McKenna Whitham, 14, becomes youngest player to appear in senior level American soccer as she makes debut in National Women’s Soccer League

McKenna Whitham became the youngest player to make her debut in a men’s or women’s top-flight soccer match in the United States on Sunday, making history one day after her 14th birthday.

In the 80th minute, Witham entered the game for NJ/NY Gotham FC, replacing Katie Stengel in a 2-1 win over the Washington Spirit in the National Women’s Soccer League Summer Cup match against Liga MX Women at Subaru Park in Chester, Pennsylvania. While Witham was only on the field for 17 minutes, her offensive prowess was evident. She pressured the Spirit’s back line while on the field and was quick on her feet.

Two days ago, Gotham FC announced that it had signed Witham as a reserve player for the national team during the current Olympics. The club also announced that Witham had signed a historic four-year deal that begins on January 1.

The California native, who will move to New Jersey with her family, is believed to be the youngest player to appear in any North American professional sports league since the 1970s, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. That includes debuts in the NBA, WNBA, NFL and NHL.

“Not only is she the youngest player to ever play in the league, she’s also the youngest player on the team, and that’s what we really care about,” Gotham coach Juan Carlos Amoros said. “Obviously, we identified Mack as a special talent. It’s going to take time to reach her potential, but from herself, to the team, what they’re doing to help her, what she’s doing to adapt to that… I think that’s what got us to this part of the journey.”

Signing her first professional contract, she just celebrated her 14th birthday, and made it @NWSL For the first time in the same week?!

We are so happy to have you with us, Mac Whitam!! 🖤 pic.twitter.com/wMtujDO3zj

– New Jersey/New York Gotham FC (@GothamFC) July 28, 2024

Gotham goalkeeper Cassie Miller echoed Amoros’ sentiments after the game, saying Whiteham has proven herself an integral part of the team since first joining them in February.

“She was with us in group training and worked hard, just like any of us would,” Miller said. “I think the enthusiasm we have for her is incredible. I remember being 14 and being able to do it — a shoutout to her because I definitely wasn’t ready.”

At 14 years and one day, Whiteham is almost a year younger than Philadelphia Union’s Cavan Sullivan, who 11 days ago became the youngest player to make his MLS debut, surpassing the record long held by former U.S. international Freddy Adu. Sullivan also broke that record at Subaru Park.

Sullivan made his debut on July 17 against the New England Revolution at the age of 14 years and 293 days. Adu was 14 years and 306 days old when he made his debut for D.C. United against the San Jose Earthquakes in April 2004.

Whitam, who goes by the nickname Mac, has been with Gotham since February. She first joined the NWSL club as a non-roster invitee in preseason this year. She has been a constant presence with the team, cheering them on from the stands at games and training with them frequently.

She made her debut in a pre-season match for Gotham in the Women’s Cup in Colombia in February. At the age of 13, Witham scored her first professional goal as a substitute for captain Kelley O’Hara against Deportivo Cali. Witham’s match-winning goal propelled Gotham to the tournament final, which Gotham later won.

Never back down, never what?

Mckenna Whitham puts us on the scoreboard. 😌#Women’s_Cup | 1-0 pic.twitter.com/Pt6eBqXKaP

– New Jersey/New York Gotham FC (@GothamFC) February 27, 2024

“It was really amazing,” Whiteham said. The athlete After her first appearance in pre-season. “I’ve always played at a high level, so I was motivated to be the best and do my best, and I mean, just because they’re older, it doesn’t scare me.”

While many have compared Witham, Sullivan and others in Major League Soccer or the men’s lower league, the reality is that girls simply have not had the same opportunities to compete at the highest level of professional soccer in the United States as boys, until very recently.

Several teenagers have made their debuts in the NWSL in recent years, including San Diego Wave’s Melanie Barcenas, who made her debut for the club last year at 15 years and 181 days. Also on the field Sunday was Chloe Ricketts, now 17, who was previously the youngest NWSL player to sign with a team in March of last year.

Initially, the National Women’s Soccer League, founded in 2012, banned underage players from joining. But that all changed two years ago when the league introduced an under-18 entry mechanism that allows each team to sign up to four underage players, as long as they follow a strict set of guidelines. That’s why, for example, every contract an underage player signs lasts until they turn 18.

The introduction of this mechanism was the result of a young Olivia Moultrie’s decision in 2021 to take up a legal battle with the National Women’s Soccer League for the right to play. While Moultrie turned professional at 13, and signed a nine-year endorsement deal with Nike in 2019, she was not able to sign with an NWSL club until she was 15, two weeks after a judge blocked the NWSL from enforcing its long-standing age rule.

Moultrie’s lawsuit paved the way for younger players. (Photo: Subum Im, Getty Images)

Gotham’s Jasmine Ryan, who scored the game-winning penalty kick against the Spirit, was with the Portland Thorns when Moultrie signed this contract.

“It’s been really cool to see, since I’ve been in the league, that two guys have been able to do that now,” Ryan said. “They’re special talents, so they deserve to be here and they’ve worked hard. Mack comes in and tries every day. … She’s kind of come in seamlessly, and her hard work shows and the reason she signed and the reason she’s here.”

Moultrie’s antitrust lawsuit paved the way for the youth movement we see in American women’s soccer today, and for Gotham, Witham is the first player the club has signed using its under-18 entry mechanism.

The rules are constantly evolving and have recently been expanded to include additional provisions around medical evaluations of children, facilities and safety assessments in an effort to create long-term development for minors, according to Gotham.

“The NWSL is evolving in general to be able to accommodate younger players and help develop them,” said Yael Averbuch-West, the club’s general manager and head of soccer operations. The athlete “We are looking, as a league, and especially at Gotham FC, at how to create a real pathway for professional footballers.

“It’s a big focus area,” she continued. “It’s not just about winning this year’s WSL, which is what we’re focused on, it’s also about how we prepare for the future, how we identify and develop players who will be ready to represent our club.”

(Photo courtesy of NJ/NY Gotham FC)