Honors & Awards
- Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar Award (2020, 2021, 2022)
- Big Ten Distinguished Scholar (2021, 2022)
- Academic All-Big Ten (2019, 2020, 2021)
- Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll (Fall 2018, 2019, 2020; Spring 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022)
- Big Ten Sportsmanship Award Recipient (2021)
- Tom Osborne Citizenship Team (2019, 2021, 2022)
2021 (Senior)
Olivia Brown played and started the first 11 games of the season before a sidelining injury. She amassed 883 minutes and played the complete game three times. She helped the NU defense produce six shutouts. On the offensive side, she recorded her first career goal in the Huskers’ matchup against Baylor on Aug. 26 as she scored the game winner in the 43rd minute.
2020-21 (Junior)
Brown helped anchor the Husker backline, starting all 10 games of the season on defense. She played every minute on all but one occasion for 961 minutes on the year. She helped the NU defense record four shutouts, including two in the final three games. Brown also tallied four shots for the Huskers.
2019 (Sophomore)
Brown started all 18 games and amassed 1,533 minutes, the fifth-most on the team in 2019. She recorded one assist, while taking 10 shots, three of which were on goal. On Sept. 6 at Long Beach State, Brown assisted Dakota Chan's goal in the 66th minute to help NU to victory. Brown played at least 45 minutes in every game and played 90 or more minutes on 12 occasions, including each of the final five games of the season.
2018 (Freshman)
Brown started four of her nine appearances for the Husker defense during her first year at Nebraska. She compiled 497 minutes and took two shots (one shot on goal). Brown played the full time in each of the last four games of the season after making four appearances for a total of 48 minutes in the first 16 games of the year. Brown also compiled 69 minutes at Wisconsin on Oct. 18. She helped the NU defense record two shutouts in the final four games of the season. The Huskers went 9-7-5 overall and tied for fifth in the Big Ten with a 5-3-3 record in conference play.
High School
Brown played high school soccer at Centennial in Ankeny, Iowa under Coach Chris Allen. Brown earned first-team all-state accolades as a defender in both 2017 and 2018. The team made the State Cup semifinals in 2017, finishing the season with a 16-4-0 record. In 2018, she scored goals in both of the semifinal games, while also scoring the game-winning goal in the finals to help her team earn the 2018 State Cup championship, finishing the season with a 20-2-0 record. She was named captain of the all-tournament team, chosen to the Des Moines Register's Elite All-State team and awarded the Des Moines Register's Girls' Soccer Player of the Year. Brown also garnered first-team all-tournament in 2017, first-team all-district in 2017 and 2018, first-team all-conference in 2017 and 2018, and a spot on the academic all-state team in 2018. She also earned the Varsity Athletic Award in 2017 and 2018. Brown achieved success academically as well, claiming multiple awards, including the Des Moines Area Community College Silver Certificate and Dean’s Award for High Scholastic Achievement in 2017.
Other Information
Brown played club soccer for Iowa Rush, which also produced Meg Brandt and former Husker Caroline Buelt, under Coach Daryl Brazeau. Brown, who served as a team captain from 2015 to 2018, helped Iowa Rush capture the 19U MRL Premier 1 Division title in 2017. She was also a part of three State Cup winning teams, claiming the 16U title in 2014, the 18U title in 2016 and the 19U crown in 2017. Brown also played for the 2000 Girls Iowa State ODP Team from 2014 to 2016, and was selected to the 2000 Girls ODP Region II Interregional Player Pool in 2016 and 2017 in Boca Raton, Fla.
Personal Information
Olivia is the daughter of Kate and Thomas Brown, and was born on May 11, 2000. Olivia has one younger sister, Kallie. A biological sciences major, Olivia earned her bachelor's degree from Nebraska in May of 2022.
Brown on Nebraska
“I chose Nebraska not only because of its academic excellence, but because of the passion shown by the athletes. There is also a common goal among the coaches, training staff and academic advisers to help an athlete grow into a successful player and person. I want my journey at Nebraska to be filled with gratitude, learning, volunteerism and the chance to play soccer with some of the best collegiate athletes.”