RICHMOND, Va. — Richmond Ivy Soccer Club is pleased to announce that Virginia Commonwealth University attacking-minded midfielder and 2023 W League Champion with Indy Eleven, Kanna Matsuhisa, will join the team for its inaugural season pending league and federation approval.
“When I received the opportunity to play for Richmond Ivy, I was extremely thrilled and grateful for the chance to contribute towards the development of the soccer community in Richmond,” Matsuhisa said. “As the inaugural season is getting closer, I am eagerly looking forward to witnessing the amazing support of all the fans at City Stadium!”
Matsuhisa brings W League experience to the Richmond Ivy after making the most of her time with perennial league favorites Indy Eleven. In their 2023 season, Matsuhisa saw action in six matches and made two starts. She helped the club to the 2023 W League Championship and their second straight division title, boasting a 12-1-1 record.
“Kanna brings quality and experience to the Richmond Ivy after winning a championship with Indy Eleven,” Sporting Director Madeline McCracken said. “Kanna is a skilled and creative player on the ball and is a player who works extremely hard both offensively and defensively for the team. We look forward to integrating her into the team.”
At VCU, Matsuhisa has played in every game for the Rams since she arrived on campus.
The junior from Japan controlled the midfield throughout the 2023 season, starting in all 18 matches. Matsuhisa scored three times and snagged two assists across 1,351 minutes played. On September 3, she scored VCU’s lone goal at No. 12 Virginia.
“With Kanna, it is easy to identify on first impression how dynamic she can be in her attack,” VCU Head Coach Lindsey Martin said. “She’s really comfortable on the ball, in isolation, you know 1-v-1, and I think we discovered that more and more in her time with us. When she first came in, she was a player without a true position and then we discovered that she was really good out wide. So that’s where she’s been and that’s where she’s really excelled. Her ability to take on outside backs and be comfortable doing so as she creates shots and opportunities for herself and for her teammates is where she excels.”
As a sophomore, Matsuhisa earned A-10 Second Team recognition for the season and A-10 Offensive Player of the Week in early October. She led the team in both assists and shots — with six and 54 respectively — across the season. Including a game winner against Dayton, the midfielder claimed four goals as well to tally 14 points on the season.
Matsuhisa stepped into the River City as a freshman and immediately made an impact. In the 2021 season, she claimed three starts including one in her collegiate debut to claim a 1-0 season-opening win over James Madison on Aug. 19. Her first collegiate point came off an assist on the game-winning goal over UNC Wilmington on Aug. 22. The team went on to finish as Atlantic 10 Regular Season Champions.
In addition to her VCU play, Matsuhisa took advantage of the Ivy’s player combine where she stood out to McCracken and Ivy Head Coach Kimmy Cummings.
“We are excited to welcome Kanna to our Richmond Ivy roster,” Cummings said. “She is a dynamic attacker that is crafty with the ball at her feet, especially in wide spaces. At our combine earlier this year, her speed and technical problem solving ability was on display. As a dangerous playmaker, Kanna brings experience to our roster and I believe will help push the bounds on what we can accomplish this season!”
Before she started at VCU, Matsuhisa played at Jumonji High School in Tokyo, Japan. She scored a career-high 16 goals in her high school junior season and netted eleven as a senior and eight as a sophomore.
