Vincent brings a veteran presence to the inaugural squad.
Richmond, VA – W League RVA is pleased to announce that forward Madie Vincent will play for the club in its inaugural season pending league and federation approval. Vincent currently plays at Christopher Newport University (CNU) and will join her fellow Captain, Hanna Heaton, on the W League RVA roster.
“Stepping into the W League gives myself and everyone on this team an array of new opportunities,” Vincent said. “I feel like this will be a good way for us to give back to our community, especially those of us who were able to play travel ball for Richmond. At the same time, this opportunity will give us a chance to enhance our skills as players by being surrounded by the best of the best players in our region. At the end of the day, I am super grateful to be here and cannot wait to get started.”
Vincent is the seventh former Richmond United (RU) player to join the W League RVA roster, bringing more homegrown talent to the team. While at CNU now, she started her collegiate career at James Madison University before transferring.
As a redshirt freshman with JMU, Vincent played in 21 games for The Dukes making three starts and taking four shots, all of which were on target in her time there. Upon transferring to CNU, Vincent became an immediate presence for the Captains – as she had been for the Dukes – playing in all 22 games of the Fall 2023 season.
“Madie transferring to us with a couple years under her belt at a division one program just brings in the mindset that she has to show up and train and compete every day in training and that’s something massive for her and for our culture,” CNU Head Coach Jamie Gunderson said. “She’s a great kid and she helps lead the young players, showing them what it takes to be great.”
Vincent quickly became an asset to the Captains. She played 474 minutes on the season and helped CNU win the Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference Championship. Vincent scored in the Captains’ 7-0 rout of Marymount University in the first round of the NCAA Division III Tournament. CNU made it to the quarterfinals of the tournament before falling to California Lutheran University in a tight match-up that ended in penalty kicks.
“Towards the end of the season, Madie was playing at her best and so we’re hoping to carry that into the spring and then with W League RVA this summer,” Gunderson said. “This will help her development as she heads back into the fall with us which we’re so excited about.”
Before college, Vincent went to Smithfield High School where she earned All-State honors and was named runner-up in Player of the Year voting, serving on both the Smithfield soccer team and basketball team as a captain.
Born in Hampton, Va., Vincent played with RU throughout her high school career and into her college summers. In the 2022 season opener for the RU CCL Pro 23 Women’s team, Vincent scored to help beat Skyline Elite 2-1.
“Madie is a solid attacking player that is excellent at holding the game and bringing others in to generate dangerous attacking opportunities,” W League RVA Head Coach Kimmy Cummings said. “She is the type of player that will do whatever is asked of her and I expect she will bring a veteran approach to the roster. I’m excited to see the impact she will have on the team!”
Vincent’s success in the Richmond region and Virginia as a whole will be instrumental to the success of W League RVA. Sporting Director Madeline McCracken said Vincent’s energy and playing ability will shine and successfully complement the women around her.
“I am very proud that Madie will be joining us in our inaugural season!” McCracken said. “Madie is a fantastic teammate. Her personality, character and work ethic will bring an immediate energy to our squad. We are thrilled to have her as a member of our team.”
