Erin McKinney

Erin McKinney
McKinney with NJ/NY Gotham FC in 2024
Personal information
Date of birth (2000-05-29) May 29, 2000 (age 24)
Height 5 ft 5 in (1.65 m)
Position(s) Goalkeeper
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2018 Akron Zips 18 (0)
2019–2023 Wisconsin Badgers 41 (0)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2024 NJ/NY Gotham FC 0 (0)
2024 Houston Dash 0 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Erin McKinney (born May 29, 2000) is an American professional soccer player who most recently played as a goalkeeper for the Houston Dash of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). She played college soccer for the Akron Zips and the Wisconsin Badgers.

Early life and college career

McKinney was raised in Belvidere, Illinois, one of two children born to Marc and Lara McKinney. She started playing club soccer with Raptors, later playing for Campton United. She lettered in three years of prep soccer at Belvidere North High School, being named the Rock River Valley Player of the Year after her junior season. She committed to play college soccer at the University of Akron.

McKinney started all but two games for the Akron Zips in her freshman season in 2018, making 101 saves but keeping only 3 clean sheets in 18 games. She transferred to the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 2019, redshirting her first season with the Wisconsin Badgers. She went without playing for two further seasons, as a backup to two-time Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Year Jordyn Bloomer, and underwent surgery for a knee issue. She took over the starting position for the Badgers in the 2022 season, starting all 19 games and keeping 7 clean sheets, as Wisconsin finished third in the Big Ten. In her graduate season in 2023, she again started all 22 games and kept 10 clean sheets (third most in the conference), helping Wisconsin reach the Big Ten title game and return to the NCAA tournament, where they made the second round.

Club career

McKinney was not selected in the 2024 NWSL Draft but was invited to train as a non-roster player with the Chicago Red Stars in the 2024 preseason. In March, NJ/NY Gotham FC announced McKinney's signing as an injury replacement player, releasing her the following month when they acquired Ann-Katrin Berger from Chelsea. In June, the Houston Dash signed McKinney for the rest of the season, making her one of Jane Campbell's backups. She made her professional debut and only appearance for the Dash on July 20, 2024, starting and making five saves in a 3–1 loss to the Kansas City Current in the NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup group stage.

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Erin McKinney". Wisconsin Badgers. Retrieved January 24, 2025.
  2. ^ Bayne, Derek (September 24, 2018). "Erin McKinney Making Instant Impact for Akron Women's Soccer". WREX. Retrieved January 24, 2025.
  3. ^ a b Clark, Travis (November 28, 2016). "Recruiting Roundup: Nov. 28-Dec. 4". TopDrawerSoccer. Retrieved January 24, 2025.
  4. ^ "2018 Women's Soccer Cumulative Statistics". Akron Zips. Retrieved January 24, 2025.
  5. ^ "Jordyn Bloomer". Wisconsin Badgers. Retrieved January 24, 2025.
  6. ^ Olmo, Joe (March 5, 2021). "Belvidere North grad Erin McKinney stays ready at Wisconsin". WIFR-LD. Retrieved January 24, 2025.
  7. ^ "Big Ten announces 2022 Women's Soccer All-Conference Teams and awards". SoccerWire. October 27, 2022. Retrieved January 24, 2025.
  8. ^ Doyle, Chris (November 17, 2023). "Wisconsin women's soccer earns trip to NCAA Tournament". BadgerExtra. Retrieved January 24, 2025.
  9. ^ "Red Stars Set 2024 Preseason Roster". Chicago Red Stars. January 23, 2024. Retrieved January 24, 2025.
  10. ^ "Gotham FC Announces Additional Updates to Roster". NJ/NY Gotham FC. March 15, 2024. Retrieved January 24, 2025.
  11. ^ "Gotham FC Signs German International Goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger". NJ/NY Gotham FC. January 24, 2024. Retrieved January 24, 2025.
  12. ^ "Houston Dash sign goalkeeper Erin McKinney". Houston Dash. June 6, 2025. Retrieved January 24, 2025.
  13. ^ a b Taft, Jay (July 31, 2024). "Star goalie Erin McKinney becomes first from Rockford area to make pro debut in NWSL". Rockford Register Star. Retrieved January 24, 2025.