DaCosta is a native of Somers, New York and attended Somers High School where she was five-year varsity soccer athlete. She earned all-section and all-league honors four times and was named league MVP twice.[3] From 2000 to 2005, she played five years for both the ENY North ODP team as well as the Region 1 ODP team.
Florida State University
DaCosta was a four-year starter for Florida State Seminoles. During her tenure with the Seminoles, she served as the team captain in 2010 and led the team to a 16–6–1 mark and a sixth consecutive appearance in the NCAA Tournament quarterfinals. She scored a total of 17 goals. She shared the FSU school record for career game-winning assists (10), ranked third in career assists (24) and is ranked fourth in career games started (94).[4]
DaCosta was a First-Team All-ACC selection and NSCAA All-Southeast Region team in 2010. She was named to the NSCAA All-Southeast Region Second Team in 2009 and NSCAA and Soccer Buzz First Team All-American in 2008.[3] In 2010, DaCosta was named as a First Team All-ACC member, making her the first athlete in school history to garner all-ACC accolades all four years of her career.[5]
DaCosta was inducted into the FSU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2022.[6]
Playing career
Amanda DaCosta playing for the Boston Breakers in the 2017 NWSL season
In late 2012, DaCosta signed with Liverpool L.F.C. for the 2013 FA WSL season.[8] (Liverpool Ladies had not, as yet, made an official announcement of DaCosta's signing, however DaCosta announced the move on her Twitter page, and subsequently played in Liverpool's first preseason match against Manchester City Ladies).
She scored her first goal for Liverpool Ladies against Arsenal Ladies at Emirates Stadium in the FA Women's Super League on 37 minutes on May 7, 2013.
On November 3, 2016, it was announced that DaCosta was traded from Chicago to the Boston Breakers.[10] On August 8, 2017, DaCosta announced her retirement from professional soccer.[11]
International
In 2006, DaCosta was a member of the under-17 national team. In March 2008, she competed with the under-20 team at the 2008 Cyprus Cup. She played a key role in helping the U.S. advance to the championship final against the full Canadian National team.
DaCosta was invited to participate in training camp with the U.S. U-23 Women's National Team in Cleveland, Ohio in 2009 ( June 12–19) and twice in 2010 in Carson, California ( January 13–20) and Sunrise, Florida. ( March 7–14).[12] In 2012, she was an active member of the U.S U-23 squad, and ended her campaign netting the game winner for the U.S to beat Norway in the 3-Nations Tournament (Stjordalen, Norway).[13]
On December 1, 2015, she made her first appearance for the Portugal women's national football team, in a Euro 2017 qualifier against Spain. DaCosta subbed on in the 46th minute. She represented Portugal at the final tournament in the Netherlands. DaCosta won a total of 19 caps for Portugal.[14]
Coaching career
In August 2012, DaCosta announced that she would be coaching with Tallahassee United Futbol Club (TUFC) and Cornerstone Middle School as well as for Florida State University in an outreach skills program dubbed Project 4.0.[15]
Broadcasting career
In 2012, DaCosta did the color commentary for the Seminoles soccer team on ESPN3.[15][16]
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