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 23)
Height 5 ft 5 in (1.65 m)
Position(s) Outside back, midfielder, forward
Team information
Current team
 Racing Louisville
Number 4
College career
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2020–2023 Clemson Tigers 80 (19)
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2024–2025 Washington Spirit 28 (6)
2025– Racing Louisville 0 (0)
International career‡
2017–2018 United States U-17 19 (3)
2019–2022 United States U-20 7 (1)
2025– United States U-23 1 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of August 27, 2025
‡ National team caps and goals as of June 28, 2022

Makenna Taylor Morris (born April 26, 2002) is an American professional soccer player who plays for Racing Louisville FC of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). A versatile player, she can play as an outside back, midfielder, or forward. Morris played college soccer for the Clemson Tigers before being selected by the Washington Spirit in the first round of the 2024 NWSL Draft.

Contents

Early life

Morris grew up 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 played at Maryland SoccerPlex at the time. [4] She played youth soccer for ECNL club Bethesda and played in high school for St. John's College High School. [5]

College career

Morris was a four-year starter for the Clemson Tigers, making 80 appearances and scoring 19 goals from 2020 to 2023. She converted penalty kicks in two NCAA tournament shootout wins in her freshman season, helping Clemson to the quarterfinals. She recorded six goals and a career-high nine assists as a sophomore. [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. 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 with the 13th overall pick in the first round of the 2024 NWSL Draft. [7] She was signed to a one-year contract. [8] She made her professional debut on the opening matchday on March 17, coming on for Brittany Ratcliffe and playing 26 minutes in the loss to the Seattle Reign. [9] She then missed several months due to injury. [10] On July 6, she made her first start and was involved in all three goals as Washington won 3–0 over Bay FC: scoring her first professional goal, drawing a penalty converted by Trinity Rodman, and assisting Ouleye Sarr. [11] She was the first Spirit player to score a goal, assist a goal, and draw a penalty in a single game. [11] On September 17, the Spirit extended her contract through the following season. [12]

On October 13, 2024, she scored her first NWSL brace in a 4–1 win over Racing Louisville. [13] She was named the NWSL Rookie of the Month for October/November with three goals and an assist in four games. [14] She finished her rookie regular season with 5 goals in just 12 appearances as the Spirit placed second in the standings. [9] In the playoffs, she assisted former college teammate Hal Hershfelt's late equalizing goal from a stoppage-time free kick, drawing 1–1 against NJ/NY Gotham FC; the Spirit advanced to the final on penalties. [15] Morris started in the 2024 NWSL Championship against the Orlando Pride, losing 1–0. [9]

Racing Louisville

On August 27, 2025, the Spirit traded Morris to Racing Louisville FC in exchange for $115,000 in allocation money. [16]

International career

Morris played with the United States youth national team at the under-15, under-17, and under-20 levels. [5] [17] She was called up by Emma Hayes into Futures Camp, practicing alongside the senior national team, in January 2025. [18]

Honors and awards

Washington Spirit

Individual

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. 1 2 3 "Makenna Morris 2024 Match Logs". FBref.com . Retrieved August 27, 2025.
  10. ↑ "In Her Own Words: Makenna Morris". Washington Spirit. October 14, 2024. Retrieved August 27, 2025.
  11. 1 2 "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.
  12. ↑ "Washington Spirit Signs Makenna Morris to New Contract". Washington Spirit. September 13, 2024. Retrieved August 27, 2025.
  13. ↑ Wolcott, Nicky (October 13, 2024). "Spirit romps past Racing Louisville by showcasing its depth". The Washington Post . Retrieved October 16, 2024.
  14. ↑ "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.
  15. ↑ "Washington Spirit 1–1 NJ/NY Gotham FC". ESPN. November 16, 2024. Retrieved November 16, 2024.
  16. ↑ "Racing acquires Makenna Morris in trade with Washington Spirit". Racing Louisville FC. August 27, 2025. Retrieved August 27, 2025.
  17. ↑ 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.
  18. ↑ "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.
  19. ↑ "Recap: Short-Handed Spirit Wins 2025 NWSL Challenge Cup". Washington Spirit. March 8, 2025. Retrieved March 8, 2025.
  20. ↑ "2023 NCAA Division I Women's All-Americans Announced". United Soccer Coaches. December 1, 2023. Retrieved March 8, 2025.
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