Jenna Winebrenner Explained

Jenna Winebrenner
Full Name:Jenna Rae Winebrenner[1]
Birth Date:1 March 1999[2]
Height:5 ft 7 in
Position:Defender
Currentclub:Dallas Trinity
Clubnumber:19
Collegeyears1:2017–2021
College1:Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Collegecaps1:55
Collegegoals1:2
Collegeyears2:2021
College2:TCU Horned Frogs
Collegecaps2:24
Collegegoals2:0
Years1:2022–2023
Clubs1:Kansas City Current
Caps1:19
Goals1:0
Years2:2024
Clubs2:North Carolina Courage
Caps2:0
Goals2:0
Years3:2024–
Clubs3:Dallas Trinity
Caps3:1
Goals3:0
Manageryears1:2022–2023
Managerclubs1:Kansas City Comets (assistant)
Club-Update:August 18, 2024

Jenna Rae Winebrenner (born March 1, 1999) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a defender for Dallas Trinity FC of the USL Super League.

Winebrenner played collegiately for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the TCU Horned Frogs before being drafted by the Kansas City Current in the 2022 NWSL Draft. She was an assistant coach for the Kansas City Comets of the Major Arena Soccer League (MASL) in 2022–23.

Early life and college career

Winebrenner grew up in Kansas City, Missouri, the younger of two children born to Eric and Lisa Winebrenner.[1] She began playing soccer at age three. She played high school soccer at Park Hill High School, winning three consecutive Kansas City Suburban Red Conference titles, and also competed in basketball and cross country.[1] She was named second-team all-state in 2014 and 2015 and first-team all-state in 2016 and 2017.[1] [3]

Winebrenner played four seasons at the University of Notre Dame from 2017 to 2020, regularly starting from her sophomore season.[1] She then transferred to Texas Christian University, where she led the Horned Frogs to win the 2021 Big 12 tournament and was named the tournament's defensive most valuable player and first-team All-Big 12.[4] She assisted on three game-winning goals at TCU, including once to Messiah Bright in the Big 12 semifinals and once in the first round of the 2021 NCAA tournament, where they reached the round of sixteen.[4] [5] While in college, Winebrenner began coaching girls' soccer teams when home in Kansas City.[5]

Club career

Kansas City Current, 2022–2023

The Kansas City Current selected Winebrenner 41st overall in the fourth round of the 2022 NWSL Draft.[6] She was signed to a one-year contract with a one-year option, which was exercised.[7] [8] She made eleven appearances and six starts as a rookie as the Current made it to the 2022 NWSL Championship title game.[9]

Following her rookie season, Winebrenner was hired as an assistant coach for the Kansas City Comets of the Major Arena Soccer League (MASL) on November 22, 2022, becoming the first female coach in MASL history.[9] [10] She knew Comets head coach Leo Gibson and assistant coach Stefan Stokic from her youth soccer days.[10] [11] Her duties included analyzing game film and scrimmaging with the men in practice.[12] [10] She said the opportunity to train with the indoor team was "an ideal situation for the offseason".[12]

Dallas Trinity, 2024–

Winebrenner was rostered with the North Carolina Courage as an injury replacement player for the first half of the 2024 season but did not appear in a game.[13] [14] On August 1, the day she was waived by the Courage, she signed with Dallas Trinity FC ahead of the inaugural 2024–25 USL Super League season.[15] She appeared in the starting lineup of Trinity's first-ever game on August 18, which they drew 1–1 to Tampa Bay Sun FC.[16]

Personal life

Walker is in a relationship with professional lacrosse player Ethan Walker.[17] They got engaged in July 2024.[18]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Jenna Winebrenner. July 9, 2018 . Notre Dame Fighting Irish. March 13, 2024.
  2. Web site: Jenna Winebrenner. North Carolina Courage. March 13, 2024.
  3. Web site: 2017 Girls Class 4 All-State. Missouri High School Soccer Coaches Association. March 13, 2024.
  4. Web site: Jenna Winebrenner – Women's Soccer. TCU Athletics. March 13, 2024.
  5. News: Park Hill alum Jenna Winebrenner finding stride in rookie year with KC Current. Green. PJ. May 6, 2022. FOX 4 KC. March 13, 2024.
  6. News: Winebrenner Drafted By The KC Current. December 18, 2021. TCU Athletics. March 13, 2024.
  7. News: Kansas City Current Announces Roster, Agree to Contracts With 2022 NWSL Draft Class. March 15, 2022. Kansas City Current. March 13, 2024.
  8. News: Kansas City Current 2023 Roster Update. November 15, 2023. Kansas City Current. March 13, 2024.
  9. News: MASL's First Female Coach, Jenna Winebrenner Joins Comets Staff. Richmire. Pete. November 22, 2022. Kansas City Comets. March 13, 2024.
  10. News: This KC Current player helps coach the Comets men's team. That's a 1st for their league. https://archive.today/20221210213453/https://www.kansascity.com/sports/soccer/kc-current/article269827892.html. December 10, 2022. subscription. December 10, 2022. Sperry. Daniel. The Kansas City Star.
  11. News: Winebrenner comes home, gives back to KC soccer community. Cobb. Tanner. December 13, 2022. The Platte County Citizen. March 13, 2024.
  12. News: She Never Intended to Make History. Lewis. Michael. January 14, 2023. Major Arena Soccer League. March 13, 2024.
  13. News: March 13, 2024 . 2024 Start-of-Season Roster . March 13, 2024 . North Carolina Courage.
  14. News: 2024-08-01 . Courage waive defender Jenna Winebrenner . 2024-08-01 . North Carolina Courage.
  15. 1819125768279982147. dallastrinityfc. Dallas Trinity FC. Dallas Trinity FC. Welcome to Dallas Trinity FC, @Winebrenner13!. 2024-08-01. 2024-08-01.
  16. News: Tampa Bay Sun FC 1–1 Dallas Trinity FC. 2024-08-18. USL Super League. 2024-08-18.
  17. News: How pro lacrosse player Ethan Walker found a home in Kansas City. Green. PJ. 2023-06-09. FOX4KC. 2024-07-11.
  18. C9ShR_TuwE7. the easiest yes! . winebrenner19. Jenna. Winebrenner. 2024-07-11. 2024-07-11.