Jessica McDonald facts for kids
McDonald before USWNT friendly against New Zealand in May 2019
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| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Jessica Marie McDonald | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | February 28, 1988 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Phoenix, Arizona, United States | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Playing position | Forward | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2010 | Chicago Red Stars | 5 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2012–2013 | Melbourne Victory | 13 | (7) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2013 | Chicago Red Stars | 9 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2013 | Seattle Reign FC | 7 | (3) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2014 | Portland Thorns FC | 24 | (11) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2015 | Houston Dash | 20 | (7) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2016 | Western New York Flash | 20 | (10) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2017–2021 | North Carolina Courage | 84 | (24) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2022–2023 | Racing Louisville | 26 | (3) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2022–2023 | → Western United (loan) | 9 | (2) | |||||||||||||||||||
| National team‡ | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| United States U17 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2007–2008 | United States U20 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 2009 | United States U23 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 2016–2020 | United States | 19 | (4) | |||||||||||||||||||
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Honours
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† Appearances (Goals). |
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Jessica Marie McDonald (born February 28, 1988) is an American soccer commentator and former professional player. She played as a forward for many teams in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). These teams included the Chicago Red Stars, Seattle Reign, Portland Thorns, Houston Dash, Western New York Flash, North Carolina Courage, and Racing Louisville.
During her time with the Western New York Flash and North Carolina Courage, she won three NWSL Shields. The NWSL Shield is given to the team with the best record in the regular season. She also won three NWSL Championships, which means her team won the league's playoff tournament. Jessica played 19 games for the United States national team. She was a key part of the team that won the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup.
Contents
Early Life and School Sports
Jessica McDonald was born in Phoenix, Arizona. Her brother, Brandon McDonald, also became a professional soccer player. Jessica went to Cactus High School in Glendale, Arizona. She was a talented athlete in many sports.
She played basketball for all four years of high school. Her basketball teams won state championships in 2004 and 2006. She was also a top track and field athlete. She set school records in the 100 meters, 200 meters, 400 meters, and the 4x400 meter relay.
Club Soccer Success
From 2000 to 2007, Jessica played for the Sereno Soccer club. Her team won state championships every year she played. They also won regional championships in 2003 and 2007. In 2005 and 2006, her team won the Surf Cup, a big youth soccer tournament. Jessica was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the tournament in 2006.
College Years
Jessica started college at Phoenix College. She played soccer, basketball, and ran track there. She was named a first-team junior college All-America in soccer. She was also chosen as the National Junior College Player of the Year. Jessica set new records at Phoenix College for goals and assists in a single season. In basketball, she was the top rebounder in junior college across the country.
After two years, Jessica moved to the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. She joined the North Carolina Tar Heels soccer team in 2008. She helped her team win the national championship as a starting forward. She scored 5 goals and had 10 assists that season.
Professional Club Career
Early NWSL Teams
In 2010, Jessica was drafted by the Chicago Red Stars. She played five games before getting a knee injury. This injury kept her from playing for 18 months.
After recovering, she played for Melbourne Victory FC in Australia for the 2012–13 season. She scored seven goals in 13 games. She helped her team reach the Grand Final.
In 2013, Jessica returned to the NWSL with the Chicago Red Stars. She played nine games before being released from her contract. Soon after, she signed with Seattle Reign FC. She scored her first goal for Seattle in her very first game. In another game, she scored two goals, which is called a "brace," helping her team win 2–1.
Portland Thorns and Houston Dash
In late 2013, Jessica was traded to the Portland Thorns. She became the team's top scorer in 2014 with eleven goals. She scored a goal just 33 seconds into a game against Chicago. This was the fastest goal ever scored in NWSL history at the time.
In 2015, Jessica was traded to the Houston Dash. She led the Dash in goals with seven during the 2016 season. She scored the winning goal in a game against her old team, the Portland Thorns.
Western New York Flash and North Carolina Courage
In 2016, Jessica joined the Western New York Flash. She had a great season, scoring 10 goals and making 7 assists. She was one of the top players in the NWSL that year. Her strong performance led to her first call-up to the United States national team.
In 2017, the Western New York Flash team moved and became the North Carolina Courage. In May 2017, Jessica became the first NWSL player to score 33 regular-season goals in her career. She helped the Courage win the NWSL Shield in 2017, 2018, and 2019.
In 2018, Jessica scored 7 goals in 23 games. In the NWSL playoffs, she scored a goal in the 5th minute of the semi-final game. This was the fastest goal in playoff history. The Courage won the NWSL Championship that year, with Jessica scoring two goals in the final game. She was named the Most Valuable Player of the championship match. This was her second NWSL Championship title. She won her third NWSL Championship with the Courage in 2019.
Racing Louisville and Retirement
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In 2021, Jessica's playing rights were traded to Racing Louisville. She signed a two-year contract with them in 2022. She scored her first goal for Racing in a game against the Houston Dash.
In October 2022, Jessica was loaned to an Australian team called Western United. A loan means she played for them for a short time. She scored their first-ever goal in their first game, helping them win 1–0.
Jessica's contract with Racing Louisville ended in November 2023. After that season, she decided to retire from playing professional soccer. She then became an ambassador for the North Carolina Courage, helping to represent the club.
International Career
Jessica McDonald played for several United States youth national teams. These included the under-16, under-17, under-20, and under-23 teams. In 2007, she was part of the U-20 team that won a silver medal at the 2007 Pan American Games in Brazil.
Senior National Team Debut
Jessica was first called up to the senior national team in November 2016. She made her first international appearance on November 10 against Romania.
In November 2018, she was called up again. She started a game against Portugal and scored her first international goal. This goal was the game-winner, and it marked the senior national team's 500th recorded victory.
2019 FIFA Women's World Cup
In May 2019, Jessica was chosen for the United States 23-player squad for the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup. She played in one game during the tournament, coming on as a substitute in a 3–0 win against Chile. On July 7, 2019, she became a World Cup champion when her team defeated the Netherlands 2–0 in the final.
Personal Life
Jessica McDonald has two sons. Her first son was born in 2012, and her second son was born in 2023.
Honors and Awards
Jessica McDonald has won many awards and championships throughout her career:
Team Championships
- Western New York Flash
- NWSL Champions: 2016
- North Carolina Courage
- NWSL Champions: 2018, 2019
- NWSL Shield: 2017, 2018, 2019
- United States National Team
- FIFA Women's World Cup: 2019
- CONCACAF Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament: 2020
- SheBelieves Cup: 2020
Individual Awards
- NWSL Best XI: 2016 (This means she was chosen as one of the best 11 players in the league)
- NWSL Second XI: 2014 (She was chosen as one of the next best 11 players)
- NWSL Championship Most Valuable Player: 2018 (She was the best player in the NWSL Championship game)
Images for kids
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Jessica McDonald playing for Melbourne Victory in 2012
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Jessica McDonald during a Seattle Reign FC match on July 25, 2013
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Jessica McDonald playing for Houston Dash in 2015
See also
In Spanish: Jessica McDonald para niños
