The Youngest Professional Women’s Soccer Player in the United States
While most 14-year-old athletes are gearing up for their middle school tryouts, McKenna Whitman just made history as the youngest female U.S. player to grace the pitch of a professional game. The young star coming out of Granite Bay, California, is turning heads with her show-stopping skills, especially for her age. Now that Whitman has entered the record books and is getting people talking, some questions are floating around. What’s the story, and what’s to come for the young phenom?
In 2024, at just 13 years old, McKenna signed a multi-year contract with the NJ/NY Gotham FC, which expires in 2028. The contract became active as of January 1st, 2025, which made her the youngest signer in NWSL history. McKenna played two Summer Cup games against the Washington Spirits and the Kansas City Current, but March 15th was the day marked in the history books. In the season opener against the Seattle Reign, Whitman was subbed in for teammate Esther Gonzalez. Whitman is officially a history maker at 14 years old. With a full season to go, Whitman will be fighting to prove herself, not just amongst her new team but within the NWSL as well. It will be very interesting to see how Whitman’s skills and abilities grow over the next few years. By the time her contract is up, she will have years of experience ahead of girls entering the NWSL but at the same age. McKenna could become a threat as long as Gotham keeps her healthy.
While the young star might not be starting for her team just yet, she is already breaking barriers. Over the next few years, Whitman has the chance to learn from the best of the best and grow as an athlete. Especially playing a forward position, it wouldn't be surprising to hear of Whitman scoring her first professional goal. If that day comes any time soon, she could be setting another record for the youngest player to make a goal in the NWSL; only time will tell. The age at which the NWSL can sign a player has been up for debate for a while now, and only recently did they get rid of their 18-year-old age requirement. It is still up for debate whether or not it was the right decision for the NWSL to make, but either way, McKenna Whitman is here to stay. Gotham FC fans and NWSL fans alike are looking forward to watching more history being made.
