While in high school, Tarpley played for W-League side Kalamazoo Quest in 1998 and 1999.

Born in Madison, Wisconsin, Tarpley grew up in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and attended Portage Central High School from 1998 to 2002. During her freshman season, she helped her school’s women’s soccer team reach the state semi-finals. In the following spring, she led her team to an undefeated season and the state championship. Against Bishop Foley Catholic High School in the final match, she scored her team’s first goal and assisted on her team’s other two, including the winning shot in the penalty shootout. She received several honors during her time there, including being named the 2002 Michigan Gatorade Player of the Year and the 2002 U.S. Soccer Chevrolet Young Female Player of the Year, in addition to being a 1999 NSCAA All-American and a Parade All-American in 2001 and 2002. She also played varsity basketball for Portage Central, starting at point guard during all four of her seasons.

Tarpley began her international career representing the United States on the U-16 Girls National Team. From there, she successfully moved to the United States U-19 team in 2002. She played in the 2002 FIFA U-19 Women’s World Championship, the first FIFA-sanctioned youth tournament for women, and scored the title clinching goal in extra time against Canada. She made 26 total appearances and scored 24 goals.

Tarpley first appeared for the senior team on January 12, 2003 against Japan. Her first (and second) goal came a little over a year later on January 30, 2004 against Sweden. She appeared in the 2004 and 2008 editions of the Olympic Games, winning a gold medal in each trip. She has also played in the 2007 FIFA Women’s World Cup, in which the United States finished third. She earned her 100th cap on July 16, 2008 against Brazil in the last game before the 2008 Olympics, the 23rd player in USWNT history to reach this feat.

Tarpley played for the New Jersey Wildcats in 2005, where she played alongside Tobin Heath, Christine Latham, Karina LeBlanc, Heather O’Reilly, Cat Whitehill, Rachel Yankey, and a number of other international players. She played in five games (374 minutes) for the club, and scored two goals with two assists.

Tarpley finished her North Carolina career with 59 goals and 59 assists. Her number 25 jersey was retired by the school in February 2006 during the halftime of a North Carolina Tar Heels men’s basketball game.

On January 15, 2010 Lindsay was traded to the Saint Louis Athletica in exchange for goalkeeper Jillian Loyden. With the Athletica, she joined former North Carolina Tar Heel standouts Lori Chalupny, Kendall Fletcher and Kristina Larsen.

She became a free agent on June 1, 2010 with the dissolution of the Saint Louis Athletica. On June 3, it was announced by the Boston Breakers that they had signed Tarpley. She then signed for magicJack ahead of the 2011 Women’s Professional Soccer season.

Tarpley’s husband, B. J. Snow, was appointed in January 2011 to coach the UCLA Bruins women’s soccer team. In July 2012, Tarpley and Snow had their first child, a son. In January 2013, B. J. Snow was appointed as the full-time head coach of United States women’s national under-17 soccer team.