11 players from Long Island will compete in the 2024&nbsp;seasons of Major League Soccer and the National Women&#39;s Soccer League. Five of those LIers play&nbsp;for local clubs, including two World Cup champions, a set of brothers and a teenager.

Click on each league, position or county to see the corresponding players.

Sports

Soccer

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2024 TEAM: Gotham FC 
HOMETOWN: Rockville Centre 
HIGH SCHOOL: South Side (2010) 
POSITIONS: Winger, midfielder, fullback 
NWSL stats: 127 appearances, 38 goals, 24 assists 
Career highlights: On top of playing every minute of knockout play for the 2019 World Cup winners, LI’s most decorated soccer star has been part of three NWSL championship teams — twice with the North Carolina Courage and once with the Portland Thorns — and was the league MVP in 2015. The versatile Dunn also won an NCAA title at North Carolina, an English league title with Chelsea and a bronze medal in the 2020 Olympics. 
Past coverage 
<a href="https://www.newsday.com/sports/soccer/crystal-dunn-gotham-fc-r3ka8zpu">LI's Crystal Dunn wants you to go see her play for NWSL's Gotham FC</a>

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NWSL

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Forward

Midfielder

Defender

Crystal Dunn

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2024 TEAM:&nbsp;Free agent 
HOMETOWN: Huntington 
HIGH SCHOOL: Northport (2005) 
POSITION: Midfielder 
NWSL stats: 172 appearances, 36 goals, 16 assists 
Career highlights: A defensive force in midfield, Long was a fixture on two NWSL championships teams while with the Portland Thorns and appeared on the 2016 Olympic team before winning the World Cup in 2019. She returned to the area in 2021 with Gotham FC, where she&nbsp;captured a third NWSL title in 2023. 
Past coverage 
<a href="https://www.newsday.com/sports/womens-sports/allie-long-nwsl-gotham-fc-mhqrs5vt">Mother of twins. Professional soccer player. Gotham FC's Allie Long works to have it all.</a>

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Suffolk

Allie Long

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2024 TEAM: NYCFC 
HOMETOWN: Elmont 
HIGH SCHOOL: N/A 
POSITION: Defender 
MLS stats: N/A 
Career highlights: McFarlane was the third youngest first-team signing in MLS history when he inked a homegrown deal with NYCFC in 2021 as a 14-year-old. The British-born McFarlane grew up on Long Island and in Queens, but has played for English youth national teams. He’s appeared in 27 matches for NYCFC II in MLS Next Pro.

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Christian McFarlane

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2024 TEAM: Sporting Kansas City 
HOMETOWN: Great River 
HIGH SCHOOL: East Islip (2004) 
POSITION: Goalkeeper 
MLS stats: 238 appearances, 66 clean sheets, 70.8 save percentage 
Career highlights: Melia wasn’t given much opportunity early in his career&nbsp;until joining Sporting KC in 2015, taking over as starter and never looking back. He was the MLS Comeback Player of the Year that season and led Sporting to U.S. Open Cup titles in 2015 and 2017. 
Past coverage 
<a href="https://www.newsday.com/sports/soccer/soccer-goalie-melia-j47292">Tim Melia rewarded for his hard work in MLS nets with Goalkeeper of the Year award</a>

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Goalkeeper

Tim Melia

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2024 TEAM: Bay FC 
HOMETOWN: Garden City 
HIGH SCHOOL: Garden City (2010) 
POSITION: Centerback 
NWSL stats: 160 appearances, one assist 
Career highlights: Menges was a major presence for the Portland Thorns during 10 years with the club, making the second-most appearances in team history and winning two NWSL championships as a fan favorite. Ahead of 2024, she was traded to expansion side Bay FC, where she will be the club’s most experienced player.

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Emily Menges

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2024 TEAM: Red Bulls 
HOMETOWN: Massapequa 
HIGH SCHOOL: Massapequa&nbsp;(2016) 
POSITION: Defender 
MLS stats: 70 appearances, three assists 
Career highlights: After winning a national championship at Georgetown, Dylan Nealis was drafted by expansion club Inter Miami in 2020. He spent 2021 with Nashville SC before joining the Red Bulls in a trade ahead of the 2022 season. He’s made 30 starts in two seasons with New York. 
Past coverage 
<a href="https://www.newsday.com/sports/soccer/red-bulls-new-york-sean-nealis-dylan-nealis-massapequa-l45937">Dylan Nealis reunited with brother Sean Nealis for Red Bulls</a>

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Dylan Nealis

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2024 TEAM: Red Bulls 
HOMETOWN: Massapequa 
HIGH SCHOOL: Massapequa (2015) 
POSITION: Centerback 
MLS stats: 107 appearances, three goals, one assist 
Career highlights:&nbsp;Sean Nealis was an MLS SuperDraft pick by the Red Bulls in 2019 after starring at Hofstra. He became a regular on the back line in 2021 and was named captain in 2023, the first New York-born player to captain the MLS original club. 
Past coverage 
<a href="https://www.newsday.com/sports/soccer/sean-nealis-new-york-red-bulls-captain-mls-q27wqjwv">Sean Nealis named captain of the New York Red Bulls</a>

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Sean Nealis

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2024 TEAM: St. Louis CITY SC 
HOMETOWN: Hicksville 
HIGH SCHOOL: Hicksville (2011) 
POSITION: Centerback 
MLS stats: 246 appearances, six goals, four assists 
Career highlights: Previously a member of the Vancouver Whitecaps, Red Bulls and Houston Dynamo, Parker endeared himself to St. Louis fans by scoring the expansion club’s first MLS goal in 2023. The veteran has been a consistent starter on MLS backlines since 2015, winning a Supporters’ Shield with RBNY in 2018.

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Tim Parker

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2024 TEAM: Chicago Red Stars 
HOMETOWN: East Islip 
HIGH SCHOOL: East Islip (2012) 
POSITION: Midfielder 
NWSL stats: 113 appearances, five goals, two assists 
Career highlights: Roccaro was part of the U-20 Women’s World Cup champions in 2012 while she was a freshman at Notre Dame. She was the No. 5 pick in the 2016 draft by the Houston Dash and has since played for the North Carolina Courage and Angel City, joining Chicago in 2023 via trade.

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Cari Roccaro

2024 TEAM: North Carolina Courage 
HOMETOWN: Rockville Centre 
HIGH SCHOOL: Sacred Heart (2011) 
POSITION: Midfielder 
NWSL stats: 80 appearances, four goals, four assists 
Career highlights: Speck is the longest tenured member of the Courage, having played for the club since before it relocated from Western New York in 2017. She’s won three NWSL championships, once in Western New York and twice in North Carolina.

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Meredith Speck

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2024 TEAM: Angel City FC 
HOMETOWN: Bay Shore 
HIGH SCHOOL: Bay Shore (2008) 
POSITION: Forward, midfielder 
NWSL stats: 172 appearances, 16 goals, nine assists 
Career highlights: Spencer has been part of the NWSL since its inception, playing for the Washington Spirit, Western New York Flash, Orlando Pride, OL Reign and Houston Dash before joining expansion Angel City in 2022. She’s also spent time on loan in the Australian W-League.

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Jasmyne Spencer

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Meet Long Island's professional soccer stars in MLS and NWSL

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Newsday

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Meet LI's pro soccer stars in MLS and NWSL

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More soccer news

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Canada women's soccer coach Bev Priestman has been suspended and removed from the team for the Paris Olympics in the wake of a drone-spying scandal.

Canada women's soccer coach suspended over drone scandal, which may be part of 'systemic' issues

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The MLS expansion San Diego FC have signed Northern Ireland international Patrick "Paddy" McNair to a three-year contract with a club option for a fourth year.

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