Erin McKinney

Erin McKinney
McKinney with NJ/NY Gotham FC in 2024
Personal information
Date of birth (2000-05-29) May 29, 2000
Place of birth Belvidere, Illinois
Height 5 ft 5 in (1.65 m)
Position Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team
 Portland Thorns
Number 32
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)
2025 Fort Lauderdale United 0 (0)
2026– Portland Thorns 0 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of July 25, 2025

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

Early life

McKinney was raised in Belvidere, Illinois, one of two children born to Marc and Lara McKinney.[1] She started playing club soccer with Raptors,[2] later playing for Campton United.[3] 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.[1] She committed to play college soccer at the University of Akron.[3]

College career

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.[4] She then 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,[5] and underwent surgery for a knee issue.[6] She took over the starting position for the Badgers in 2022, starting all 19 games and keeping 7 clean sheets,[1] as Wisconsin finished third in the Big Ten.[7] In her graduate season in 2023, she again started all 22 games and kept 10 clean sheets (third most in the conference),[1] helping Wisconsin reach the Big Ten tournament final and return to the NCAA tournament, where they made the second round.[8]

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.[9] In March 2024, NJ/NY Gotham FC announced that they had signed McKinney to her first professional contract on an injury replacement deal.[10] She was released the following month when Gotham FC acquired their new starter Ann-Katrin Berger from Chelsea.[11]

In June 2024, McKinney signed with the Houston Dash for the rest of the season.[12] Largely a backup to Jane Campbell,[13] she made her professional debut and only appearance on July 20, earning the start in a 3–1 loss to the Kansas City Current in the NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup.[13]

In February 2025, McKinney joined USL Super League club Fort Lauderdale United during the league's inaugural season.[14] She was unused as the backup to Cosette Morché while the club reached the inaugural league final, losing to the Tampa Bay Sun.[15]

McKinney trained with the North Carolina Courage and the Portland Thorns as a non-roster invitee in the 2026 preseason.[16][17] In early March 2026, she signed with the Thorns for the rest of the month.[17]

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. April 19, 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.
  14. ^ "Fort Lauderdale United FC Adds McKinney to GK Room". Fort Lauderdale United FC. Retrieved February 23, 2025.
  15. ^ "Fort Lauderdale United FC 2024/25 Roster". USL Super League. Retrieved March 5, 2026.
  16. ^ "NC Courage Announce Preseason Roster". North Carolina Courage. February 3, 2026. Retrieved February 3, 2026.
  17. ^ a b "Portland Thorns Announce Preseason Roster Update". Portland Thorns FC. March 5, 2026. Retrieved March 5, 2026.
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