Coco Thistle

Coco Thistle
Personal information
Full name Cosette Alexa Thistle
Date of birth (2004-03-17) March 17, 2004 (age 22)
Height 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Position Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Sporting JAX
Number 36
Youth career
San Diego Surf
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2022 Colorado Buffaloes 13 (0)
2023–2025 California Golden Bears 33 (4)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2026– Sporting JAX 1 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Cosette Alexa "Coco" Thistle (born March 17, 2004) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Sporting JAX of the USL Super League. She played college soccer for the Colorado Buffaloes and the California Golden Bears.

Early life

Thistle graduated as valedictorian from Classical Academy in Escondido, California, in 2022 with a 4.0 GPA. Thistle did not participate in high school soccer due to California Interscholastic Federation rules. Instead, she played club soccer with the San Diego Surf, where she won multiple MVP awards and was part of the team that won a national championship in 2014. She was ranked the No. 9 midfielder in Southern California, No. 15 overall nationally by TopDrawerSoccer, and No. 41 in the IMG Academy 50 rankings. Her club coaches included Josh Henderson and Rob Becerra.

College career

Colorado Buffaloes

Thistle began her collegiate career with the Colorado Buffaloes. She made her debut on August 18, 2022, against Weber State and appeared in 13 games during her freshman season. She recorded one shot in a 6–0 victory over Texas A&M–Commerce.

California Golden Bears

Thistle transferred to play for the California Golden Bears for the 2023 season. She appeared in 14 games, starting 12, and scored her first collegiate goal—a game-winning strike against Oregon State on October 22, 2023. In 2024, after experiencing respiratory symptoms for several years, Thistle was diagnosed with a carcinoid tumor in her upper left lung. Physicians indicated that she had likely been playing with the condition for more than two years prior to the diagnosis. She underwent a lobectomy to remove the tumor and the affected lobe and later returned to collegiate soccer following her recovery.

During the 2025 season, Thistle contributed to key victories, including a 2–1 win over Arizona, scoring in the third minute and assisting a second goal in the 27th minute. She also helped maintain offensive pressure in matches where the team played short-handed, recording multiple shots and supporting the team's tactical adjustments, including during a game against Cal Poly. She was named to the 2025 All-Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Academic Team for her performance both on the field and in the classroom.

Club career

On February 18, 2026, Thistle signed her first professional contract with Sporting JAX of the USL Super League. She joined as a midseason addition to their inaugural roster.

International career

Thistle attended United States women's national soccer team training camps and participated in the April 2021 United States U-18 women's national team Virtual Camp.

Statistics

College

As of match played October 30, 2025
Season Games Scoring
GPGSGAPTSSHSOG
Colorado Buffaloes
2022 13000010
California Golden Bears
2023 141210294
2024 Did not participate
2025 19183410277
Career
Career total 463044123711

Professional

As of match played August 22, 2026
Club Season League Cup Playoffs Total
Division AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Sporting JAX 2025–26 United States USLS 00—0000
2026 10——10
Career total 10——10

Personal life

Thistle was born to Loren and Bryan Thistle, who played college football at Dartmouth College. She has a younger brother, Kellan. She majored in psychology.

References

  1. ↑ "Dean's List Spring 2023" (PDF). University of Colorado Boulder. p. 17. Retrieved 16 July 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 "9 Coco Thistle". CUBuffs.com. University of Colorado Boulder. Retrieved 19 February 2026.
  3. 1 2 3 "36 Coco Thistle". CalBears.com. University of California, Berkeley. Retrieved 19 February 2026.
  4. ↑ Moebus-Bowles, Daniel (2 October 2024). "Running On Resilience". CalBears.com. University of California, Berkeley. Retrieved 19 February 2026.
  5. ↑ Omar, Safwat (4 September 2025). "Facing Utah Valley, Arizona State, Thistle thunders two into top corner for Cal". DailyCal.org. The Daily Californian. Retrieved 19 February 2026.
  6. ↑ "Wildcats Drop 2-1 Decision at California". ArizonaWildcats.com. University of Arizona. 31 August 2025. Retrieved 19 February 2026.
  7. ↑ Champion, Tess (9 September 2025). "Bears tie Mustangs, look to ACC opener against Pitt". CalDaily.org. The Daily Californian. Retrieved 19 February 2026.
  8. ↑ Cal Athletics (29 January 2026). "6 Bears Named All-ACC Academic". CalBears.com. University of California, Berkeley. Retrieved 19 February 2026.
  9. ↑ Bunker, Chase (18 February 2026). "Sporting JAX signs three midfielders to women's team". ActionNewsJax.com. Cox Media Group, Inc. Retrieved 19 February 2026.
  10. ↑ Eskilson, J.R. (21 April 2021). "U18/U19 WNT Virtual Camp Roster". TopDrawerSoccer.com. TopDrawerSoccer. Retrieved 19 February 2026.