Makenna Morris

Last updated

Makenna Morris
NC Courage vs Washington Spirit (Nov 2024) 037.jpg
Morris with the Washington Spirit in 2024
Personal information
Full name Makenna Taylor Morris [1]
Date of birth (2002-04-26) April 26, 2002 (age 22)
Height 5 ft 5 in (1.65 m)
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
 Washington Spirit
Number 8
College career
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2020–2023 Clemson Tigers 80 (19)
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2024– Washington Spirit 10 (4)
International career‡
2017–2018 United States U-17 19 (3)
2019–2022 United States U-20 7 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of October 13, 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of June 28, 2022

Makenna Taylor Morris (born April 26, 2002) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a forward for the Washington Spirit of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). She played college soccer for the Clemson Tigers before being selected by the Spirit in the first round of the 2024 NWSL Draft.

Contents

Early life and college career

Morris was raised in Germantown, Maryland. [2] She has a sister, Maliah, who played with her at Clemson. [3] The sisters grew up as fans of local NWSL club Washington Spirit, which then played at Maryland SoccerPlex. [4] She played youth soccer for ECNL club McLean and played in high school for St. John's College High School. [5]

Clemson Tigers

Morris was a four-year starter for the Clemson Tigers, making 80 appearances from 2020 to 2023 and receiving All-ACC honors three times. She converted penalty kicks in two NCAA tournament shootout wins in her freshman 2020 season, helping Clemson to the quarterfinals. She recorded six goals and a career-high nine assists as a sophomore in 2021. [5] Though listed on the roster as a defender, she operated in her roles of outside back or box-to-box midfielder as one of the team's top contributors to the attack, especially in her senior year when she paced the team with ten goals and six assists in 2023. She scored two of her goals in the NCAA tournament, helping lead the team to the national semifinals. [5] [6]

Club career

Washington Spirit

Morris was drafted by the Washington Spirit 13th overall in the first round of the 2024 NWSL Draft. [7] She was signed to a one-year contract. [8] She made her first start and scored her first professional goal in a 3–0 win over Bay FC on July 6, in which she became the first Spirit player to score, assist, and draw a penalty in one game. [9] On October 13, she scored her first career brace in a 4–1 win over Racing Louisville. [10] She was named the NWSL Rookie of the Month for October/November with three goals and an assist in four games. [11] On November 16, she assisted on the tying goal against NJ/NY Gotham FC in the NWSL semifinals, delivering a free kick that connected to Hal Hershfelt's header in the 90+3rd minute; the game ended 1–1 before the Spirit advanced to the final on penalties. [12]

International career

Morris played with the United States youth national team at the under-15, under-17, and under-20 levels. [5] [13] She was called up by Emma Hayes into Futures Camp, practicing alongside the senior national team, in January 2025. [14]

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References

  1. ↑ "Clemson Commencement Program, December 2023". December 21, 2023. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
  2. ↑ "Makenna Morris". Washington Spirit . Retrieved July 7, 2024.
  3. ↑ "Maliah Morris". Clemson Tigers . Retrieved July 7, 2024.
  4. ↑ Brooks Jr., Damon (April 25, 2024). "Former Clemson duo thrive in Spirit's 4–1 start". Monumental Sports Network . Retrieved July 7, 2024.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Makenna Morris". Clemson Tigers . Retrieved July 7, 2024.
  6. ↑ Driscoll, Patrick (November 9, 2023). "Behind the ball: Makenna Morris". The Tiger . Retrieved July 7, 2024.
  7. ↑ "Getting to Know Forward Makenna Morris". Washington Spirit. June 19, 2024. Retrieved July 7, 2024.
  8. ↑ "Washington Spirit Officially Signs 2024 Rookie Class to Professional Contracts". Washington Spirit. March 11, 2024. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
  9. ↑ "Recap: Spirit Extends its Club Road Win-Streak Record with a 3–0 Thumping at Bay FC". Washington Spirit. July 7, 2024. Retrieved July 7, 2024.
  10. ↑ Wolcott, Nicky (October 13, 2024). "Spirit romps past Racing Louisville by showcasing its depth". The Washington Post . Retrieved October 16, 2024.
  11. ↑ "Washington Spirit Forward Makenna Morris Named October and November Rookie of the Month, presented by Ally". National Women's Soccer League. November 7, 2024. Retrieved November 7, 2024.
  12. ↑ "Washington Spirit 1–1 NJ/NY Gotham FC". ESPN. November 16, 2024. Retrieved November 16, 2024.
  13. ↑ O'Neill, Mia (October 24, 2017). "Morris sisters — in between U.S. national team stints — pursue WCAC title with St. John's". The Washington Post . Retrieved July 7, 2024.
  14. ↑ "Emma Hayes Names 24 Players to the 2025 Futures Camp Which Will Run Concurrently With USWNT Training Camp in Los Angeles". United States Soccer Federation. January 8, 2025. Retrieved January 8, 2025.
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