_037.jpg) Morris with theWashington 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 | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2020–2023 | Clemson Tigers | 80 | (19) |
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (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 professionalsoccer player who plays as aforward for theWashington Spirit of theNational Women's Soccer League (NWSL). She played college soccer for theClemson Tigers before being selected by the Spirit in the first round of the2024 NWSL Draft.
Morris was raised inGermantown, Maryland.[2] She has a sister,Maliah, who played with her at Clemson.[3] The sisters grew up as fans of local NWSL clubWashington Spirit, which then played atMaryland SoccerPlex.[4] She played youth soccer forECNL club Bethesda and played in high school forSt. John's College High School.[5]
Morris was a four-year starter for theClemson Tigers, making 80 appearances from 2020 to 2023 and receiving three-time All-ACC honors. She converted penalty kicks in twoNCAA 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 ofoutside back orbox-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 theNCAA tournament, helping lead the team to the national semifinals.[5][6]
Morris was drafted by theWashington Spirit 13th overall in the first round of the2024 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 overBay 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 overRacing Louisville.[10] She was named theNWSL 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 againstNJ/NY Gotham FC in the NWSL semifinals, delivering afree kick that connected toHal Hershfelt's header in the 90+3rd minute; the game ended 1–1 before the Spirit advanced to the final onpenalties.[12]
Morris played with the United States youth national team at theunder-15,under-17, andunder-20 levels.[5][13] She was called up byEmma Hayes into Futures Camp, practicing alongside thesenior national team, in January 2025.[14]
Washington Spirit
Individual