Erin McKinney
American soccer player (born 2000)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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.
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McKinney with NJ/NY Gotham FC in 2024 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 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 | |||
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]
