Justina Gaynor

Justina Gaynor
Gaynor with Michigan State in 2024
Personal information
Full name Justina Gabrielle Gaynor[1]
Date of birth (2001-12-21) December 21, 2001[2]
Height 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Position(s)
Team information
Current team
 DC Power FC
Number 23
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2020–2021 Butler Bulldogs 12 (2)
2021–2024 Michigan State Spartans 83 (17)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2025 Chicago Stars 2 (0)
2025 Lexington SC 8 (0)
2026– DC Power FC 0 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 03:48, January 30, 2026 (UTC)

Justina Gabrielle Gaynor (born December 21, 2001) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for USL Super League club DC Power FC. She played college soccer for the Butler Bulldogs and the Michigan State Spartans and was named Big Ten Midfielder of the Year in 2023. She also previously played for Chicago Stars FC of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) and Lexington SC of the USL Super League. She is the sister of soccer player Celia Gaynor.

Early life

Gaynor grew up in Shelby Township, Michigan, one of three children born to Paul and Rita Gaynor. Her older sister, Celia, played alongside her at Butler and Michigan State. She played soccer and basketball at Notre Dame Preparatory. She played club soccer for Nationals Development Academy, winning three USYS national titles.[3][4]

College career

Gaynor spent one season with the Butler Bulldogs, playing in the spring after the usual fall season was pushed back due to the COVID-19 pandemic. She started all 12 games and scored 2 goals.[3] She then transferred alongside her sister to the Michigan State Spartans.[5] She appeared in 17 games, starting 11 of them, and scored 2 goals in her first season in East Lansing in 2021.[4] She established herself on the team as a junior in 2022, starting all 23 games, scoring 4 goals with 2 assists, and being named first-team All-Big Ten. Michigan State went undefeated in their Big Ten Conference schedule to win their first-ever outright regular-season title, losing to Penn State in the Big Ten tournament final.[4][6]

Gaynor started all 22 games in senior season and led the team in outfield minutes in 2023, recording a career-high 6 goals and 12 assists. In the NCAA tournament, she scored from the penalty spot in a 1–0 win against Harvard, which led Michigan State to advance to the third round of the tournament for the first time in program history. She was named first-team All-Big Ten and the Big Ten Midfielder of the Year.[4][6] In her graduate season in 2024, she played 21 games, starting all but one of them, and scored 5 goals with 6 assists. Michigan State equaled their best NCAA tournament result. Gaynor was named first-team All-Big Ten and third-team All-American, becoming the fourth All-American in program history.[4][7]

Club career

Chicago Stars

Following a preseason trial as a non-roster invitee, Gaynor signed her first professional contract with Chicago Stars FC on March 12, 2025, signing a one-year deal with an option to extend for another year. Previously a midfielder, she made Chicago's roster as a defender.[8] She made her professional debut two days later as a second-half substitute for Camryn Biegalski in the season opener against the Orlando Pride.[9] She made one further appearance, starting against Racing Louisville on March 30, before the Stars announced that she had mutually agreed to terminate her contract on July 1.[10]

Lexington SC

Gaynor signed with USL Super League club Lexington SC on July 8, 2025.[11] She debuted for the club on August 23, coming on as a second-half substitute for Addie McCain in Lexington's season-opening draw with Fort Lauderdale United FC.[12] She made eight appearances for Lexington before departing on mutual contract termination at the end of the year.[13]

DC Power FC

In January 2026, Gaynor signed with fellow USL Super League club DC Power FC for the rest of the season.[14] Five minutes into her DC Power debut, a substitute appearance against Sporting JAX on February 7, 2026, Gaynor assisted Alyssa Walker's game-winning goal that helped DC kick off its spring campaign with a victory.[15]

Honors and awards

Michigan State Spartans

Individual

References

  1. ^ "Michigan State University Commencement Spring 2024" (PDF). Michigan State University. p. 41. Retrieved March 12, 2025.
  2. ^ "Justina Gaynor". National Women's Soccer League. Retrieved March 15, 2025.
  3. ^ a b "Justina Gaynor". Butler Bulldogs. Retrieved March 12, 2025.
  4. ^ a b c d e "Justina Gaynor". Michigan State Spartans. Retrieved March 12, 2025.
  5. ^ Everson, Bryan (July 19, 2024). "Former Notre Dame Prep, MSU standout Celia Gaynor ready to shine with Fort Lauderdale United FC". The Oakland Press. Retrieved March 12, 2025.
  6. ^ a b Shubham, Satvik (December 5, 2024). "A grateful goodbye: Justina Gaynor closes final chapter with MSU women's soccer". The State News. Retrieved March 12, 2025.
  7. ^ "Justina Gaynor Named United Soccer Coaches All-America". Michigan State Spartans. December 6, 2024. Retrieved March 12, 2025.
  8. ^ Tesmer, Logan (March 12, 2025). "Michigan State University soccer standout Justina Gaynor signs with Chicago Stars FC". CBS News. Retrieved March 12, 2025.
  9. ^ "Justina Gaynor 2025 Match Logs". FBref.com. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
  10. ^ "Chicago Stars FC Announces Roster Updates". Chicago Stars FC. July 1, 2025. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
  11. ^ Lilian, D. "Lexington Sporting Club Signs Justina Gaynor to Gainbridge Super League Roster". LexSporting.com. Lexington SC. Retrieved July 8, 2025.
  12. ^ "Fort Lauderdale United FC 3–3 Lexington SC". USL Super League. August 23, 2025. Retrieved August 24, 2025.
  13. ^ "Justina Gaynor, Hannah Richardson Reach Mutual Contract Termination with Lexington SC". Lexington Sporting Club. Retrieved January 30, 2026.
  14. ^ "DC Power Football Club Sign Midfielder Justina Gaynor Through 2025/26". DC Power FC. January 29, 2026. Retrieved January 29, 2026.
  15. ^ "Post-Match Facts: DC Power FC Opens Spring Slate with 0-1 Shutout Win at Jacksonville". DC Power FC. Retrieved February 8, 2026.
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