NAME: Nicci Wright
UNIVERSITY: Victoria
CATEGORY: Student-Athlete
SPORT: Women’s Soccer
YEARS ACTIVE: 1992-1996
HIGHLIGHTS:
Inducted into the UVic Sports Hall of Fame in 2013
Represented Canada at the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup
Member of the Canadian team that won the 1998 CONCACAF Women’s Championship
BIOGRAPHY:
Born in Quesnel and raised in Duncan, B.C., Nicci Wright was a member of the women’s soccer team at the University of Victoria for five seasons (1991-95), serving as the Vikes’ starting goalkeeper from 1993 to 95 with personal-bests of a 1.60 goals-against-average and three shutouts.
A member of the 1993 Canada Games championship team (Team B.C.), Wright made her international debut in 1996 and went on to earn 37 caps with Canada.
During her national team career she recorded 11 shutouts, which places her among Canada’s all-time leaders. Between 1996 and 1999 she made 16 consecutive appearances with Team Canada to establish a national record for goalkeepers.
Wright recorded five straight shutouts to backstop Canada to its first CONCACAF Women’s Championship title in 1998 and was part of the Canadian squad at the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup (USA).
In 2001 Wright joined the Vancouver Whitecaps and after recording five shutouts in nine games, led the team to the national final. The following year, Wright played overseas in the Swedish Women’s League (elite Damallsvenska) for Alvik IK in Lulea, and was voted “Footballer of the Year” in northern Sweden. Wright joined the Washington Freedom of the Women’s United Soccer Association in 2003 and helped the team capture the league championship, the Founders’ Cup.
From 2007 to 10 Wright was a member of the Freedom’s administrative staff as the team’s goalkeeper coach. She also served as goalkeeper coach for the Washington Spirit during the 2017 National Women’s Soccer League season.
Wright is a member of UVic Sports Hall of Fame class of 2013. She currently works as U15-19 girls age group director of the Arlington Soccer Association in Virginia and is a goalkeeper coach for Canada Soccer's U-20 and senior national women's teams.