Hannah McLaughlin

Hannah McLaughlin
Personal information
Date of birth 2004 (age 21–22)
Position Center back
Team information
Current team
 Grindavík/Njarðvíkur
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2022–2025 Vanderbilt Commodores 82 (5)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2026– Grindavík/Njarðvíkur 0 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Hannah McLaughlin (born 2004) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a center back for Icelandic club Grindavík/Njarðvíkur of the Besta deild kvenna. She played college soccer for the Vanderbilt Commodores, earning first-team All-American honors in 2025.

Early life

McLaughlin grew up in Cumming, Georgia.[1] Growing up playing midfielder, she played club soccer for NASA Tophat in the Girls Academy, serving as team captain for four years.[2][3] She committed to Vanderbilt before her junior year.[4] She transferred to Denmark High School in Alpharetta, Georgia, for her senior year, joining her sister on the soccer team.[3][5] That season in 2022, she scored a school record 39 goals, led the team to a 19–1 record and the GHSA 7A state quarterfinals, and was named the Region 6 7A Player of the Year.[6][7]

College career

McLaughlin played in all 21 games, starting 15, as a defensive midfielder for the Vanderbilt Commodores in her freshman year in 2022. She also scored 3 goals and was named to the Southeastern Conference (SEC) all-freshman team.[1][8] She moved to center back as a sophomore in 2023, starting all 18 games, scoring 2 goals, and earning second-team All-SEC honors.[8] In her junior year in 2024, she was named first-team All-SEC and started 19 games, missing two games in which her sister started in her place.[1][3] Vanderbilt reached the NCAA tournament third round for the first time after eliminating defending champions Florida State on penalties, though McLaughlin had hers saved.[9] She started all 24 games beside her sister in her senior year in 2025, allowing just 14 goals over the season.[10][11] She helped the Commodores win their fourth SEC tournament title, defeating LSU on penalties in the final, though hers was saved.[12] Vanderbilt then recorded NCAA tournament milestones as the team earned a one seed and reached the quarterfinals.[13] McLaughlin was named first-team All-SEC and first-team All-American alongside teammate Sydney Watts.[11]

Club career

In January 2026, McLaughlin signed her first professional contract with newly promoted Icelandic club Grindavík/Njarðvíkur.[14]

Personal life

McLaughlin has three siblings including a younger sister, Mary Beth, who played with her at Vanderbilt for two seasons.[3] Her father played football and baseball at Furman University, and her mother played basketball at Bethany College in West Virginia and later competed in triathlons.[3]

Honors and awards

Vanderbilt Commodores

Individual

References

  1. ^ a b c "Hannah McLaughlin". Vanderbilt Commodores. Retrieved December 23, 2025.
  2. ^ "Vanderbilt welcomes six recruits for the incoming class of 2022". SoccerWire. April 22, 2022. Retrieved December 23, 2025.
  3. ^ a b c d e Hays, Graham (August 27, 2025). "Unbreakable Bonds". Vanderbilt Commodores. Retrieved December 23, 2025.
  4. ^ Shealer, Sheldon (June 29, 2020). "SIMA Recruiting Roundup: June 29-July 5". TopDrawerSoccer. Retrieved December 23, 2025.
  5. ^ "Soccer: Denmark's McLaughlin sisters thriving in first year together". Forsyth County News. April 4, 2022. Retrieved December 23, 2025.
  6. ^ "Soccer: Denmark's McLaughlin, Central's Oliveira draw top Region 6-7A honors". Forsyth County News. May 23, 2022. Retrieved December 23, 2025.
  7. ^ Saye, Chip (April 28, 2022). "Girls soccer blog: Denmark, Buford fall; remaining No. 1 teams roll into semifinals". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved December 23, 2025.
  8. ^ a b Sawyer, Patrick (July 31, 2023). "Soccer Position Previews: Goalkeepers and Defenders". Anchor of Gold. Retrieved December 23, 2025.
  9. ^ "Vandy upsets FSU in PKs, advances to program's first Sweet 16". Southeastern Conference. November 22, 2024. Retrieved December 23, 2025.
  10. ^ "Soccer Cumulative Statistics". Vanderbilt Commodores. Retrieved December 23, 2025.
  11. ^ a b Baakko, Graham (December 11, 2025). "Three Vanderbilt Soccer Players Get All-American Honors: The Anchor". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved December 22, 2025.
  12. ^ "Soccer: McLaughlin sisters contribute to Vanderbilt's SEC championship victory". Forsyth County News. November 11, 2025. Retrieved December 23, 2025.
  13. ^ Gerson, Aria (November 24, 2025). "How Vanderbilt soccer advanced to first Elite Eight ever with win vs LSU". The Tennessean. Retrieved December 2, 2025.
  14. ^ Sverrisson, Sindri (January 14, 2026). "Trúin eykst á Suðurnesjum með komu McLaughlin". Vísir.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved January 15, 2026.
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