| Maddie Mercado | |
| Full Name: | Madison Mercado[1] |
| Birth Date: | 1 April 2001[2] |
| Height: | 5 ft 8 in |
| Position: | Midfielder |
| Currentclub: | Seattle Reign FC |
| Clubnumber: | 27 |
| Youthclubs1: | San Diego Surf SC |
| Collegeyears1: | 2019–2023 |
| College1: | Notre Dame Fighting Irish |
| Collegecaps1: | 94 |
| Collegegoals1: | 26 |
| Clubs1: | Seattle Reign FC |
| Caps1: | 5 |
| Goals1: | 1 |
| Nationalteam1: | United States U-14 |
| Nationalyears2: | 2016 |
| Nationalteam2: | United States U-15 |
| Nationalteam3: | United States U-16 |
| Nationalyears4: | 2017 |
| Nationalteam4: | United States U-17 |
| Nationalteam5: | United States U-18 |
| Nationalyears6: | 2020 |
| Nationalteam6: | United States U-19 |
| Club-Update: | November 4, 2024 |
| Nationalteam-Update: | November 4, 2024 |
| Years1: | 2024– |
Madison Mercado (born April 1, 2001) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Seattle Reign FC of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). She played college soccer for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish before being selected by the Reign in the second round of the 2024 NWSL Draft.
Mercado was raised in San Diego, California. Her parents both played tennis collegiately, with her mother progressing to a professional career.[3] Mercado attended Cathedral Catholic High School, where she played soccer[4] and helped the team become 2016 CIF Southern California High School Champions. She also played youth soccer for San Diego Surf SC in the ECNL. In 2017, Mercado was named the 2017 Western Conference Player of the Year.[5]
Mercado played collegiately for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Her first goal with Notre Dame occurred in her Sophomore year, on March 20, 2020. In 2020, 2021, and 2022, Mercado was named to the ACC All-Academic Team.
In 2022, Mercado scored a career-high 10 goals and tallied a career-high 4 assists.[6] She played in all 23 of the Fighting Irish's matches as the team advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2022 NCAA Division I women's soccer tournament for the first time in a decade.[7] On the way to the quarterfinals, Mercado scored in the team's opening round victory over Omaha and in their round-of-16 match versus TCU.[8] [9]
Mercado finished her final collegiate season leading the team in goals and points. She also was named to the All-ACC second team.[10] Mercado finished her 5-season collegiate career with 94 appearances and 26 goals scored.
On January 12, 2024, Mercado was selected by Seattle Reign FC as the 27th overall pick of the 2024 NWSL Draft.[11] [12] She signed a one-year contract with the Reign on March 13, 2024.[13] On May 8, Mercado made her professional debut as a second-half substitute in a 0–0 draw with the Kansas City Current.[14] Mercado's next minutes with the Reign occurred during the 2024 NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup, where she started the club's first two games.[15] [16] In the second match, an eventual loss to Club Tijuana, Mercado netted her first professional goal.[16] She scored her first NWSL regular season goal in the Reign's final match of 2024, providing the team's second goal in a 3–2 defeat at the hands of the Orlando Pride.[17] [18]
Mercado has represented the United States at youth level from U-14 to U-19 age groups. In 2016, Mercado helped the United States girls' national under-15 soccer team win the 2016 CONCACAF Girls' U-15 Championship,[19] [20] scoring two goals in the team's quarterfinal match.[21] [22] As part of the United States women's national under-19 soccer team, Mercado was named to the squad for the 2020 La Manga Tournament.[23] She was an unused substitute for the first match[24] but started in both of the United States' remaining fixtures against the Netherlands and England.[25] [26]
Mercado's older brother, Michael Mercado, is a professional baseball pitcher.[27] He was selected by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 2017 MLB Draft[28] and plays for the Philadelphia Phillies.