Born and raised in San Jose, Wagner attended Presentation HS and won two Central Coast Championships, earning League MVP twice, Parade All-American High School Player of the Year, Gatorade National High School Player of the Year, NorCal Student-Athlete of the Year and San Jose Mercury News Player of the Year. 

Wagner played four years for Santa Clara University, receiving the Hermann Trophy as the country’s top women’s soccer player and kicked the winning goal in SCU’s NCAA championship win over North Carolina. A member of the 1999, 2003, and 2007 FIFA Women’s World Cup championship teams and gold medalist on the Olympic 2004 and 2008 teams, she ranks #2 in assists and #12 in goals in U.S. history. Wagner competed professionally for San Diego, Boston and Los Angeles.

Alyson Wagner was inducted into the San Jose Sports Hall of Fame in 2016.