Wikipedia

Elyse Bennett

Elyse Morgan Bennett (born December 27, 1999) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a forward for San Diego Wave FC of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). Bennett has previously played for the OL Reign (later Seattle Reign FC) and the Kansas City Current.

Elyse Bennett
Bennett with San Diego Wave FC in 2024
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
Team information
Current team
 San Diego Wave
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 14 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of December 7, 2024

Youth career

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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]

College career

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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]

Club career

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Kansas City Current, 2022

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The Kansas City Current selected Bennett with the club's first pick and the seventh pick overall of the 2022 NWSL Draft.[5][6] After playing in both and scoring in one of Kansas City's preseason matches, Bennett signed her first professional contract with the Current.[7] 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.[8] She scored her first professional goal on May 14, 2022, in a 2–2 draw with the Orlando Pride.[9]

OL Reign, 2023

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On January 11, 2023, OL Reign traded $150,000 in allocation money to the Kansas City Current in exchange for Bennett.[10] She made her debut for the Reign during the club's first match of the season, coming on as a substitute in a 1–0 defeat to the Washington Spirit.[11] Bennett tallied her first goal with the Reign in a 4–1 victory over Angel City FC on May 27.[12][13] In July 2023, Bennett was nominated for NWSL Player of the Week honors after scoring a goal and recording an assist against Racing Louisville FC.[14] Midway through the year, the Reign extended Bennett's contract through the 2024 season, with an additional year option for the 2025 season.[15] Bennett and the Reign eventually advanced to the NWSL playoffs, vanquishing Angel City FC and San Diego Wave FC before facing off against NJ/NY Gotham FC in the final. Bennett came on as a substitute in the game and was involved in a sequence resulting in opposing goalkeeper Mandy Haught receiving a red card.[16] The Reign failed to score off of the ensuing free kick, and Gotham FC secured the title with a 2–1 win.[17][18]

San Diego Wave FC, 2024–

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On December 15, 2023, the Utah Royals selected Bennett with their first pick (second overall) in the 2024 NWSL Expansion Draft.[19] Two days later, Utah traded Bennett to San Diego Wave FC for $40,000 in allocation money.[20] She debuted for the Wave as part of the starting lineup that played against Gotham FC in the one-match NWSL Challenge Cup. The Wave won the game, 1–0, marking Bennett's first title with San Diego.[21]

Personal life

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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]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of December 7, 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup[a] Playoffs[b] Continental[c] Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Kansas City Current 2022 NWSL 21 3 7 0 3 0 — — 31 3
OL Reign 2023 21 2 7 1 1 0 — — 29 2
San Diego Wave FC 2024 14 0 1 0 — 3 0 3[d] 0 21 0
Career total 56 5 15 1 4 0 3 0 3 0 81 5
  1. ^ Includes the NWSL Challenge Cup
  2. ^ Includes NWSL Playoffs
  3. ^ Includes CONCACAF W Champions Cup
  4. ^ Includes NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup

Honors

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San Diego Wave

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Elyse Bennett – Bio". wsucougars.com. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d e 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.
  3. ^ a b c d 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.
  4. ^ "Soccer Signs 14 From Across The Country". Washington State Cougars athletic communications. February 1, 2017. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ Morris, Matthew (January 11, 2022). "Washington State's Elyse Bennett made it to Kansas City Current her own way". BVM Sports. Retrieved December 8, 2024.
  7. ^ "Kansas City Current Announces Roster, Agree to Contracts With 2022 NWSL Draft Class". Kansas City Current. March 15, 2022. Retrieved December 7, 2024.
  8. ^ 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.
  9. ^ Sperry, Daniel (May 14, 2022). "KC Current rally to tie late, then take lead, but extra-time goal gives Pride the draw". The Kansas City Star. Retrieved December 7, 2024.
  10. ^ "OL Reign Acquires Forward Elyse Bennett and Draft Pick in Trade with KC Current". olreign.com. January 11, 2023. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
  11. ^ Spirit, Washington (March 27, 2023). "Spirit Victorious, 1-0, in Season Opener Versus OL Reign". Washington Spirit. Retrieved December 8, 2024.
  12. ^ "Match Recap: OL Reign Flips the Script Against Angel City FC". Seattle Reign FC. Retrieved December 8, 2024.
  13. ^ Press, Associated (May 28, 2023). "Angel City scores early but can't hold back OL Reign in loss". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 8, 2024.
  14. ^ "Forward Elyse Bennett Nominated for NWSL Player of the Week". Seattle Reign FC. Retrieved December 8, 2024.
  15. ^ "OL Reign Extends Contract of Forward Elyse Bennett". Seattle Reign FC. Retrieved December 8, 2024.
  16. ^ "NJ/NY Gotham FC captures 2023 NWSL Championship". SoccerWire. Retrieved December 8, 2024.
  17. ^ Communications, Gotham FC (November 12, 2023). "Match Recap: NJ/NY Gotham FC Win NWSL Championship". NJ/NY Gotham FC. Retrieved December 8, 2024.
  18. ^ Armour, Ayrton Ostly and Nancy. "NWSL Championship highlights: Gotham FC crowned champions as Rapinoe, Krieger end careers". USA TODAY. Retrieved December 8, 2024.
  19. ^ "2024 NWSL EXPANSION DRAFT". nwslsoccer.com. December 15, 2023. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
  20. ^ "San Diego Wave FC Acquire Elyse Bennett from Utah Royals". sandiegowavefc.com. December 17, 2023. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
  21. ^ Emerick, Tyler (March 16, 2024). "San Diego Wave FC Defeat 1-0 NJ/NY Gotham FC in 2024 UKG NWSL Challenge Cup". San Diego Wave Fútbol Club. Retrieved December 8, 2024.
  22. ^ "San Diego Wave FC Defeat 1-0 NJ/NY Gotham FC in 2024 UKG NWSL Challenge Cup". March 16, 2024.
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