Elyse_Bennett
Elyse Bennett
American soccer player
Elyse Morgan Bennett (born December 27, 1999) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a forward and midfielder for the San Diego Wave FC in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL).
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Elyse Morgan Bennett[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1999-12-27) December 27, 1999 (age 24) | ||
| Place of birth | Lake Forest, Illinois, United States[1] | ||
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)[1] | ||
| Position(s) | Forward/Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | San Diego Wave FC | ||
| Number | 23 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2015–2017 | FC Wisconsin Eclipse[1] | ||
| College career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2017–2021 | Washington State Cougars | 93 | (26) |
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2022 | Kansas City Current | 21 | (3) |
| 2023 | OL Reign | 21 | (2) |
| 2024– | San Diego Wave FC | 0 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of March 15, 2024 | |||
Born in Lake Forest, Illinois, Bennett was raised in the Green Bay, Wisconsin area and played several youth sports through middle school before taking up soccer in high school.[1][2][3]
She played one season for De Pere High School in De Pere, Wisconsin before joining the FC Wisconsin Eclipse youth program, where she became a top scorer in the Elite Clubs National League for the 2015–16 season.[1][2]
Bennett suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury during her senior year of high school.[2][3]
Bennett graduated from high school early and enrolled in Washington State University as an early recruit to its women's soccer team.[4]
After playing as a substitute and starter in her freshman season, Bennett became a regular starter at forward in her sophomore season before suffering a second ACL injury. She returned to start 23 of 24 matches in her junior year, 12 matches in the COVID-19-shortened 2020–21 spring season, and 21 matches in her fifth year in 2021.[1]
Her fifth season featured career highs in goals (10), points (24), shots (93), shots on goal (37), and minutes played (1,557), and she was named to the All-Pac-12 first team and United Soccer Coaches All-American second team. Bennett was also the second Washington State player to play in more than 90 career matches, finishing with a second-most tally of 93 appearances.[1][3]
The Kansas City Current selected Bennett with the club's first pick, the seventh overall pick of the 2022 NWSL Draft.[5]
During the 2022 NWSL Challenge Cup, Bennett recorded four assists in her first six professional matches,[2] including a two-assist match against the Chicago Red Stars that earned her an NWSL Player of the Week award.[6]
On January 11, 2023, OL Reign traded $150,000 in allocation money to the Kansas City Current for Bennett.[7] OL Reign subsequently extended Bennett's contract on June 2, 2023 through the 2024 season, with an additional year option for the 2025 season.[8]
On December 15, 2023, the Utah Royals selected Bennett with their first pick (second overall) in the 2024 NWSL Expansion Draft.[9] Two days later, Utah traded Bennett to the San Diego Wave FC for $40,000 in allocation money.[10]
Bennett is the daughter of National Football League coach and former player Edgar Bennett. She has one older brother, Edgar IV.[1][2] Bennett credited advice from her father, who recovered from ACL injuries during his professional football career, with aiding her recovery from her own.[3]
San Diego Wave
- "Elyse Bennett – Bio". wsucougars.com. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
- Daniel Sperry (May 3, 2022). "Daughter of Super Bowl champ (and late-comer to soccer) makes own name with KC Current". kansascity.com. Kansas City Star. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
- Morris, Matthew (January 11, 2022). "Washington State's Elyse Bennett made it to Kansas City Current her own way". BVM Sports. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
- "Soccer Signs 14 From Across The Country". Washington State Cougars athletic communications. February 1, 2017. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
- Shaun Goodwin (December 18, 2021). "KC Current select Washington State forward with first-round pick in 2021 NWSL Draft". kansascity.com. Kansas City Star. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
- Juan Cisneros (April 29, 2022). "KC Current midfielder Elyse Bennett named Player of the Week". fox4kc.com. FOX 4 Kansas City. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
- "OL Reign Acquires Forward Elyse Bennett and Draft Pick in Trade with KC Current". olreign.com. January 11, 2023. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
- "OL Reign Extends Contract of Forward Elyse Bennett". olreign.com. June 2, 2023. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
- "2024 NWSL EXPANSION DRAFT". nwslsoccer.com. December 15, 2023. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
- "San Diego Wave FC Acquire Elyse Bennett from Utah Royals". sandiegowavefc.com. December 17, 2023. Retrieved December 18, 2023.