Last Updated on September 21, 2026 by Wilson

Paul Rothrock is an American professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Seattle Sounders FC. Born on January 9, 1999, in Seattle, Washington, Rothrock grew up in a large, close-knit family before taking an unconventional route through college soccer, Toronto FC II, Tacoma Defiance and eventually the Sounders first team.
Family and community have become central themes in Rothrock’s story. His parents are Stephen Rothrock and Tessa Keating, and he is the only son in a family of five children. His four sisters are Claire, Rosie, Annie and his twin sister Mia. Paul is also engaged to Lucy Levine, whom he met several times around Seattle before the pair eventually began dating.
Who Is Paul Rothrock’s Fiancée?
Paul Rothrock’s fiancée is Lucy Levine. Rothrock publicly discussed their relationship in detail during a February 2026 interview with Sounder at Heart’s Nos Audietis podcast, confirming that Lucy had gone from being his girlfriend to his fiancée.
Their relationship has an unmistakably Seattle connection. Rothrock explained that he first met Lucy at the Bumbershoot music festival when they were younger. Although they immediately connected, the relationship did not develop at that stage.
The pair crossed paths again several years later at another music festival, but once again the timing was not quite right. Their relationship finally began after a third meeting in Seattle.
How Did Paul Rothrock Meet Lucy Levine?
Rothrock has described his relationship with Lucy as a story heavily influenced by timing. Their first encounter came at Seattle’s Bumbershoot festival around 2016.
Paul remembered spending several days around Lucy at the festival and initially thinking there might be a connection between them. However, nothing developed, and they went their separate ways.
Approximately three years later, they encountered one another again at the Sasquatch Music Festival at the Gorge. Once again, there was an apparent connection, but the relationship still did not progress.
The third encounter finally changed everything. Rothrock met Lucy again at a bar in Seattle’s Fremont neighborhood after friends convinced him to go out for the night. Rothrock later joked that she reminded him he already had her phone number because some of his earlier messages had gone unanswered.
This time, however, the timing worked. They began dating shortly afterward and eventually became engaged.
Who Is Lucy Levine?
Lucy Levine has generally maintained a much lower public profile than Rothrock, but Paul and members of his family have offered occasional glimpses into their relationship.
In a 2026 profile of Rothrock and his family, his eldest sister Claire described Lucy as someone who had integrated naturally into the large Rothrock household. Claire characterized her as grounded, intelligent and interesting while explaining that she embraced the family’s energetic personality.
Interestingly, Lucy was not originally much of a sports follower. Rothrock said she did not really watch soccer or other sports before they began dating. Soccer eventually became the sport she followed most closely, largely because of Paul.
Lucy also had an indirect connection to the Sounders before dating Rothrock. Paul revealed that her father was already an enthusiastic Seattle Sounders supporter and followed coverage of the club. By the time Paul and Lucy began dating in 2023, her father was therefore already familiar with the player.
Paul Rothrock and Lucy Levine’s Life in Seattle
Paul and Lucy have built their relationship around the city that has played such an important role in Rothrock’s life and career.
A 2026 profile described the couple as living on a houseboat and enjoying outdoor activities together. Hiking has been among the interests they share, with locations such as Index and Lake Serene forming part of their life away from professional soccer.
Remaining in Seattle became especially meaningful when Rothrock entered free agency after the 2025 season. He had opportunities to continue his career elsewhere, including interest from other MLS teams and clubs abroad.
However, Rothrock eventually chose to re-sign with Seattle Sounders. Beyond football reasons, he emphasized his connection to his family, fiancée and wider Seattle community as factors that made staying home particularly meaningful.
MLS reported in 2026 that Rothrock had become engaged to Lucy earlier in the year, marking another major personal milestone during a period in which his professional career was also becoming increasingly established.
Does Paul Rothrock Have Children?
There is no reliable public information indicating that Paul Rothrock has children.
Recent profiles discussing his family and engagement to Lucy Levine do not mention the couple having a son or daughter. Rothrock has also spoken openly about his home life, sisters and fiancée without identifying himself as a father.
As of now, Paul Rothrock and Lucy Levine have no publicly confirmed children.
Who Are Paul Rothrock’s Parents?
Paul Rothrock’s parents are Stephen Rothrock and Tessa Keating. Notre Dame officially identified both parents when announcing Paul as part of its 2017 recruiting class.
The couple have an unusual story of their own. Reporting from Paul’s Georgetown years states that Stephen and Tessa first met while working with L’Arche in Paris, France. L’Arche is an international community supporting people with intellectual disabilities.
The couple later became involved in establishing a L’Arche community in Spokane, Washington. Their commitment to social and community work had a significant impact on Paul, who volunteered with L’Arche Seattle and the St. Vincent de Paul food bank while growing up.
Stephen and Tessa also spent significant periods living abroad before settling in Seattle. Paul revealed in 2026 that his three older sisters grew up in the United Kingdom before his parents moved to the United States in 1998. Paul and his twin sister Mia were born the following year.
Paul Rothrock’s Father: Stephen Rothrock
Paul Rothrock’s father is Stephen Rothrock, a Seattle-based businessman with extensive experience in international business, commercial real estate and the semiconductor manufacturing industry.
Stephen spent part of his early professional career in Europe. He worked near Paris for an international nonprofit organization and later held a senior commercial real estate role with Savills International in London.
After returning to Seattle in the late 1990s, Stephen worked with Colliers International before founding ATREG in 2000. The company specializes in transactions involving semiconductor manufacturing facilities and other advanced-technology infrastructure.
Stephen’s work helps explain part of the Rothrock family’s international background. Paul’s three older sisters spent part of their childhood in Britain, while Paul and Mia were born after their parents returned to Seattle.
Stephen has also remained closely connected to Paul’s soccer career. During Paul’s Georgetown years, the midfielder said playing professionally for Seattle Sounders would be particularly meaningful for both himself and his father.
When Rothrock finally earned a permanent Sounders first-team contract in 2023, he recalled attending Seattle’s inaugural MLS match with his father years earlier and telling him that he planned to play for the club one day.
Stephen has subsequently publicly celebrated his son’s achievements. Following Paul’s breakthrough 2024 season, he wrote about his pride not only in Paul’s results but also in his resilience, work ethic and ability to help teammates.
Paul Rothrock’s Mother: Tessa Keating
Paul Rothrock’s mother is Tessa Keating. Her background in community service and mental health work has had a notable influence on her son.
According to a profile published during Paul’s Georgetown career, Tessa and Stephen met through L’Arche in Paris. The family later helped establish a L’Arche community in Spokane.
Tessa has worked as a mental health counselor and cognitive behavioral therapist. Paul’s own volunteering activities included working with the St. Vincent de Paul food bank, where his mother was also involved professionally, as well as volunteering with L’Arche Seattle.
Community service therefore became part of Rothrock’s upbringing rather than something he discovered only after becoming a professional athlete.
A later family profile described Paul’s mother as having helped build charitable initiatives and recalled one of the messages she regularly passed to her children: they did not need to remain trapped in situations that made them deeply unhappy.
That philosophy became especially relevant during one of the lowest points of Paul’s soccer career, when he was considering whether continuing professionally was worthwhile.
How Paul Rothrock’s Parents Met
Stephen Rothrock and Tessa Keating met through charitable work in France before their children were born.
Reporting from 2019 states that they met while involved with L’Arche in Paris. Their relationship therefore began in an environment centered around community living and supporting people with intellectual disabilities.
They later carried those values back to the United States, becoming involved with L’Arche in Washington. That background became an important part of the environment in which Paul and his sisters were raised.
It also helps explain why Rothrock regularly describes himself as community-oriented. Even after becoming a professional athlete, he has continued to speak about Seattle not simply as the city where he plays but as a community he feels responsible for representing.
Paul Rothrock’s Siblings
Paul Rothrock has four sisters: Claire, Rosie, Annie and Mia Rothrock. Notre Dame confirmed the complete sibling list in his official recruiting biography.
Paul is the only boy among the five Rothrock children. Mia is his twin sister, while Claire, Rosie and Annie are considerably older.
In a 2026 interview, Rothrock jokingly described the two generations of siblings as “Rothrock 1.0” and “Rothrock 2.0.” The three older sisters grew up largely in the United Kingdom, while Paul and Mia were born after Stephen and Tessa returned to Seattle.
There is approximately an eight-year gap between the twins and the youngest of the three older sisters, while Claire is around 13 years older than Paul.
Mia Rothrock
Mia Rothrock is Paul’s twin sister and the sibling closest to him in age. Paul was born first, making him technically the older twin.
Rothrock has jokingly described Mia as his personal “troll” because she regularly sends embarrassing clips, fan edits and other material involving him into the family group chat.
As twins and the youngest members of the family, Paul and Mia have a particularly distinctive relationship. Paul said he sometimes behaves like her older brother but can simultaneously claim the role of the youngest child alongside her.
The pair were born after their parents relocated from Europe to Seattle in 1998, making their childhood experience significantly different from that of their three older sisters.
Claire Rothrock
Claire Rothrock is Paul’s eldest sister and approximately 13 years older than him.
Claire moved to New York for college around the time Paul and Mia were entering kindergarten and later pursued a career as a television writer.
Despite the age difference and geographical distance, Claire has described herself and Paul as close. She has also publicly discussed her younger brother’s personality, career setbacks and eventual breakthrough with Seattle Sounders.
Claire has explained that Paul’s decision to return home after difficult periods in professional soccer reflected his determination to continue pursuing his ambitions without sacrificing happiness.
She has also spoken warmly about Lucy Levine, crediting Paul’s fiancée with fitting comfortably into the energetic Rothrock family.
Rosie Rothrock
Rosie Rothrock is another of Paul’s older sisters. She grew up primarily during the family’s years abroad before Stephen and Tessa returned to Seattle.
Rosie has maintained a more private profile than Paul and Claire, so detailed authoritative information about her professional and personal life is limited.
Family reporting nevertheless makes clear that Rosie remains part of the close group of sisters who have supported Paul throughout his career.
Claire has also compared Rosie and Paul in terms of their optimistic personalities, suggesting that the two share a similarly positive outlook.
Annie Rothrock
Annie Rothrock is Paul’s third older sister. Like Claire and Rosie, she spent much of her early childhood in the United Kingdom before the family relocated permanently to Seattle.
Annie has largely stayed outside sports media coverage, meaning reliable information about her private life is limited.
What is well documented is that she forms part of the group Paul jokingly calls the family “gauntlet.” Rothrock has explained that new partners entering the family—including Lucy—have to win the approval of all four sisters.
Being the Only Brother in a Family of Four Sisters
Rothrock has frequently joked about what it was like growing up as the only boy among four sisters.
He acknowledged that his sisters would probably argue that he was allowed to get away with more than they were. Paul, meanwhile, joked that his position sometimes came with advantages and sometimes with higher expectations.
The family’s large age range created another distinctive dynamic. Claire, Rosie and Annie belong to an older group that experienced much of its childhood overseas, while twins Paul and Mia grew up primarily in Seattle.
Despite those differences, the siblings have remained closely connected. They maintain a family group chat and regularly react to Paul’s matches, media appearances and increasing popularity among Sounders supporters.
Paul Rothrock’s Sisters Helped Him Through Career Setbacks
Rothrock’s sisters became particularly important when his professional soccer career appeared uncertain.
After college, he was selected by Toronto FC in the 2021 MLS SuperDraft but did not immediately establish himself as an MLS player. He spent two seasons with Toronto FC II before leaving the organization.
During that period, Rothrock admitted considering whether he should stop playing professionally. Conversations with his sisters and wider family helped him work through those doubts.
One sister reportedly told him that he did not seem happy and encouraged him to seriously consider what he wanted from his life rather than continuing purely because he was afraid to quit.
Rothrock ultimately decided he was not ready to abandon his career. He returned to Seattle, moved back into his parents’ home and joined Tacoma Defiance for the 2023 season.
The decision changed his career. His performances for Tacoma led to opportunities with Seattle Sounders, and he eventually signed permanently with the first team in August 2023.
Paul Rothrock’s Grandfather Inspired His Number 14
Another family influence can be seen in Rothrock’s choice of shirt number.
MLS reported that Rothrock’s grandfather introduced him to the football of Dutch legend Johan Cruyff, one of the most influential players in the history of the sport.
Cruyff famously wore the number 14, and that childhood influence contributed to Rothrock adopting the same number with Seattle Sounders.
For Rothrock, the number therefore carries a connection both to football history and to memories of his grandfather.
How Family Influenced Paul Rothrock’s Decision to Stay in Seattle
By the end of the 2025 season, Rothrock had developed from an unlikely roster addition into an established Sounders player. He scored five goals and provided nine assists across all competitions and scored Seattle’s final goal in its 3-0 Leagues Cup final victory over Inter Miami.
His contract expired after the season, giving him the chance to consider other opportunities. Rothrock admitted that there were options elsewhere in MLS as well as possibilities abroad.
However, his family and personal life were among the reasons Seattle remained difficult to leave.
Rothrock has described himself as strongly family- and community-oriented. Having his parents, sisters, Lucy and lifelong friends connected to the city provided a type of support he did not believe he could easily recreate elsewhere.
He ultimately signed a new long-term deal with Seattle in December 2025, extending his stay with his hometown club.
Paul Rothrock’s Family and Community Values
The importance Rothrock places on community can be traced directly to his childhood.
His parents met while working with an organization dedicated to supporting people with intellectual disabilities. They later continued charitable work in Washington, and Paul grew up volunteering himself.
His four sisters also formed a constant support system. When his career was uncertain, they were among the people willing to challenge him rather than simply tell him what he wanted to hear.
Today, Lucy has become part of that same family environment. Rothrock’s sister Claire has described her as fitting naturally into the family, while Paul has spoken openly about how building a life with Lucy has strengthened his connection to Seattle.
As of now, Paul Rothrock is engaged to Lucy Levine and has no publicly confirmed children. His parents are Stephen Rothrock and Tessa Keating, and his four sisters are Claire, Rosie, Annie and his twin sister Mia Rothrock.
Frequently Asked Questions About Paul Rothrock’s Family
Who is Paul Rothrock’s fiancée?
Paul Rothrock’s fiancée is Lucy Levine. Rothrock publicly confirmed their engagement in 2026, and MLS has also identified Lucy as his partner.
How did Paul Rothrock meet Lucy Levine?
Paul and Lucy first met at Seattle’s Bumbershoot music festival. They crossed paths several times over the following years before finally reconnecting at a bar in Seattle’s Fremont neighborhood and beginning a relationship.
Is Paul Rothrock married?
As of now, Rothrock has publicly described Lucy Levine as his fiancée rather than his wife. There has been no reliable public announcement confirming that they have married.
Does Paul Rothrock have children?
There is no reliable public information indicating that Paul Rothrock has children.
Who are Paul Rothrock’s parents?
Paul Rothrock’s parents are Stephen Rothrock and Tessa Keating.
Who is Paul Rothrock’s father?
Paul Rothrock’s father is Stephen Rothrock, an entrepreneur and businessman who founded ATREG, a company specializing in advanced-technology manufacturing facility transactions.
Who is Paul Rothrock’s mother?
Paul Rothrock’s mother is Tessa Keating. She has worked in mental health counseling and has a longstanding connection to charitable and community organizations including L’Arche.
How many siblings does Paul Rothrock have?
Paul Rothrock has four siblings, all sisters: Claire, Rosie, Annie and Mia Rothrock.
Who is Paul Rothrock’s twin sister?
Paul Rothrock’s twin sister is Mia Rothrock. Paul has jokingly described Mia as his personal troll because she frequently sends embarrassing material about him to their family group chat.
Is Paul Rothrock the only boy in his family?
Yes. Paul is the only son of Stephen Rothrock and Tessa Keating. He grew up with four sisters.
Where did Paul Rothrock’s older sisters grow up?
Rothrock has said that Claire, Rosie and Annie spent much of their childhood in the United Kingdom. His parents returned to Seattle in 1998, and Paul and his twin sister Mia were born in 1999.
Why does Paul Rothrock wear number 14?
One reason for Rothrock’s attachment to number 14 is his grandfather, who introduced him to Johan Cruyff. Cruyff famously wore No. 14, making the number personally meaningful to Rothrock.

Wilson Gaspar is a football analyst covering the UEFA Champions League, focusing on match previews, tactical reviews, and the performance of Europe’s top clubs throughout the competition.
