Stengel attended Viera High School in Viera, Florida.[2] She attended Wake Forest University from 2010 to 2013 where she played for the Demon Deacons women's soccer team. Stengel completed her college career as the highest scoring player in Wake Forest history with 50 goals in 75 games, and she was a four-time All-ACC honoree and a three-time All-America, becoming in 2011 the first Wake Forest player to be named first-team All America.
Club career
Katie Stengel playing for the Boston Breakers in the 2017 NWSL season
In December 2015, Stengel signed with the Washington Spirit.[3] In her first season with the team, she played in 19 regular season matches, starting 10, totaling 928 minutes. Stengel contributed four goals during the season, tied for second most on the team.[6] In 2016 Washington advanced to the NWSL Championship Game. The game was tied 2–2 after extra time and went to penalties. Stengal converted her penalty, but Washington lost to the Western New York Flash 3–2 on penalties.[7]
Stengel appeared in five games for the Spirit in 2017 before she was released by the club on June 28, 2017.[8]
Western Sydney Wanderers (loan)
Stengel was signed by Australian team Western Sydney Wanderers ahead of the 2016–17 W-League season. She was the leading goal-scorer for the Wanderers with six goals for the season.[9][10]
Boston Breakers
The day after her release by the Washington Spirit, Stengel was selected off waivers by the Boston Breakers. She appeared in 12 games for the Breakers in 2017.[11]
Newcastle Jets (loan)
In October 2017, Stengel returned to Australia, joining Newcastle Jets for the 2017–18 W-League season.[12] Stengel scored 10 goals for the Jets and finished second in the Golden Boot race behind Sam Kerr. Newcastle finished in third place and returned to the Finals series for the first time since the 2008–09 season.
After the Boston Breakers folded ahead of the 2018 season, Stengel was selected by the Utah Royals in the Boston Breakers dispersal draft.[14] Stengel appeared in 23 games for the Royals. She scored a team leading six goals and scored the first brace in Royals history.[15]
Stengel returned to the Royals for the 2019 season. She appeared in all 24 games and scored 2 goals.[15]
Houston Dash
On January 8, 2020, the Utah Royals traded Stengel and a third round pick in the 2020 NWSL College Draft to the Houston Dash in exchange for their second round picks in the 2020 and 2021 College drafts.[16] She was waived by the club in May 2021.[17]
Liverpool
On January 6, 2022, Liverpool signed Stengel, reuniting her with manager Matt Beard. Stengel had played for Beard previously at Boston Breakers. Stengel wears the number 24 kit for the Lady Reds and plays as a striker on the first-division team.[18]
NJ/NY Gotham FC
On July 5, 2023, Liverpool loaned Stengel to American club NJ/NY Gotham FC until September 3, 2023.[19] The loan was later made permanent, as Gotham acquired Stengel on a permanent transfer on September 13, 2023.[20]