Jessica McDonald

Jessica McDonald

McDonald playing for Melbourne Victory, 2012
Personal information
Full name	Jessica Marie McDonald
Date of birth	(1988-02-28) February 28, 1988
Place of birth	Phoenix, Arizona, United States
Height	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Playing position	Forward
Club information
Current team	FC Kansas City
Youth career
2008–2009	North Carolina Tar Heels
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2010	Chicago Red Stars	5	(0)
2012	Melbourne Victory FC	13	(7)
2013	Chicago Red Stars	9	(0)
2013	Seattle Reign FC	7	(3)
2014	Portland Thorns FC	24	(11)
2015	Houston Dash	9	(5)
2016-	FC Kansas City
Honours Women's soccer Competitor for the  United States Pan American Games 2007 Rio de Janeiro Team
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of June 20, 2015. † Appearances (goals)

Jessica McDonald (born February 28, 1988) is an American professional soccer forward who currently plays for the Western New York Flash of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). She previously played for the Australian W-League team Melbourne Victory as well as the Chicago Red Stars and Seattle Reign FC and Portland Thorns FC and Houston Dash.^[1]

Early life

Born in Phoenix, Arizona, McDonald is the daughter of Traci McDonald and Vince Myers. Her brother, Brandon McDonald, is also a professional soccer player who plays in the MLS.^[2] She attended Cactus High School in Glendale, Arizona where she played basketball all four years and ran track during her junior and senior years. In 2004 and 2006, she was a member of state championship basketball teams and was a first-team all-state and all-region selection. She was also a state champion and record holder in the 400 meters during her track and field career. She graduated Cactus High School as the school's record holder for the 100 meters, 200 meters, 400 meters, and 4 × 400 meter relay team.^[3]

McDonald was a member of the Sereno Soccer club from 2000–2007 and helped the team win state championships each year she played for it. She helped lead Sereno to regional championships in 2003 and 2007 and played on the Surf Cup title-winning teams in 2005 and 2006. She was the MVP of the tournament in 2006.^[3]

North Carolina Tar Heels

McDonald attended Phoenix College during her freshman and sophomore year of college where she played soccer, basketball and track and was a member of the honors program. She was named a first-team junior college All-America in soccer and National Junior College Player of the Year. McDonald earned first-team all-conference and all-region honors and was the single-season record holder at Phoenix College for goals and assists. Also continuing to excel at basketball, McDonald earned first-team all-region and all-conference honors and was the country's number one rebounder in junior college and among the Top 30 in scoring. After transferring to the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill during her sophomore year, McDonald joined the North Carolina Tar Heels soccer team during the first half of the 2008 season and helped the squad ultimately win the national championship as a starting striker. McDonald scored five goals and had 10 assists for 20 points during the season. Despite playing in only 75 percent of the team's games her first year with the squad, she led the squad in assists.^[3]

Playing career

Club

Chicago Red Stars, 2010

McDonald during a Seattle Reign FC match on July 25, 2013

In 2010, McDonald was the second pick (fifteenth overall) by the Chicago Red Stars in the 2010 WPS Draft.^[4][5] She made five appearances for the squad before suffering an injury. The team suspended operations in the WPS in December 2010.^[6][7]

Melbourne Victory FC, 2012–13

McDonald signed with the Melbourne Victory FC in Australia's W-League for the 2012–2013 season.^[8] She started all 13 of her appearances for the squad, scoring seven goals, and helped the squad to the Grand Final match against Sydney FC.^[9]

Chicago Red Stars and Seattle Reign FC, 2013

In 2013, McDonald signed with the Chicago Red Stars as a free agent for the inaugural season of the NWSL.^[10][11][12] During the pre-season, she scored four goals in the second half of a match against St. Edwards University.^[13] She made nine appearances for the Red Stars during the regular season, serving one assist, before being waived by the team in June 2013.^[14]

On June 28, 2013, it was announced that McDonald had signed with the Seattle Reign FC after being waived by the Red Stars.^[14][15] She scored her first goal during her debut appearance for the club in a match against the Boston Breakers on July 3, 2013.^[16][17] Two games later, during the team's first televised match on Fox Soccer, she scored a brace against the Washington Spirit leading the Reign to a 2–1 win.^[18][19] McDonald finished the 2013 season with six starts in seven matches played, tallying a total of 439 minutes played. Her three goals ranked third on the squad for most goals scored – tied with teammates, Christine Nairn and Kaylyn Kyle.^[20]

Houston Dash

On January 16, 2015 McDonald was traded by the Thorns to the Houston Dash for the second round selection in the 2015 (No. 13 overall)NWSL Draft and 2016 drafts.^[21]

International

McDonald has represented the United States on several youth national teams and was a member of U-23 National Team in 2009.^[3]

References

External links

• Portland Thorns player profile
• Chicago Red Stars player profile
• North Carolina Tar Heels player profile

United States women's soccer squad – 2007 Pan American Games – Silver Medalists 1 Naeher 2 Taylor 3 Washington 4 Fountain 5 Noyola 6 Marshall 7 Nogueira 8 Cheney (c) 9 McDonald 10 Enyeart 11 Heath 12 Wright 13 Barnes 14 DiMartino 15 Edwards 16 Wilmoth 17 O'Hara 18 Jones Coach: Ellis