41 Facts About Jessica McDonald

Jessica Marie McDonald was born on February 28,1988 and is an American soccer commentator and former professional player.

Jessica McDonald played for National Women's Soccer League clubs including the Chicago Red Stars, Seattle Reign, Portland Thorns, Houston Dash, Western New York Flash, North Carolina Courage, and Racing Louisville.

Jessica McDonald made 19 appearances for the United States national team and was part of the team that won the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup.

Jessica McDonald's brother, Brandon McDonald, is a professional soccer player who plays in Major League Soccer.

Jessica McDonald attended Cactus High School in Glendale, Arizona, where she played basketball all four years and ran track during her junior and senior years.

Jessica McDonald was a state champion and record holder in the 400 meters during her track and field career.

Jessica McDonald was a member of the Sereno Soccer club from 2000 to 2007 and helped the team win state championships each year she played for it.

Jessica McDonald helped lead Sereno to regional championships in 2003 and 2007, and placed second in the national championship in 2003.

Jessica McDonald played on the Surf Cup title-winning teams in 2005 and 2006.

Jessica McDonald was the MVP of the tournament in 2006.

Jessica McDonald attended Phoenix College during her freshman and sophomore year of college where she played soccer, basketball and track and was a member of the honors program.

Jessica McDonald was named a first-team junior college All-America in soccer and National Junior College Player of the Year.

Jessica McDonald earned first-team all-conference and all-region honors and was the single-season record holder at Phoenix College for goals and assists.

Also continuing to excel at basketball, Jessica McDonald earned first-team all-region and all-conference honors and was the country's number one rebounder in junior college and among the Top 30 in scoring.

Jessica McDonald scored 5 goals and had 10 assists for 20 points during the season.

In 2010, Jessica McDonald was the second pick by the Chicago Red Stars in the 2010 WPS Draft.

Jessica McDonald made five appearances for the squad before suffering a knee injury that required 18 months recovery.

Jessica McDonald started all 13 of her appearances for the squad, scoring seven goals, and helped the squad to the Grand Final match against Sydney FC.

In 2013, Jessica McDonald signed with the Chicago Red Stars as a free agent for the inaugural season of the NWSL.

Jessica McDonald made nine appearances for the Red Stars during the regular season, serving one assist, before being waived by the team in June 2013.

On June 28,2013, it was announced that Jessica McDonald had signed with the Seattle Reign FC after being waived by the Red Stars.

Jessica McDonald scored her first goal during her debut appearance for the club in a match against the Boston Breakers on July 3,2013.

Jessica McDonald finished the 2013 season with six starts in seven matches played, tallying a total of 439 minutes played.

Jessica McDonald was traded to the Portland Thorns along with defender Rebecca Moros in late 2013 under head coach Cindy Parlow Cone, in exchange for Danielle Foxhoven.

Jessica McDonald was a starting forward for the first eleven games of the 2014 season, then mostly relegated to a substitute position as Alex Morgan returned from an injury.

The team-leading scorer for the Thorns in 2014, Jessica McDonald had eleven goals, including a July 17 goal 33 seconds in against Chicago: the fastest goal in NWSL history.

On January 16,2015, Jessica McDonald was traded by the Thorns to the Houston Dash for the 13th pick in the 2015 NWSL College Draft and a second round selection in the 2016 NWSL College Draft.

Jessica McDonald led the Dash's inaugural season in goals with seven during the 2016 season.

In May 2017, Jessica McDonald became the first NWSL player to score 33 regular-season, career goals.

Jessica McDonald scored 4 goals in 2017, helping North Carolina win the NWSL Shield.

In 2018 Jessica McDonald played in 23 regular season games, scoring 7 goals.

Jessica McDonald was named Most Valuable Player of the match.

On December 17,2021, shortly before the NWSL draft, Racing Louisville acquired Jessica McDonald's playing rights in a three-way trade with the Courage and Angel City FC.

Jessica McDonald signed a two-year contract with Racing on January 28,2022.

Jessica McDonald retired after that season and became a club ambassador for the North Carolina Courage.

In October 2022, Jessica McDonald was loaned to Australian A-League Women club Western United on a three-month guest contract for the start of their inaugural season.

Jessica McDonald has represented the United States on several youth national teams including the under-16, under-17, under-20, under-23, and the senior national team squads.

Jessica McDonald earned her first call up to the senior national team on November 2,2016, and made her international debut on November 10 against Romania.

In January 2019, Jessica McDonald was included in the team's training camp that took place abroad in Algarve, Portugal.

In May 2019, Jessica McDonald was named to the final roster of the United States 23-player squad for the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup.

Jessica McDonald did not feature in the team's remaining tournament fixtures.