Kennedy Wesley
{{Short description|American soccer player (born 2001)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Kennedy Wesley
| image = NC Courage vs SD Wave (Oct 2024) 007.jpg
| image_size = 200px
| alt =
| caption = Wesley with the San Diego Wave in 2024
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2001|3|8}}
| birth_place = Santa Monica, California, United States
| height = {{height|ft=5|in=5}}
| position = Center back
| currentclub = San Diego Wave
| clubnumber = 12
| youthyears1 =
| youthclubs1 = SoCal Blues
| collegeyears1 = 2019–2023
| college1 = Stanford Cardinal
| collegecaps1 = 104
| collegegoals1 = 4
| years1 = 2024–
| clubs1 = San Diego Wave
| caps1 = 22
| goals1 = 2
| nationalyears1 = 2016–2018
| nationalteam1 = United States U–17
| nationalcaps1 = 13
| nationalgoals1 = 1
| nationalyears2 = 2020
| nationalteam2 = United States U–20
| nationalcaps2 = 5
| nationalgoals2 = 1
| nationalyears3 = 2025–
| nationalteam3 = United States U–23
| nationalcaps3 = 1
| nationalgoals3 = 0
| club-update = May 26, 2025
| nationalteam-update = May 30, 2025
}}
Kennedy Megan Wesley (born March 8, 2001) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a center back for San Diego Wave FC of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). Wesley played college soccer for the Stanford Cardinal, where she won a national title in 2019 and set the program record for career appearances.
Early life
Wesley was born in Santa Monica, California, to Kristen and Kevin Wesley. In her youth, she participated in both soccer and gymnastics before committing fully to soccer at age 13.{{Cite web |date=2017-03-08 |title=Kennedy Wesley a special leader for Valley Christian girls soccer |url=https://www.presstelegram.com/sports/20170308/kennedy-wesley-a-special-leader-for-valley-christian-girls-soccer/ |access-date=2025-05-26 |website=Press Telegram |language=en-US}} She attended Valley Christian High School,{{Cite web |last=NWSL |date=2024-10-03 |title=San Diego Wave FC Defender Kennedy Wesley Named September Rookie of the Month, presented by Ally {{!}} National Women's Soccer League Official Site |url=https://www.nwslsoccer.com/news/san-diego-wave-fc-defender-kennedy-wesley-named-september-rookie-of-the-month-presented-by-ally |access-date=2024-10-04 |website=NWSL |language=en}} where she helped the team win a California state championship in 2017.{{Cite web |date=2017-03-08 |title=CIF-SOUTHERN SECTION DIVISION 6 GIRLS SOCCER FINALS: Wesley kicks Valley Christian to school’s third championship, first outright |url=https://www.loscerritosnews.net/2017/03/08/cif-southern-section-division-6-girls-soccer-finals-wesley-kicks-valley-christian-to-schools-third-championship-first-outright/ |access-date=2025-05-26 |website=Los Cerritos Community News}} The same season, she was named the Gatorade National Girls Soccer Player of the Year after scoring 22 goals and tallying 9 assists in her sophomore high school season.{{Cite web |last=Kopff |first=Loren |date=2017-06-30 |title=Valley Christian’s Wesley is Gatorade’s National Girls Soccer Player of the Year |url=https://www.loscerritosnews.net/2017/06/30/valley-christians-wesley-is-gatorades-national-girls-soccer-player-of-the-year/ |access-date=2025-05-26 |website=Los Cerritos Community News}}{{Cite web |date=2017-06-22 |title=Valley Christian’s Kennedy Wesley named Gatorade Soccer Player of the Year |url=https://www.presstelegram.com/sports/20170621/valley-christians-kennedy-wesley-named-gatorade-soccer-player-of-the-year/ |access-date=2025-05-26 |website=Press Telegram |language=en-US}} She played club soccer for SoCal Blues, with which she won the 2015 ECNL U15 National Championship.{{Cite web|url=https://www.scblues.com/Default.aspx?tabid=319472|title=2015–16|website=www.scblues.com}} Wesley's play with the SoCal blues helped her gain attention with the Olympic Development Program and earn time on United States youth national teams.
College career
Wesley played college soccer for the Stanford Cardinal over five seasons from 2019 to 2023.{{Cite web |title=Kennedy Wesley Stanford profile |url=https://gostanford.com/sports/womens-soccer/roster/kennedy-wesley/20136 |access-date=January 13, 2024 |website=Stanford University Athletics |language=en}} She played in all 25 games as a freshman, operating mainly as a left back. Her playing time increased as the year went on, and she ended up starting 13 of the Cardinal's final 14 matches of the year. She helped contribute to Stanford's 2019 NCAA tournament victory, playing in all of the squad's NCAA matches. During the college cup final, she converted a must-score penalty shot past North Carolina goalkeeper Claudia Dickey that helped Stanford win the shootout, 5–4.{{Cite web |title=Third Star in a Thriller |url=https://gostanford.com/news/2019/12/09/third-star-in-a-thriller |access-date=2025-05-26 |website=Stanford Cardinal - Official Athletics Website |language=en-US}} At the end of the year, she was named to the All-Pac-12 Freshman Team alongside teammate Maya Doms.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2019-11-14 |title=Macario, Girma earn top honors on All-Pac-12 soccer team |url=http://www.paloaltoonline.com/sports/2019/11/13/macario-girma-earn-top-honors-on-all-pac-12-soccer-team/ |access-date=2025-05-26 |website=Palo Alto Online |language=en-US}}
In her sophomore season, Wesley started all 13 matches in which she played. She operated as a center back, playing every minute of 8 games. The following year, her playing time increased to 19 games (18 starts). She synergized with the Cardinal backline to produce 9 shutouts on the year. Wesley was recognized for her efforts with a spot on the All Pac-12 third team.
As a senior, Wesley was named team captain, a position she would maintain control of until her departure from Stanford. She started all 22 of the Cardinal's matches and accumulated the second-highest minutes of any field player in the squad. Wesley was named to the All-Pac 12 second team after leading the team to a Pac-12 Championship, the second of her college career.{{Cite web |date=2022-11-09 |title=Pac-12 Women's Soccer Weekly Rundown - Nov. 9, 2022 |url=https://pac-12.com/news/2022/11/9/pac-12-womens-soccer-weekly-rundown-nov-9-2022 |access-date=2025-05-26 |website=pac-12.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=All-Pac-12 Women’s Soccer Teams and awards announced |url=https://www.soccerwire.com/news/all-pac-12-womens-soccer-teams-and-awards-announced-for-2022-season/ |access-date=2025-05-26 |website=SoccerWire |language=en}}
Wesley returned to Stanford for a fifth year in 2023. Once again, she started all of the team's matches and logged the second-highest minutes for a field player. During the Cardinal's opening match, she netted her first collegiate goal, scoring from distance in a 4–0 victory over the San Diego Toreros.{{Cite web |title=Clean Sheet to Open 2023 |url=https://gostanford.com/news/2023/08/17/clean-sheet-to-open-2023 |access-date=2025-05-26 |website=Stanford Cardinal - Official Athletics Website |language=en-US}} Wesley would go on to score three more goals over the course of the season, reaching a career high. She completed her ascendancy with her first All-Pac-12 first team honor and a recognition on the All-Region third team as well. Of a possible 106 career appearances, she played in 104 games, setting a school record.{{Cite web |title=Trio Selected in NWSL Draft |url=https://gostanford.com/news/2024/1/12/womens-soccer-trio-selected-in-nwsl-draft.aspx |access-date=January 13, 2024 |website=Stanford University Athletics |language=en}} Her 92 starts, including in the final 60 matches of her college career, were 9th highest in Stanford history.
Club career
= San Diego Wave =
Wesley was selected in the first round (12th overall) of the 2024 NWSL Draft by San Diego Wave FC.{{Cite web |last=Finley |first=Ryan |date=January 13, 2024 |title=Wave draft Stanford defender Kennedy Wesley in first round, continue Cardinal collection |url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sports/soccer/wave/story/2024-01-12/wave-draft-stanford-defender-kennedy-wesley-in-first-round-continue-cardinal-collection |access-date=January 13, 2024 |website=San Diego Union-Tribune}}{{Cite web |last=Emerick |first=Tyler |date=January 13, 2024 |title=San Diego Wave Selects Two Players in 2024 NWSL Draft |url=https://sandiegowavefc.com/san-diego-wave-selects-two-players-in-2024-nwsl-draft/ |access-date=January 13, 2024 |website=San Diego Wave Fútbol Club |language=en-US}} On February 8, 2024, San Diego signed her to her first professional deal, a two-year contract through 2025.{{Cite web |last=Emerick |first=Tyler |date=2024-02-08 |title=San Diego Wave FC Signs 2024 NWSL Draft First-Round Pick Kennedy Wesley |url=https://sandiegowavefc.com/san-diego-wave-fc-signs-2024-nwsl-draft-first-round-pick-kennedy-wesley/ |access-date=2024-02-08 |website=San Diego Wave Fútbol Club |language=en-US}} She made her club debut in a scoreless draw against Racing Louisville on April 13,{{cite news |last1=Krasovic |first1=Tom |title=Tom Krasovic: Wave ride defense once again on road, earning scoreless draw at Louisville |url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sports/soccer/wave/story/2024-04-13/tom-krasovic-wave-racing-louisville |work=San Diego Union-Tribune |date=14 April 2024}} starting in place of the injured Naomi Girma.{{cite news |last1=Stone |first1=Chris |title=16-Year-Old Makes Debut with San Diego Wave in 0-0 Draw with Racing Louisville |url=https://timesofsandiego.com/sports/2024/04/13/16-year-old-makes-debut-with-san-diego-wave-in-racing-louisville-tie/ |work=Times of San Diego |date=14 April 2024}} Wesley scored her first professional goal on July 20, in a NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup match against Bay FC.{{Cite web |last=Emerick |first=Tyler |date=2024-07-21 |title=San Diego Wave FC Defeat Bay FC 3-1 at Torero Stadium in NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup |url=https://sandiegowavefc.com/san-diego-wave-fc-defeat-bay-fc-3-1-at-torero-stadium-in-nwsl-x-liga-mx-femenil-summer-cup/ |access-date=2024-10-04 |website=San Diego Wave Fútbol Club |language=en-US}} She tallied her first NWSL regular season goal on September 8, scoring San Diego's lone goal in teammate Alex Morgan's final match, a 4–1 defeat to the North Carolina Courage.{{Cite web |last=Emerick |first=Tyler |date=2024-09-09 |title=Alex Morgan’s Iconic Send-Off Highlights San Diego Wave FC’s Match at Snapdragon Stadium |url=https://sandiegowavefc.com/alex-morgans-iconic-send-off-highlights-san-diego-wave-fcs-match-at-snapdragon-stadium/ |access-date=2024-10-04 |website=San Diego Wave Fútbol Club |language=en-US}} Both her Summer Cup and NWSL goals were header goals from María Sánchez corner kicks. Wesley was named the NWSL Rookie of the Month for September after sporting an 85.66 percent passing accuracy and having the second-most clearances on the Wave.
On May 4, 2025, Wesley scored the opening goal in a 2–1 victory over Bay FC. It marked her third goal in a row from a María Sánchez corner kick.{{Cite web |last=Grueskin |first=Birgen |date=2025-05-05 |title=Trinity Armstrong Strikes Late to Secure San Diego Wave Victory Against Bay FC |url=https://sandiegowavefc.com/trinity-armstrong-strikes-late-to-secure-san-diego-wave-victory-against-bay-fc/ |access-date=2025-05-26 |website=San Diego Wave Fútbol Club |language=en-US}}
International career
Wesley has represented the United States at multiple youth levels. In the fall of 2016, she was a member of the under-17 team that won the 2016 CONCACAF Women's U-17 Championship and consequently qualified for the 2016 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup. Wesley herself was named to the tournament's Best XI. She also participated in the ensuing World Cup, in which the team was eliminated in the group stage.{{Cite web |title=USA roster named for FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup |url=https://www.soccerwire.com/news/usa-roster-named-for-fifa-u-17-womens-world-cup/ |access-date=2025-05-26 |website=SoccerWire |language=en}} The following year, she repeated the cycle with the U-17 squad, playing in the 2018 CONCACAF Women's U-17 Championship and scoring her first youth national team goal in the process. However, she suffered an injury in the lead-up to the 2018 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup and was not able to participate in the tournament.{{Cite web |title=Five Things to Know About the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup |url=https://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2018/11/five-things-to-know-about-the-fifa-u17-womens-world-cup |access-date=2025-05-26 |website=www.ussoccer.com |language=en}}
In 2020, Wesley was a member of the under-20 team that won gold at the 2020 CONCACAF Women's U-20 Championship.{{Cite web |title=Kennedy Wesley |url=https://sandiegowavefc.com/player/kennedy-wesley/ |access-date=2025-05-26 |website=San Diego Wave Fútbol Club |language=en-US}} She earned her first U-20 cap in the first game of the competition, a 9–0 drubbing of Cuba.{{Cite web |title=U-20 USWNT Launches World Cup Qualifying Campaign with 9-0 Win vs. Cuba |url=https://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2020/02/u20-uswnt-launches-world-cup-qualifying-campaign-with-9-0-win-vs-cuba |access-date=2025-05-26 |website= |publisher=US Soccer |language=en}} During the tournament, she tallied her first U-20 goal after heading in a cross from eventual Stanford teammate Katie Duong to help the United States win their quarterfinal match over Canada.{{Cite web |title=U-20 USWNT beats Canada 4-0 to reach Concacaf semifinals |url=https://www.soccerwire.com/news/u-20-uswnt-beats-canada-4-0-to-reach-concacaf-championship-semifinals/ |access-date=2025-05-26 |website=SoccerWire |language=en}}
While in her second year playing in the NWSL with the San Diego Wave, Wesley received a call-up to the under-23 squad for two friendlies against Germany.{{Cite web |last=Herrera |first=Sandra |date=2025-05-21 |title=USWNT U-23 roster: Jaedyn Shaw, Mia Fishel and Korbin Albert named to youth squad for friendlies in Germany |url=https://www.cbssports.com/soccer/news/uswnt-u-23-roster-jaedyn-shaw-mia-fishel-and-korbin-albert-named-to-youth-squad-for-friendlies-in-germany/ |access-date=2025-05-26 |website=CBSSports.com |language=en}}
Career statistics
= Club =
{{updated|May 26, 2025}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|+Appearances and goals by club, season and competition !rowspan="2"|Club !rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|Cup{{Efn|Includes the NWSL Challenge Cup.}} !colspan="2"|Playoffs{{Efn|Includes NWSL Playoffs.}} ! colspan="2" |Continental{{Efn|Includes CONCACAF W Champions Cup.}} ! colspan="2" |Other ! colspan="2" |Total | ||||||||
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals
!Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| rowspan="2" |San Diego Wave FC
|2024 | rowspan="2" |NWSL |13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|—
|2 |0 |1{{Efn|Appearances in the NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup.}} |1 | 16 | 2 | ||
| 2025
|9 |1 | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" |— |9 |1 | ||||||||
| colspan="3" |Career total
!22 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0
!2 !0 !1 !1 | 25 | 3 |
{{notelist}}
Honors
- NCAA Division I women's soccer championship: 2019; runner-up: 2023
- Pac-12 Championship: 2019, 2022
= San Diego Wave =
- NWSL Challenge Cup: 2024{{Cite web |last=Emerick |first=Tyler |date=2024-03-16 |title=San Diego Wave FC Defeat 1-0 NJ/NY Gotham FC in 2024 UKG NWSL Challenge Cup |url=https://sandiegowavefc.com/san-diego-wave-fc-defeat-1-0-nj-ny-gotham-fc-in-2024-ukg-nwsl-challenge-cup/ |access-date=2024-11-30 |website=San Diego Wave Fútbol Club |language=en-US}}
United States U17
United States U20
Individual
- 2019 All Pac-12 freshman team
- 2021 All Pac-12 third team
- 2022 All Pac-12 second team
- 2022 United Coaches All-Region first team
- 2023 United Coaches All-Region third team
- 2023 All Pac-12 first team
- NWSL Rookie of the Month: September 2024
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{sports links}}
{{Gatorade National Soccer Player of the Year}}
{{San Diego Wave FC squad}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wesley, Kennedy}}
Category:Soccer players from California
Category:American women's soccer players
Category:Women's association football defenders
Category:Stanford Cardinal women's soccer players
Category:United States women's youth international soccer players
Category:United States women's under-20 international soccer players
Category:San Diego Wave FC players
Category:San Diego Wave FC draft picks