NWSL's Gotham FC signs 13-year-old, making her youngest signing in league history

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The youth movement is alive and well in North American soccer.

Just over a week after Cavan Sullivan made his MLS debut at age 14 to become the youngest pro athlete in the top North American sports leagues, the National Women's Soccer League has made history of its own.

NJ/NY Gotham FC, the league's reigning champion, signed 13-year-old McKenna "Mak" Whitham to a three-year deal, making her the youngest signing in league history.

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A NJ/NY Gotham FC corner flag during the first half of an NWSL Challenge Cup game against the San Diego Wave FC March 15, 2024, at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, N.J.  (Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Whitham turns 14 Saturday.

"I processed it, and it's still new to me," Whitham told ESPN. "But, I mean, I'm not going to be cocky about it. I'm going to stay humble, and I'm still going to keep developing. My goal is to be a top player in the NWSL, and I know that Gotham will help me become that player."

Although the contract won't become effective until January, because six of the team's members are in Paris for the Olympics, the team has actually named her a replacement player, meaning she could play for Gotham this weekend.

If she does play, she'd become the youngest player in a major sports league in North America since at least 1970.

The Statue of Liberty flame prior to an NWSL game against the San Diego Wave June 4, 2023, at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, N.J. (Getty Images)

"The on-the-field is the easiest part of this, I think, and the quickest for us to kind of evaluate and know how to support her," Gotham general manager Yael Averbuch West