Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Ellis Nicole Wheeler [1] | ||
Date of birth | December 14, 2001 | ||
Height | 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m) | ||
Position(s) | Outside back | ||
Team information | |||
Current team | Kansas City Current | ||
Number | 5 | ||
College career | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2020–2023 | Penn State Nittany Lions | 77 | (3) |
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2024– | Kansas City Current | 23 | (1) |
International career | |||
2020 | United States U-19 | 1 | (0) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of November 3, 2024 |
Ellis Nicole Wheeler (born December 14, 2001) is an American professional soccer player who plays as an outside back for the Kansas City Current of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). She played college soccer for the Penn State Nittany Lions and was selected by the Current in the second round of the 2024 NWSL Draft.
Wheeler grew up in Fairfax Station, Virginia, the daughter of Scott and Nicole Wheeler, and has two brothers. [2] [3] She played club soccer as a forward for FC Virginia of the Elite Clubs National League (ECNL), leading her division in goals in 2015–16. [4] She committed to the Pennsylvania State University in March 2017. [4]
Wheeler was a four-year starter for the Penn State Nittany Lions from 2020 to 2023. [2] She was converted to a defender at the college level, moving to wing back for her first season and then center back as a sophomore. [5] As a junior, she helped the team win the 2022 Big Ten tournament. [3] She recorded three goals and six assists over 77 appearances. [2]
The Kansas City Current selected Wheeler 18th overall in the second round of the 2024 NWSL Draft, the team's highest pick of the night. [6] She was signed to a one-year contract with a one-year option. [7] She made her professional debut in the starting lineup of the season opener on May 16, 2024, and scored the second goal of a 5–4 home win over Portland Thorns FC. [8] On August 27, her contract was extended for four years to keep her with the Current to the end of 2028. [9]
Wheeler participated in Virginia's Olympic Development Program in 2013 and 2014. [4] She was called into a training camp with the United States national under-17 team in July 2018. [10] She was rostered with the under-19 team for a friendly tournament in Spain in February–March 2020. [11] While in college, she played friendlies with the under-23 team against NWSL clubs in the 2023 preseason. [12]
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