Arianna 'Ari' Romero grew up in Arizona and instead of playing high school soccer she opted to play club soccer for Sereno SC. Her team won 13 tournament titles and were finalists at the Disney College Showcase. The team also won 8 state championships as well as 3 Region IV semifinal appearances.
After high school Romero chose to attend the University of Nebraska where as a soccer player she grew stronger with each passing season. She started every game her freshman season helping the team to post five shutouts on the season. She scored a goal against Texas Tech and had 3 assists over the season. Her second year on the team she again played every game during the season and scored 1 goal and 2 assists. Her goal that year came against Arkansas in a 6-0 win for the Huskers. After missing some of the season for international duty her junior year Romero started 15 game in 2012. She once again scored a single goal on the season this time coming against Purdue in the teams 2-1 loss. She helped the team to post three shutouts on the season.
Her senior year as Husker was her most accomplished year. She averaged 91 minutes per game in a season that saw eight shutouts for the Huskers. She was named Second-Team NSCAA All America as well as the Big Ten Defender of the year and a NSCAA All-Region First Team honoree. She ended the season ranked #17 in the nation by Top Drawer Soccer.
Romero was a part of Mexico's women's national team that competed at the CONCACAF Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament in January of 2012. Then in February of that same year she was a part of the U-20 team that competed in the CONCACAF Championships. She started all four games for Mexico playing 360 as the team made it all the way to the quarterfinals. She played 3 of Mexico's 4 games in the Algarve Cup in 2013. She was one of four college players called up to the team to compete against the USWNT in Washington D.C. on September 3.
She was allocated to the Seattle Reign before the 2014 season but was left unprotected and then taken by the Houston Dash in the expansion draft. She may only stand at 5 feet 3 inches but she is an imposing figure at center back. She is a great ball winner and has amazing individual defending technique.