan received further recognition, being honored as the NWSL Most Valuable Player and earning a spot in the 2018 NWSL Best XI.
Her influence remained strong in subsequent seasons, showcasing her consistent impact on the team's success. In 2020, she was a crucial player in the Thorns' victory in the Fall Series, which also led to them winning the Community Shield. In 2021, she contributed significantly to the Thorns' triumphs in the 2021 NWSL Challenge Cup, the Women's International Champions Cup, and the NWSL Shield. Her impactful tenure with the Portland Thorns concluded on June 22, 2023, when she was permanently transferred to Lyon for a fee of 250.00 K EUR, with a conditional bonus of an additional 50.00 K EUR.
3.4. Olympique Lyonnais Féminin (2022-present)
Horan initially joined Olympique Lyon on loan on January 27, 2022. During her loan spell and subsequent permanent transfer, she became an integral part of one of Europe's most dominant women's clubs. For Lyon, she scored 8 goals in 37 appearances during her initial loan period. On June 22, 2023, Lyon secured Horan on a permanent contract, extending her stay through June 2026, solidifying her long-term commitment to the club.
With Lyon, Horan has achieved significant team success, contributing to multiple domestic and international titles. She has won the Division 1 Féminine league title three times (2021-22, 2022-23, 2023-24), the Coupe de France Féminine in 2022-23, and the prestigious UEFA Women's Champions League in 2021-22. Additionally, she secured the Trophée des Championnes in 2022 and the Women's International Champions Cup in 2022. Demonstrating her impressive scoring ability in France, Horan achieved her first career hat-trick for Lyon on October 14, 2023, against AS Saint-Étienne. She followed this with a second hat-trick, also against AS Saint-Étienne, on November 16, 2024, remarkably scoring all three goals within the first 35 minutes of the match.
4. International career
Lindsey Horan has had a distinguished international career, representing the United States at both youth and senior levels, steadily progressing to captain the senior national team and achieve numerous major tournament victories. Her journey reflects her consistent growth and unwavering commitment to national team success.
4.1. Youth national teams
Horan was a standout player for the United States women's national under-17 soccer team. She was the leading scorer for the team at the 2010 CONCACAF Women's U-17 Championship, showcasing her prolific goal-scoring ability from a young age. Her success continued as she progressed to the United States women's national under-20 soccer team. There, she played a crucial role in their victory at the 2012 CONCACAF Women's U-20 Championship. During this tournament in March, she displayed her scoring prowess by netting four goals, including a memorable hat-trick against Guatemala in the group stage. However, a knee injury requiring surgery unfortunately prevented her from participating in the 2012 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup.
4.2. Senior national team
Horan's transition to the senior national team was marked by a strategic shift in her playing position and a steady rise through the ranks, eventually leading her to the esteemed captaincy and consistent success in major international tournaments.
4.2.1. Early senior career (2013-2018)
In February 2013, at the impressive age of eighteen, Lindsey Horan received her first call-up to the senior national team roster for the 2013 Algarve Cup. She earned her first official cap for the senior team on March 8, 2013, during a group stage match against China at the Algarve tournament, marking the beginning of her senior international career.
Towards the end of 2015, she was again called up to the senior roster, signaling her re-establishment within the national team setup. She scored her first goal for the senior team in December 2015 against Trinidad & Tobago, delivering a "Woman of the Match" performance that highlighted her growing influence. She was subsequently included in the roster for the 2016 CONCACAF Women's Olympic Qualifying Championship and notably started the opening group stage match against Costa Rica in central midfield. While Horan had a highly successful career as a striker for PSG from 2012 to 2016, where she scored 46 goals in 56 appearances, she primarily played in central midfield after her return to the national team in 2016, a versatile role she maintained throughout her senior international career, adapting to the team's strategic needs.
4.2.2. Major tournaments and captaincy (2019-present)
Lindsey Horan was a crucial member of the squad for the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup, playing a vital role in the team's triumph. She scored her first World Cup goal in the opening game against Thailand on June 11. She also found the net in the group stage match against Sweden on June 20, contributing to the U.S. securing their top position in Group F. On January 31, 2020, she achieved her first career hat-trick against Panama in the 2020 CONCACAF Women's Olympic Qualifying Championship, additionally providing assists for goals scored by Lynn Williams and Tobin Heath. Her contributions continued in the Olympic qualifiers, where she scored another goal against Costa Rica in the group stage and against Canada in the final, significantly contributing to the team's victory in the tournament.
On July 24, 2021, Horan marked a significant milestone by earning her 100th cap for the USWNT. She celebrated this achievement by scoring a goal in a dominant 6-1 win over New Zealand at the 2020 Summer Olympics. The team ultimately secured a bronze medal at the tournament.
At the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup, Horan continued her impressive scoring streak, finding the net in the U.S.'s opening match against Vietnam, thereby scoring in successive World Cups. She also scored a crucial goal against the Netherlands, tying the game 1-1 and demonstrating her ability to deliver in high-pressure situations.
Horan was selected to the 18-player roster for the 2024 Summer Olympics in France, a testament to her continued importance to the team. She took on a significant leadership role, serving as captain and starting in all six matches for the USWNT, including the final. In the final, the team achieved a memorable 1-0 victory over Brazil, securing the gold medal under her captaincy. This victory further solidified her status as a highly decorated and influential leader in international soccer. Her goal against Argentina on February 23, 2024, came from a penalty kick, and she converted another penalty goal against Colombia on March 3, 2024, both contributing to important wins. Her goal against Brazil in the 2024 CONCACAF W Gold Cup final on March 10, 2024, secured a narrow 1-0 victory for the team. She scored another penalty against Japan in the 2024 SheBelieves Cup semifinal on April 6, 2024, and netted a goal against Iceland on October 27, 2024.
5. Personal life
Lindsey Horan married soccer analyst Tyler Heaps on December 28, 2024. The couple's relationship began when Tyler was working for the U.S. Soccer. Currently, Tyler Heaps holds the position of sporting director and general manager for San Diego FC of Major League Soccer.
Following her marriage, Lindsey Horan began using her married name, Lindsey Heaps, for international matches starting in 2025. However, she will continue to use her maiden name, Horan, for her club, Lyon, through the remainder of the 2024-25 season. This is due to Première Ligue regulations, which do not permit players to change their registered name mid-season.
6. Career statistics
6.1. Club statistics
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Continental | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Regular Season | Play-offs | ||||||||||
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| Colorado Rush | 2012 | USL W-League | 3 | 2 | - | - | 3 | 2 | ||||
| Total | 3 | 2 | - | - | 3 | 2 | ||||||
| Paris Saint-Germain | 2012-13 | Division 1 Féminine | 20 | 17 | - | 5 | 3 | - | 25 | 20 | ||
| 2013-14 | 18 | 14 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 23 | 16 | ||||
| 2014-15 | 11 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 15 | 10 | ||||
| 2015-16 | 9 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 13 | 8 | ||||
| Total | 58 | 46 | - | 8 | 5 | 10 | 3 | 76 | 54 | |||
| Portland Thorns FC | 2016 | National Women's Soccer League | 15 | 5 | 1 | 1 | - | 16 | 6 | |||
| 2017 | 24 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 26 | 5 | ||||||
| 2018 | 22 | 13 | 2 | 1 | 24 | 14 | ||||||
| 2019 | 13 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 14 | 1 | ||||||
| 2020 | - | 8 | 2 | - | 8 | 2 | ||||||
| 2021 | 13 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 17 | 3 | ||
| Total | 87 | 25 | 6 | 3 | 11 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 105 | 31 | ||
| Lyon (loan) | 2021-22 | Division 1 Féminine | 5 | 0 | - | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 10 | 0 | |
| Lyon | 2022-23 | 14 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 8 | 2 | 27 | 8 | |
| 2023-24 | 15 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 27 | 7 | ||
| 2024-25 | 12 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 18 | 12 | ||
| Total | 46 | 22 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 28 | 3 | 82 | 27 | ||
| Career total | 194 | 95 | 8 | 3 | 25 | 10 | 39 | 6 | 266 | 114 | ||
6.2. International statistics
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2013 | 2 | 0 |
| 2014 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2015 | 4 | 1 | |
| 2016 | 24 | 2 | |
| 2017 | 13 | 1 | |
| 2018 | 19 | 3 | |
| 2019 | 16 | 5 | |
| 2020 | 8 | 7 | |
| 2021 | 22 | 6 | |
| 2022 | 14 | 1 | |
| 2023 | 17 | 5 | |
| 2024 | 22 | 5 | |
| 2025 | 2 | 0 | |
| Total | 163 | 36 | |
6.2.1. International goals
Scores and results list United States's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Horan goal.
| Goals | Date | Location | Opponent | Lineup | Min | Assist/pass | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2015-12-10 | San Antonio, Texas, USA | Trinidad and Tobago | Start | 90+2' | Stephanie McCaffrey | 6-0 | 6-0 | |
| 2 | 2016-02-21 | Houston, Texas, USA | Canada | Substituted off | 53' | Becky Sauerbrunn | 1-0 | 2-0 | |
| 3 | 2016-06-02 | Commerce City, Colorado, USA | Japan | Substituted on | 89' | Kelley O'Hara | 3-2 | 3-3 | Friendly |
| 4 | 2017-09-19 | Cincinnati, Ohio, USA | New Zealand | Substituted on | 36' | Sam Mewis | 1-0 | 5-0 | |
| 5 | 2018-04-08 | Houston, Texas, USA | Mexico | Substituted off | 25' | Megan Rapinoe | 2-2 | 6-2 | |
| 6 | 2018-07-29 | East Hartford, Connecticut, USA | Australia | Start | 90' | Megan Rapinoe | 1-1 | 1-1 | |
| 7 | 2018-10-10 | Cary, North Carolina, USA | Trinidad and Tobago | Start | 49' | unassisted | 5-0 | 7-0 | |
| 8 | 2019-04-07 | Los Angeles, California, USA | Belgium | Substituted off | 26' | Christen Press | 3-0 | 6-0 | |
| 9 | 2019-06-11 | Reims, France, USA | Thailand | Start | 32' | Sam Mewis | 3-0 | 13-0 | World Cup: Group F |
| 10 | 2019-06-20 | Le Havre, France, USA | Sweden | Start | 3' | Sam Mewis | 1-0 | 2-0 | |
| 11 | 2019-08-03 | Pasadena, California, USA | Ireland | Start | 31' | Christen Press | 2-0 | 3-0 | Friendly |
| 12 | 2019-09-03 | St. Paul, Minnesota, USA | Portugal | Substituted on | 83' | Christen Press | 3-0 | 3-0 | |
| 13 | 2020-01-28 | Houston, Texas, USA | Haiti | Substituted on | 73' | Megan Rapinoe | 3-0 | 4-0 | Olympic qualifier: Group A |
| 14 | 2020-01-31 | Houston, Texas, USA | Panama | Start | 3' | unassisted | 1-0 | 8-0 | |
| 15 | 18' | unassisted | 3-0 | ||||||
| 16 | 81' | Jessica McDonald | 8-0 | ||||||
| 17 | 2020-02-04 | Houston, Texas, USA | Costa Rica | Start | 10' | Carli Lloyd | 2-0 | 6-0 | |
| 18 | 2020-02-09 | Carson, California, USA | Canada | Start | 71' | Lynn Williams | 2-0 | 3-0 | Olympic qualifier: Final |
| 19 | 2020-03-11 | Frisco, Texas, USA | Japan | Start | 83' | Mallory Pugh | 3-1 | 3-1 | |
| 20 | 2021-01-22 | Orlando, Florida, USA | Colombia | Substituted on | 73' | Crystal Dunn | 5-0 | 6-0 | Friendly |
| 21 | 2021-06-13 | Houston, Texas, USA | Jamaica | Substituted off | 7' | penalty | 2-0 | 4-0 | |
| 22 | 2021-07-05 | East Hartford, Connecticut, USA | Mexico | Substituted off | 6' | Carli Lloyd | 1-0 | 4-0 | |
| 23 | 2021-07-24 | Saitama, Japan, Japan | New Zealand | Substituted off | 45' | Julie Ertz | 2-0 | 6-1 | |
| 24 | 2021-10-26 | Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA | South Korea | Start | 9' | Sophia Smith | 1-0 | 6-0 | Friendly |
| 25 | 2021-11-27 | Sydney, Australia, Australia | Australia | Start (Captain) | 68' | penalty | 3-0 | 3-0 | |
| 26 | 2022-09-03 | Kansas City, Kansas, USA | Nigeria | Substituted off | 25' | Sophia Smith | 2-0 | 4-0 | |
| 27 | 2023-04-08 | Austin, Texas, USA | Ireland | Start | 80' | penalty | 2-0 | 2-0 | |
| 28 | 2023-07-22 | Auckland, New Zealand, New Zealand | Vietnam | Start | 77' | Sophia Smith | 3-0 | 3-0 | World Cup: Group E |
| 29 | 2023-07-27 | Wellington, New Zealand, New Zealand | Netherlands | Start | 62' | Rose Lavelle | 1-1 | 1-1 | |
| 30 | 2023-10-29 | San Diego, California, USA | Colombia | Substituted off | 62' | Emily Fox | 2-0 | 3-0 | Friendly |
| 31 | 2023-12-02 | Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA | China PR | Start (Captain) | 52' | Trinity Rodman | 2-0 | 3-0 | |
| 32 | 2024-02-23 | Carson, California, USA | Argentina | Start (Captain) | 77' | penalty | 4-0 | 4-0 | CONCACAF W Gold Cup |
| 33 | 2024-03-03 | Los Angeles, California, USA | Colombia | Substituted off (Captain) | 13' | penalty | 1-0 | 3-0 | |
| 34 | 2024-03-10 | San Diego, California, USA | Brazil | Start (Captain) | 45+1' | Emily Fox | 1-0 | 1-0 | |
| 35 | 2024-04-06 | Atlanta, Georgia, USA | Japan | Start (Captain) | 77' | penalty | 2-1 | 2-1 | |
| 36 | 2024-10-27 | Nashville, Tennessee, USA | Iceland | Substituted on | 76' | Lynn Williams | 2-1 | 3-1 | |
7. Honors and awards
7.1. Club honors
Portland Thorns FC
- NWSL Champions: 2017
- NWSL Shield: 2016, 2021
- NWSL Community Shield: 2020
- NWSL Challenge Cup: 2021
- Women's International Champions Cup: 2021
Lyon Féminine
- Division 1 Féminine: 2021-22, 2022-23, 2023-24
- UEFA Women's Champions League: 2021-22
- Trophée des Championnes: 2022
- Women's International Champions Cup: 2022
- Coupe de France Féminine: 2022-23
7.2. International honors
United States U20
- CONCACAF Women's U-20 Championship: 2014
United States
- FIFA Women's World Cup: 2019
- Summer Olympic Games Gold Medal: 2024
- Summer Olympic Games Bronze Medal: 2020
- CONCACAF Women's Championship: 2018, 2022
- CONCACAF W Gold Cup: 2024
- CONCACAF Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament: 2016, 2020
- SheBelieves Cup: 2016, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2023, 2024
- Tournament of Nations: 2018
7.3. Individual awards
- U.S Soccer Young Female Player of the Year: 2013
- NWSL Second XI: 2017
- NWSL Championship Most Valuable Player: 2017
- NWSL Best XI: 2018
- NWSL Most Valuable Player: 2018
- CONCACAF Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament Best XI: 2020
- U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year: 2021
- UNFP D1 Arkema Best XI: 2023, 2024
- UWCL Team of the Season: 2023-24
- Arkema D1 Team of the Season: 2023-24
- CONCACAF W Gold Cup Best XI: 2024
- Arkema Première Ligue Player of the Month: September 2024
- The Best FIFA Women's 11: 2024
- ESPN FC Women's Rank: #17 on the 2024 list of 50 best women's soccer players
- IFFHS Women's World Team: 2024