Mak Whitham

Forward • Age 16 • #17

Mckenna Whitham is an American professional football player who plays as a forward for NJ/NY Gotham FC of the National Women's Soccer League.

21 Appearances

16 Goals

4 Trophies

Fun Facts about Mak

Quirky facts. Inspired by her game.

She made history in 2024 when she signed with NJ/NY Gotham FC at just 13 years old, becoming the youngest player ever to sign with a team in the National Women's Soccer League.

On March 15, 2025, she became the youngest player to appear in an NWSL regular-season match, making her debut at 14 years and 8 months old and breaking the previous record held by Melanie Barcenas.

During the 2024 Women’s Cup in Colombia, Whitham scored a last-minute game-winner for Gotham FC in an exhibition match against Deportivo Cali, becoming the youngest player ever to appear and score for an NWSL club in any competition.

At just 13 years old, she signed a name, image, and likeness (NIL) deal with Nike, making her the youngest athlete to do so in the company’s history.

She trained with multiple NWSL teams during the 2024 preseason, including Kansas City Current, Washington Spirit, and Gotham FC, and also trained with the boys’ Los Angeles FC Academy of MLS Next.

She was born and raised in Granite Bay, California, and was homeschooled by her mother, Joni.

Her father, Josh Whitham, was an alternate for the United States Ski Team during the 1998 Winter Olympics when he was in high school, adding a legacy of elite athletics to her background.

As a minor in a professional environment, Whitham is required to live with a parent or guardian in the team’s market, ensuring she has family support during her career at such a young age.

She has a separate locker room from her adult teammates to protect her privacy and comfort, though it is located adjacent to the main locker room so she can remain close to the team and maintain camaraderie.

Her historic rise raises important questions for the NWSL, such as what age should be the minimum for professional participation and what further policies are needed to support the new wave of young prodigies entering the league.