Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Madison Mercado [1] | ||
Date of birth | [2] | April 1, 2001||
Height | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) | ||
Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
Team information | |||
Current team | Seattle Reign | ||
Number | 27 | ||
Youth career | |||
San Diego Surf | |||
College career | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2019–2023 | Notre Dame Fighting Irish | 94 | (26) |
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2024– | Seattle Reign | 5 | (1) |
International career‡ | |||
United States U-14 | |||
2016 | United States U-15 | ||
United States U-16 | |||
2017 | United States U-17 | ||
United States U-18 | |||
2020 | United States U-19 | ||
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of November 4, 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of November 4, 2024 |
Madison Mercado (born April 1, 2001) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Seattle Reign FC of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). She played college soccer for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish before being selected by the Reign in the second round of the 2024 NWSL Draft.
Mercado was raised in San Diego, California. Her parents both played tennis collegiately, with her mother progressing to a professional career. [3] Mercado attended Cathedral Catholic High School, where she played soccer [4] and helped the team become 2016 CIF Southern California High School Champions. She also played youth soccer for San Diego Surf SC in the ECNL. In 2017, Mercado was named the 2017 Western Conference Player of the Year. [3] [5]
Mercado played collegiately for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Her first goal with Notre Dame occurred in her Sophomore year, on March 20, 2020. In 2020, 2021, and 2022, Mercado was named to the ACC All-Academic Team. [3]
In 2022, Mercado scored a career-high 10 goals and tallied a career-high 4 assists. [6] [3] She played in all 23 of the Fighting Irish's matches as the team advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2022 NCAA Division I women's soccer tournament for the first time in a decade. [7] On the way to the quarterfinals, Mercado scored in the team's opening round victory over Omaha and in their round-of-16 match versus TCU. [8] [9]
Mercado finished her final collegiate season leading the team in goals and points. She also was named to the All-ACC second team. [10] Mercado finished her 5-season collegiate career with 94 appearances and 26 goals scored. [3]
On January 12, 2024, Mercado was selected by Seattle Reign FC as the 27th overall pick of the 2024 NWSL Draft. [11] [12] She signed a one-year contract with the Reign on March 13, 2024. [13] On May 8, Mercado made her professional debut as a second-half substitute in a 0–0 draw with the Kansas City Current. [14] Mercado's next minutes with the Reign occurred during the 2024 NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup, where she started the club's first two games. [15] [16] In the second match, an eventual loss to Club Tijuana, Mercado netted her first professional goal. [16] She scored her first NWSL regular season goal in the Reign's final match of 2024, providing the team's second goal in a 3–2 defeat at the hands of the Orlando Pride. [17] [18]
Mercado has represented the United States at youth level from U-14 to U-19 age groups. [3] [5] In 2016, Mercado helped the United States girls' national under-15 soccer team win the 2016 CONCACAF Girls' U-15 Championship, [19] [20] scoring two goals in the team's quarterfinal match. [21] [22] As part of the United States women's national under-19 soccer team, Mercado was named to the squad for the 2020 La Manga Tournament. [23] She was an unused substitute for the first match [24] but started in both of the United States' remaining fixtures against the Netherlands and England. [25] [26]
Mercado's older brother, Michael Mercado, is a professional baseball pitcher. [27] He was selected by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 2017 MLB Draft [5] [28] and plays for the Philadelphia Phillies. [27]
Cari Elizabeth Onwualu is an American professional soccer midfielder for the Chicago Red Stars of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). She previously played for the Houston Dash, North Carolina Courage, and Angel City FC in the NWSL.
Lindsey Michelle Horan is an American professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Première Ligue club Lyon and captains the United States national team.
Adriana Kristina Leon is a Canadian professional women's soccer player who plays as a winger for English Women's Super League club Aston Villa and the Canadian national team.
Crystal Alyssia Soubrier is an American professional soccer player for National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) club Gotham FC and the United States national team. A versatile player, she primarily plays as an attacking midfielder or forward at club level and as a left back for country.
Merritt Elizabeth Mathias is an American former professional soccer player who most recently played as a right back for Angel City FC of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). She has won three NWSL Shields and three NWSL Championships during her twelve seasons in the NWSL: one Championship with FC Kansas City, one Shield with Seattle Reign FC, and two doubles with the North Carolina Courage. She played extensively with the youth national team and earned one cap with the United States senior team in 2018.
Amanda Christine Laddish is an American retired soccer player.
Lynn Williams Biyendolo is an American professional soccer player who plays as a forward for Seattle Reign FC of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) and the United States national team. The NWSL's all-time leading scorer, she was drafted out of Pepperdine University by the Western New York Flash in 2015.
Emily Ann Sonnett is an American professional soccer player who plays for National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) club NJ/NY Gotham FC and the United States national team. She can play the positions of center back, full back, or defensive midfielder.
Rosemary Kathleen Lavelle is an American professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for NJ/NY Gotham FC of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) and the United States national team.
Morgan Elizabeth Andrews is an American soccer player who last played as a midfielder for OL Reign in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). She previously played for Perth Glory and Boston Breakers.
Mallory Pugh Swanson is an American professional soccer player who plays as a forward for the Chicago Stars FC of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), the highest division of women's professional soccer in the United States, and the United States women's national soccer team (USWNT).
Carson Leighann Pickett is an American professional soccer player who plays as a left back for the Orlando Pride of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). She is an advocate for limb difference awareness and was born without a left forearm and hand.
Jaelin Marie Howell is an American professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for NJ/NY Gotham FC of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). She played college soccer for the Florida State Seminoles and was awarded the Hermann Trophy two years in a row. She was drafted by Racing Louisville FC with the second overall pick of the 2022 NWSL Draft.
Tierna Lillis Davidson is an American professional soccer player who plays as a center back for NJ/NY Gotham FC of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) and the United States national team. She was drafted first overall by the Chicago Red Stars in the 2019 NWSL College Draft after playing three years at Stanford.
Emily Ann Fox is an American professional soccer player who plays as a right back for Women's Super League club Arsenal and the United States national team.
Alana Simone Cook is an American professional soccer player who plays as a center back for the Kansas City Current of the National Women's Soccer League and the United States national team.
Naomi Haile Girma is an American professional soccer player who plays as a center back for Women's Super League club Chelsea and the United States national team.
Korbin Rose Albert is an American professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Première Ligue club Paris Saint-Germain and the United States national team.
Reilyn Turner is an American professional soccer forward who plays for Portland Thorns FC of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). She played college soccer for UCLA Bruins before being picked sixth overall in the 2024 NWSL Draft by Racing Louisville FC.
Brianna "Bri" Cathleen Martinez is an American professional soccer player who plays as a right back for the Orlando Pride of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). She played college soccer for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and represented the United States at the youth international level.