Kate Wiesner Explained

Kate Wiesner
Full Name:Kate Meguire Wiesner
Birth Date:11 February 2001
Height:5 ft 7 in
Currentclub:Washington Spirit
Clubnumber:6
Collegeyears1:2019–2023
College1:Penn State Nittany Lions
Collegecaps1:71
Collegegoals1:6
Years1:2024–
Clubs1:Washington Spirit
Caps1:7
Goals1:0
Nationalyears1:2016–2018
Nationalteam1:United States U-17
Nationalcaps1:34+
Nationalgoals1:1+
Nationalyears2:2017
Nationalteam2:United States U-19
Nationalcaps2:3
Nationalgoals2:0
Nationalyears3:2019
Nationalteam3:United States U-20
Nationalcaps3:1
Nationalgoals3:0
Nationalyears4:2024–
Nationalteam4:United States
Nationalgoals4:-->
Club-Update:May 18, 2024

Kate Meguire Wiesner (born February 11, 2001) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a defender for the Washington Spirit of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). She played college soccer for the Penn State Nittany Lions. She was selected by the Spirit in the first round of the 2024 NWSL Draft.

Early life

Wiesner was raised in Monrovia, California, the daughter of Scott and Mary Wiesner, and attended Monrovia High School.[1] [2] She played club soccer for Slammers FC of the Elite Clubs National League (ECNL) beginning at age 13, winning national titles in 2015, 2016, and 2018.[1] [3] She tore her ACL in 2018. TopDrawerSoccer considered her the top recruit of the class of 2019.[4]

College career

Wiesner scored for the Penn State Nittany Lions in her collegiate debut against Stanford on August 23, 2019, but suffered the second ACL tear of her career during the eighth game of the season.[5] [6] She returned to the college field two years later, making 19 appearances as a junior in 2021.[7] The following year, she led the Big Ten Conference with 11 assists and scored two goals, including the game winner in the semifinals of the 2022 Big Ten tournament, which Penn State won.[7] She was team's co-captain and part of their conference-best defense in her final season in 2023.[8] She added two goals and five assists and was recognized with All-Big Ten third-team honors.[7] [9]

Club career

The Washington Spirit selected Wiesner with the seventh overall pick in the first round of the 2024 NWSL Draft, their third pick of the night.[10] She was signed to a three-year contract.[11] She made her debut as a starter in the Spirit's season opener against the Seattle Reign on March 17, 2024.[12]

International career

Wiesner was called into training with the United States national under-15 team in 2015.[13] She joined the national under-17 team the following year, playing up two age groups, and was a member of the team at the 2016 CONCACAF Women's U-17 Championship, the 2016 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup, and the 2018 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup two years later.[1] [14] She also played friendly tournaments at the under-19 and under-23 level.[15]

Wiesner was called into a senior national team camp as a training player in June 2024.[16]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Kate Wiesner – Women's Soccer. Penn State Nittany Lions. 2024-05-21.
  2. Web site: Kate Wiesner. Washington Spirit. 2024-05-21.
  3. News: ECNL stories to watch for the '15-16 season. 2015-09-02. Parchman. Will. TopDrawerSoccer. 2024-05-21.
  4. News: 2019 Women's Recruiting Rankings: August. 2018-08-01. Clark. Travis. TopDrawerSoccer. 2024-05-21.
  5. News: Why freshman Kate Wiesner could be the next 'big-time player' for Penn State women's soccer. Aferiat. Jake. 2019-08-24. Centre Daily Times. 2024-05-21.
  6. News: How a trio of Penn State women's soccer players bonded while recovering from ACL injuries. Lapreziosa. Madeline. 2020-10-08. Daily Collegian. 2024-05-21.
  7. News: Kate Wiesner Drafted No. 7 Overall By Washington Spirit In 2024 NWSL Draft. Lamm. Keeley. 2024-01-12. Onward State. 2024-05-21.
  8. News: Asman, Dyke and Wiesner Named 2023 Women's Soccer Captains. 2023-04-21. Penn State Nittany Lions. 2024-05-21.
  9. News: NWSL's Washington Spirit draft Penn State women's soccer defender Kate Wiesner. Vogt. Amanda. 2024-01-12. Daily Collegian. 2024-05-21.
  10. News: Spirit gets busy, deals Ashley Sanchez, Sam Staab and loads up in draft. Brockway. Ella. 2024-01-12. The Washington Post. 2024-05-21.
  11. News: Washington Spirit Officially Signs 2024 Rookie Class to Professional Contracts. 2024-03-11. Washington Spirit. 2024-05-21.
  12. News: Spirit finds trouble early, drops opener at Seattle. Bansil. Sapna. 2024-03-17. The Washington Post. 2024-05-21.
  13. News: U15, U16 GNTs head to Portland for camp. 2015-06-01. United States Soccer Federation. TopDrawerSoccer. 2024-05-21.
  14. News: Meet the U17 World Cup Team: Part Two. 2016-09-27. Eskilson. J.R.. TopDrawerSoccer. 2024-05-21.
  15. News: USA U19 wins CFA International Tournament. 2017-09-15. United States Soccer Federation. TopDrawerSoccer. 2024-05-21.
    News: Under-23 WNT heads to Europe in June. 2022-06-15. United States Soccer Federation. TopDrawerSoccer. 2024-05-21.
  16. News: Emma Hayes, USWNT's new coach, names her first roster as Olympics near. Goff. Steven. 2024-05-21. The Washington Post. 2024-05-21.