McKenna Whitham, 14, becomes youngest to appear in top-level American soccer with NWSL debut

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

In the 80th minute, Whitham came into the match for NJ/NY Gotham FC, replacing Katie Stengel in a 2-1 win over the Washington Spirit in their NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup match at Subaru Park in Chester, Pennsylvania. While Whitham was only on the pitch for a brief 17 minutes, her attacking prowess was evident. She pressured the Spirit’s backline while on the pitch and was quick on her feet.

Two days prior, Gotham announced they had signed Whitham as a national team replacement player for the current Olympics window. The club also announced they signed Whitham to a historic, four-year deal that begins on January 1.

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

“She’s not only the youngest player to ever play in the league, but is also the youngest for us in the squad, which is what we really care about,” said Gotham head coach Juan Carlos Amoros. “We obviously have identified Mak as a special talent. It will take some time to reach her potential, but, from herself, to the team, what they are doing to help her, what she’s doing to adapt to it … I think it is what got us to this part of the journey.”

Signing her first professional contract, just celebrated her 14th birthday, and making her @NWSL debut in the same week?!

We’re so happy to have you, Mak Whitham!! 🖤 pic.twitter.com/wMtujDO3zj

— NJ/NY Gotham FC (@GothamFC) July 28, 2024

Gotham keeper Cassie Miller echoed Amoros’ sentiment after the game, saying that Whitham has established herself as an integral part of the team since she first joined them in February.

“She’s been in the group training with us and putting in the hard work, just as any one of us have been,” Miller said. “I think the excitement (we have) for her is incredible. Like, I remember when I was 14 years old and to be able to do this – kudos to her because I definitely wasn’t ready.”

At 14 years and 1 day old, Whitham is nearly a year younger than Philadelphia Union’s Cavan Sullivan, who 11 days ago became the youngest player to debut in a Major League Soccer match, surpassing a record long held by former U.S. international Freddy Adu. Sullivan also broke that record at Subaru Park.

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

Whitham, who goes by Mak, has been with Gotham since February. She first joined the NWSL club as a non-roster invitee for this year’s preseason. She has remained a steady and consistent presence with the team, cheering them on from the stands at matches and frequently practicing with the squad.

She first featured in a preseason match for Gotham at the Women’s Cup in Colombia in February. Then 13, Whitham scored her first goal in a professional setting after subbing on for captain Kelley O’Hara against Deportivo Cali. Whitham’s game-winning goal propelled Gotham to the tournament final, which Gotham later won.

Never back down, never what?

McKenna Whitham gets us on the scoreboard. 😌#TheWomensCup | 1-0 pic.twitter.com/Pt6eBqXKaP

— NJ/NY Gotham FC (@GothamFC) February 27, 2024

“It’s just been spectacular,” Whitham told The Athletic following her preseason debut. “I’ve always kind of been playing up at a high level, so I’ve just been motivated to be the best and just give 100% effort, and, I mean, just because they’re older, it doesn’t scare me.”

While many have compared Whitham to Sullivan and others in MLS or lower-division men’s soccer, the reality is girls simply haven’t had the same opportunities to compete at the top-level of professional soccer in the U.S. like boys have, until very recently.

Several teens have made debuts in the NWSL in recent years, including San Diego Wave’s Melanie Barcenas, who debuted for the club last year at 15 years and 181 days old. On the pitch Sunday was also Chloe Ricketts, now 17, who previously was considered the youngest-ever NWSL player to sign with a team in March last year.

The NWSL, founded in 2012, originally prohibited underage players from entering it. That all changed two years ago when the league introduced the U-18 Entry Mechanism that allows each team to sign four underage players, as long as they follow a stringent set of guidelines. That is why, for example, every contract signed by an underage player runs through the season they turn 18 years old.

The mechanism’s introduction was the byproduct of a young Olivia Moultrie’s decision in 2021 to forge a legal battle with the NWSL for her right to play. While Moultrie turned professional at 13, inking a nine-year endorsement deal with Nike in 2019, she was only able to sign with an NWSL club when she was 15, two weeks after a judge prohibited the NWSL from enforcing its long-held age rule.

Gotham’s Yazmeen Ryan, who scored the game-winning penalty against the Spirit, was at the Portland Thorns when Moultrie signed that contract.

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

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

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

“(The) NWSL is evolving, in general, to be able to accommodate and help develop younger players,” Yael Averbuch West, the club’s general manager and head of soccer operations, told The Athletic on Thursday. “We are looking, as a league, and especially at our club at Gotham, how do we create a true professional player pathway.

“It’s a big area of focus,” she continued. “It’s not just (about) winning this year in NWSL, which is a focus of ours, but it’s also how do we prepare for the future, and how do we identify and develop players who will be ready to represent our club.”

(Photo courtesy of NJ/NY Gotham FC)