Elyse Morgan Bennett (born August 10, 1999) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a forward and midfielder for Kansas City Current in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL).
Personal information | |||
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Full name | Elyse Morgan Bennett[1] | ||
Date of birth | (1999-08-10) August 10, 1999 (age 23)[2] | ||
Place of birth | Lake Forest, Illinois, United States[1] | ||
Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)[1] | ||
Position(s) | Forward/Midfielder | ||
Club information | |||
Current team | Kansas City Current | ||
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 | 1 | (0) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of May 3, 2022 |
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][3][4]
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][3]
Bennett suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury during her senior year of high school.[3][4]
Bennett graduated from high school early and enrolled in Washington State University as an early recruit to its women's soccer team.[5]
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][4]
The Kansas City Current selected Bennett with the club's first pick, the seventh overall pick of the 2022 NWSL Draft.[6]
During the 2022 NWSL Challenge Cup, Bennett recorded four assists in her first six professional matches,[3] including a two-assist match against the Chicago Red Stars that earned her an NWSL Player of the Week award.[7]
Bennett is the daughter of National Football League coach and former player Edgar Bennett. She has one older brother, Edgar IV.[1][3] Bennett credited advice from her father, who recovered from ACL injuries during his professional football career, with aiding her recovery from her own.[4]
Kansas City Current – current squad | |
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