Cavan Sullivan held the record for the youngest pro soccer player in the United States at 14 years, 293 days old. That sounds beyond impressive, right? Unfortunately for Sullivan, his record lasted just a few weeks before McKenna ‘Mak’ Whitham shattered that record with a massive margin. While Sullivan had beaten Freddy Adu’s previous record by two weeks, Whitham broke it by months.

She made her pro debut for Gotham FC in the NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup on July 28, 2024. She turned 14 just a day earlier. “This is a great step in her journey as a professional athlete,” Gotham FC said in a statement to GMA. Yet, you may be wondering why we’re talking about the history she made almost a year ago. Well, that’s because Mak scripted history again.

Although Mak Whitham made her pro debut in 2024, she just became the youngest NWSL regular season debutant. “A HISTORICAL Substitution. @MakWhitham is the youngest player to appear in a @NWSL  regular season match,” Gotham FC posted on social media. What is even more interesting? Now 14 years, 7 months and 20 days old, Whitham beat Sullivan’s record again. He was around 14 years and 10 months old during his MSL debut.

And maybe getting her on the record books was what Gotham FC was going for as well. That’s because the 14-year-old came on as a substitute after regulation time. Whitham took to the field in the 93rd minute of the 8 minutes of extra time during the hard-fought draw 1-1 between Gotham and Seattle Reign FC. Was it the ideal debut for the rookie? Maybe not, but hey, she got the record.

At the same time, young talents like Mak Whitham are hungry to prove themselves on the field. Whitham listed her goals in February in an interview with Thread Performance. “My own goal is to be the number one player in the world. To participate in representing my country, in the Olympics, in the World Cup and to play in championships with my club team,” said the youngster.

Cavan Sullivan has said something similar. While becoming the then-youngest player was a milestone moment, he treated it as the “first box” he checked in the long journey ahead of the MSL player. Similarly, Whitham’s debut was only a taste of what’s come during her debut NWSL season. Before that happens, let’s look back at the 14-year-old’s journey so far.

How soccer became Mak Whitham’s calling

Everyone has a childhood dream, but rarely do we see anyone live up to those dreams. However, the 14-year-old was among those exceptional talents who found their calling before they could even spell the word passion. That’s right. Her parents put her on a recreational team when she was just four and she hasn’t looked back ever since.

“I had this blue ball white stars,” she recalled. I had it at my feet and I just kicked it around, I was like obsessed with it. Lots of my coaches and even my parents as well, they saw a difference in me, and they saw a lot of talent,” added the phenom. Even as she started out, she would not shy away from playing a year up or sometimes even two. The Gotham FC player could also relate to one of the greatest players in the history of the sport.

The youngest NWSL pro looked up to everyone, from Mia Hamm to Cristiano Ronaldo. “But the biggest one I looked up to was Messi, just because I kind of saw myself in him. He is an attacking-minded player. He knows where he wants to go next and that stood out to me,” explained Mia Whitham. So with a head full of dreams and a supportive family, Whitham grew her talent.

The Granite Bay, California native’s talent helped her stand out in school, and Gotham FC took notice. While Mak Whitham didn’t have a shortage of clubs who wanted to sign her, she chose Gotham. The 14-year-old phenom explained that Gotham FC “care deeply” about her development as a soccer player and will help the youngest realize her true potential. So, while her journey has just begun, it’s safe to say the sky is the limit for the soccer star.