Chamblee high schooler on debut at FIFA Women's World Cup

July 28th, 2023

Jamaica's Solai Washington in action during the Women's World Cup Group F soccer match between France and Jamaica at the Sydney Football Stadium in Sydney, Australia, Sunday, July 23, 2023. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

A DeKalb County high schooler is spending her summer playing for Jamaica in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, hosted by Australia and New Zealand.

17-year-old Chamblee rising senior Solai Washington made her debut Sunday, and she was also recently named the 2023 Georgia Girls Soccer Player of the Year. That’s after she led the Lady Bulldogs to the girls’ state title — the first girl from DeKalb County Public Schools to win the honor.

DeKalb athletics officials report that Washington has made a verbal commitment to play soccer at Duke University beginning in the Fall of 2024.

Washington joined WABE’s “Morning Edition” from Melbourne before her next match. That’s Jamaica against Panama at 8:30 a.m. EST this Saturday.

Lily Oppenheimer contributed to this report.