Avani Kimberly Brant (born August 26, 2003) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a defender or midfielder for A-Liga club HB Køge. She played college soccer for the Stanford Cardinal and has previously appeared for the United States under-20 national team.
Brandt was born in Manhattan, New York, but was raised in the suburban neighborhood of Syosset. She played youth soccer for SUSA in the Elite Clubs National League and East Meadow SC. Brandt attended Syosset High School, where she was named two-time all-state, three-time all-county, and two-time team captain. In 2021, she was recognized as a high school All-American. Brandt was a versatile player throughout her high school career, starting as a midfielder before moving up to the forward line. In her final high school game, she scored a brace to help Syosset win a conference championship; earlier on in her high school career, Brandt had also helped the school win the title for the first time in program history.
Brandt began playing college soccer with the Stanford Cardinal in the 2021 fall season. She earned her first collegiate goal contribution in her second game as a Cardinal, tallying an assist against San Diego State. Over the course of the season, she consistently challenged for playing time, starting in all but 3 of her 19 appearances. Her performances earned her a spot on the Pac-12 All-Freshman team.
As a sophomore, Brandt helped Stanford win a Pac-12 Championship and subsequently make a deep run into the NCAA Tournament, where the team was eventually defeated in the final by Florida State. During conference play, Brandt had helped combine with Stanford's defensive unit to produce 12 shutouts. The following year, the Cardinal backline continued to show defensive solidity, increasing the number to 14. In her final season with Stanford, Brandt helped the team make another deep run into the college cup, where its journey ultimately ended in the semifinals.
Brandt was named as a non-roster invitee on Portland Thorns FC's 2025 preseason squad, but she ultimately did not make the final roster. In June 2025, she joined the Kansas City Current II squad that competed at the Soccer Tournament 2025.
On July 15, 2025, Brandt signed her first professional contract with Danish club HB Køge. Her move to Køge bolstered a strong American contingent within the squad, which included her former Stanford and Current II teammate Samantha Williams.
In 2022, Brandt received a call-up to the United States under-20 national team for two fixtures against Costa Rica. She started both matches as the United States recorded a pair of shutout victories.
Stanford Cardinal