University of Minnesota Athletics
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Midfielder
/ Soccer
Gopher Soccer Spotlight: Hailee Christensen
3/10/2026 11:59:00 AM | Soccer
Get to know Hailee Christensen!
A native of South Dakota, Hailee Christensen graduated from Harrisburg High School. She left her mark as one of the most decorated players in the state, earning United Soccer Coaches High School All-American and All-Region accolades in addition to being named South Dakota's Gatorade Player of the Year and the South Dakota High School Tournament Player of the Year. After two successful seasons at South Dakota State, Christensen is excited to bring her talents to Dinkytown!
Gopher Sports: Can you take me through your background?
Hailee Christensen: "I grew up in Mitchell, South Dakota with my parents and brother, Ean. We moved mainly because of soccer, but it worked out with my dad getting a new job and my brother being involved in theatre. My dad was my soccer coach when I was in Mitchell and continued to be my coach through high school. Even though he coached, I have to give credit to my mom because she always brought me to practices and soccer games when I first started playing. I played high school and club soccer at Dakota Alliance starting in seventh grade."
GS: What made you get into soccer and why did you stick with it?
HC: "When I started soccer I was so young, it was the only sport that I could play. I was also in dance and played softball and basketball too. I was really good as a five year old so I stuck with it. My dad got super into it and I had a pretty close friend who ended up moving to Dakota Alliance too, our dads coached together and it just worked out well. We were teammates up until high school and she's at Utah State now."
GS: Tell me about your dad. How did he get into soccer?
HC: "My dad was a bowler in high school, a really good bowler. He ended up bowling at Nebraska. He didn't like the idea of soccer at first, but once I started showing interest in it he decided to learn the sport and help and coach me through it."
GS: Did you play any other sports growing up?
HC: "I did all of the basic sports when I was younger. I played basketball for a couple of years, I did dance for eight years, I mainly stuck with that for so long because my mom enjoyed it. I did softball for a couple of years in elementary school. I also did track from middle school and for three years in high school."
GS: Growing up when did you realize that you had a future playing the sport of soccer?
HC: "I don't know if it was something that I really thought about, but it switched in my mind when we did move to Sioux Falls because my family moved there from Mitchell. But, I had always dreamed about playing college soccer starting at the age of 10."
GS: How would you describe yourself as a player to people who haven't seen you play?
HC: "It's actually an inside joke with my family, but my dad used to call me a Grizzly Bear when I was younger because there were times in my game where it looks like I'm getting let out of a cage. That was when I was younger mostly, but there are still times on the field where I go crazy. I would say now I use that to my advantage in a way where I mostly try to stay calm and composed for the majority of games, but then when I need to I can really turn it on."
GS: Do you have any pregame rituals?
HC: "I don't have any rituals, but I always try to be present. I'm not the type to wear headphones or listen to my own music, I try to watch what everyone else is doing in a way. I enjoy being with my teammates and being present in the moment."
GS: Since you transferred in the spring, what are some things you're looking forward to at Minnesota?
HC: "I really am looking forward to games. I'm really excited to put on a Minnesota jersey for the first time. I've been trying to explain to my parents that it feels like a fever dream being here. It almost doesn't feel real until I'm doing something like playing on the field. Having the jersey and the cleats and it'll really settle in."
GS: Do you have any professional soccer players that you look up to?
HC: "More recently it's been Claire Hutton, we play the same position, and I like her presence on her field. I see myself in her when she plays."
Favorite soccer player? Claire Hutton
Favorite sports team? LA Dodgers
Day game or night game? Night
If not soccer, what other sport? Track, but I've always wanted to be a libero in volleyball
Pregame coffee or energy drink? Energy drink
Gopher Sports: Can you take me through your background?
Hailee Christensen: "I grew up in Mitchell, South Dakota with my parents and brother, Ean. We moved mainly because of soccer, but it worked out with my dad getting a new job and my brother being involved in theatre. My dad was my soccer coach when I was in Mitchell and continued to be my coach through high school. Even though he coached, I have to give credit to my mom because she always brought me to practices and soccer games when I first started playing. I played high school and club soccer at Dakota Alliance starting in seventh grade."
GS: What made you get into soccer and why did you stick with it?
HC: "When I started soccer I was so young, it was the only sport that I could play. I was also in dance and played softball and basketball too. I was really good as a five year old so I stuck with it. My dad got super into it and I had a pretty close friend who ended up moving to Dakota Alliance too, our dads coached together and it just worked out well. We were teammates up until high school and she's at Utah State now."
GS: Tell me about your dad. How did he get into soccer?
HC: "My dad was a bowler in high school, a really good bowler. He ended up bowling at Nebraska. He didn't like the idea of soccer at first, but once I started showing interest in it he decided to learn the sport and help and coach me through it."
GS: Did you play any other sports growing up?
HC: "I did all of the basic sports when I was younger. I played basketball for a couple of years, I did dance for eight years, I mainly stuck with that for so long because my mom enjoyed it. I did softball for a couple of years in elementary school. I also did track from middle school and for three years in high school."
GS: Growing up when did you realize that you had a future playing the sport of soccer?
HC: "I don't know if it was something that I really thought about, but it switched in my mind when we did move to Sioux Falls because my family moved there from Mitchell. But, I had always dreamed about playing college soccer starting at the age of 10."
GS: How would you describe yourself as a player to people who haven't seen you play?
HC: "It's actually an inside joke with my family, but my dad used to call me a Grizzly Bear when I was younger because there were times in my game where it looks like I'm getting let out of a cage. That was when I was younger mostly, but there are still times on the field where I go crazy. I would say now I use that to my advantage in a way where I mostly try to stay calm and composed for the majority of games, but then when I need to I can really turn it on."
GS: Do you have any pregame rituals?
HC: "I don't have any rituals, but I always try to be present. I'm not the type to wear headphones or listen to my own music, I try to watch what everyone else is doing in a way. I enjoy being with my teammates and being present in the moment."
GS: Since you transferred in the spring, what are some things you're looking forward to at Minnesota?
HC: "I really am looking forward to games. I'm really excited to put on a Minnesota jersey for the first time. I've been trying to explain to my parents that it feels like a fever dream being here. It almost doesn't feel real until I'm doing something like playing on the field. Having the jersey and the cleats and it'll really settle in."
GS: Do you have any professional soccer players that you look up to?
HC: "More recently it's been Claire Hutton, we play the same position, and I like her presence on her field. I see myself in her when she plays."
Favorite soccer player? Claire Hutton
Favorite sports team? LA Dodgers
Day game or night game? Night
If not soccer, what other sport? Track, but I've always wanted to be a libero in volleyball
Pregame coffee or energy drink? Energy drink
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