Liberty alumni Brathwaite, Kirlin, Bishop, and Blye return with elite experience and renewed energy to strengthen the Liberty lineup.
Greenville, SC (April 17, 2025) – The Greenville Liberty are thrilled to welcome back four familiar faces for the 2025 campaign. Christian Brathwaite, Emma Kirlin, Martha Bishop, and Allanah Blye return to the roster bringing top-tier collegiate experience, leadership, and history on the pitch. With a mix of youth national team selections and all-conference accolades, this group is poised to make waves once again in the USL W League.
MIDFIELDER
Christian Brathwaite (Charlotte, N.C)
A dynamic and versatile midfielder, Brathwaite returns to the Liberty with high-level collegiate and USL W League experience under her belt. In 2024-25, Brathwaite made a mark at Clemson University, appearing in 16 matches with 12 starts. She logged over 1,000 minutes on the pitch, netted three goals, and tallied six points on the season. Prior to her time at Clemson, she made impressions as a freshman at the University of Georgia, playing in 20 matches and scoring her first collegiate goal against The University of Southern Mississippi, while also being ranked No. 70 on Top Drawer Soccer’s Midseason Freshman Top 100 list. Off the field, Brathwaite excelled academically earning SEC Academic Honor Roll, Dean’s List, and J. Reid Parker Director of Athletics Honor Roll distinctions. A product of the Charlotte Soccer Academy and Barca Academy, she has competed at the national level with the U-17 team and broke barriers as one of just two young women nationwide to compete in the men’s DA. Brathwaite previously shined for the Liberty in 2022, earning USL W League Young Player of the Year honors after recording four goals and four assists in just 11 matches.
DEFENDER
Martha Bishop (Spartanburg, S.C.)
A notable junior at Samford University, Bishop brings strength and versatility as a two-sport athlete, competing in both women’s soccer and basketball at the collegiate level. Originally from Spartanburg, SC, Bishop had an outstanding high school career at Spartanburg High School, where she was named Scoring MVP, selected All-Region, and set a school record with 32 goals in a single season. At Samford, she’s continued to grow her game, appearing in nine matches during the 2023 college season and 10 more in 2024, adding another 210 minutes to her resume. In 2024, she helped the Samford University soccer team capture the SoCon title with a 1-0 win over Western Carolina. In her first USL W League season with the Liberty in 2023, Bishop made an immediate impact—starting nine of 10 matches and logging 801 minutes. Before her collegiate debut, Bishop played club soccer for CESA ECNL, where she served as captain and earned Mid-Atlantic All-Conference Second Team honors in 2022. She led her team to ECNL Nationals and was also a key defender on the Liberty Academy squad alongside Emma Kirlin. Last season Bishop played for the Florida Elite Soccer Academy in the USL W League.
GOALKEEPERS
Emma Kirlin (Greenville, S.C)
A Greenville native, Kirlin returns after previously appearing for the Liberty in 2023, where she logged a full 90-minute performance. Currently a freshman at the University of South Carolina after transferring from Florida State University, Kirlin brings a strong resume of youth and club accolades. She was named to the January 2023 ECNL National Selection Game Roster, earned U17 ECNL Southeastern Conference First Team honors, and has also been recognized on U16 Mid-Atlantic Second Team and U15 USYS Piedmont Conference Best XI teams. Her talent earned her an invitation to the USWYNT Training ID Center, highlighting her as one of the nation’s top young prospects. A former captain for both her high school and CESA ECNL club teams, Kirlin was also named to the Class AAAA All-State Team in South Carolina.
Allanah Blye (Duncan, S.C)
Now a junior at the University of North Alabama, Blye had an impressive 2024 season, starting all 16 matches and logging 1,364 minutes while making 66 saves. Prior to North Alabama, Blye made her mark at Kennesaw State. As a sophomore in 2023, she started 16 games, recorded seven shutouts—including four in conference play—and tallied 51 saves. Her shutout total tied for seventh most in a single season in KSU history. In her standout freshman campaign, she earned ASUN All-Freshman Team honors, led the conference in saves (87) and saves per game (6.69), and set a program record with 16 saves in a single game. Her .853 save percentage ranked her among the top 25 goalkeepers in the nation. Blye first suited up for the Liberty in 2022, making one appearance and logging 45 minutes. She returned in 2023 to play in seven matches, earning four starts and logging 320 minutes between the posts. Last season Blye played for Athens FC in the USL W League.
