NJ/NY Gotham’s 14-year-old McKenna Whitham broke one more file on Saturday when she turned the .
The to switch Spanish veteran Esther González within the 93rd minute of Gotham’s 1-1 draw with Seattle Reign within the opening matchday of the 2025 season. Her historic debut occurred with the Bats right down to 10 gamers after teammate Mandy Freeman’s straight purple card minutes earlier.
Head coach Juan Carlos Amorós appeared to provide {the teenager} some last-minute ways earlier than telling her to benefit from the once-in-a-lifetime expertise.
“Have enjoyable and win the sport,” earlier than she went onto the pitch.
“That’s what she loves doing. She’s a really particular younger participant,” the top coach stated post-match. “She, once more, is a participant that got here on not as a result of you already know I get about her beating the file however as a result of she deserves to be taking part in. She deserves to be in competition to be on this league. Even when at that age.
“I assumed she may assist the crew and he or she helped us to maintain the strain up … It’s the primary of many I’m certain.”
The Granite Bay, California, native already has a number of data beneath her belt. She beforehand turned the on the age of 13; the youngest athlete to signal a reputation, picture and likeness ; and when she got here on throughout a preseason match in July 2024.
Gotham FC signed the US Youth participant to a via the . The earlier file was held by whose towards the NWSL resulted within the decreasing of the league’s minimal age requirement and paved the way in which for U-18 gamers like Whitham.
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