By OkayGoal 
With many veterans still playing at an unbelievably high level in the NWSL, there is also a youth movement going on. Young soccer talents are joining the league at an increasing rate, injecting different clubs across the NWSL with new skill sets and energy.
While you can find younger athletes littered on rosters throughout the league, five particular players have entered the fold at a younger age than the rest, giving their respective clubs a tremendous amount of potential.
Mak Whitham – Gotham FC
At just 15 years old, Mak Whitham clocks in as not only the current youngest player in the NWSL, but also as the youngest player in NWSL history. Born in 2010, Whitham signed with Gotham the day before turning 14 years old.
In 2025, Whitham appeared in nine total games for the club in a season in which Gotham would go on to win the NWSL Championship. Although unused by the club during the 2025 playoffs and thus far in the 2026 season, Whitham’s potential is obvious and is a key building block for the future in New York.
Kherrington Ream – Utah Royals
Having been born in Utah, in 2024, KK Ream got the opportunity to sign with her home state, Utah Royals. More importantly though, Ream signed this under-18 contract with Utah at just 15 years old, making her one of the youngest NWSL signees the league has ever seen.
Even more impressively, Ream became the youngest ever goalscorer in NWSL history, scoring against Portland in August. Fast-forward to the present day, and at just 17 years old, KK Ream has shown unbelievable potential for the Royals. Unfortunately, Ream is out for the remainder of the 2026 season with a torn ACL, but will look to be back fit and ready to go for Utah in 2027.
Meila Brewer – Kansas City Current
At just 17 years old, Meila Brewer is another young NWSL talent with untapped potential. The young center back has spent much of her life in the Midwest, making her 2025 signing with the Current quite poetic.
Brewer impressed so much early on, that after completing the necessary coursework, was able to go to UCLA at just 16 years old. After a year there, which coincided with playing for the United States U-17 national team, Brewer signed a three-year deal to start her professional career in Kansas City. While we’re waiting for her NWSL debut, the Current may still be a cornerstone of the future for Brewer.
Audrey McKeen – Racing Louisville FC
Not long after Meila Brewer signed with Kansas City, another 17-year-old signed an NWSL contract. In early 2026, Audrey McKeen signed with Racing Louisville, making her one of the youngest players in the league.
McKeen put together an illustrious youth career in Virginia, even going as far as to win Virginia Gatorade Player of the Year in 2024. After a year of soccer in the ECNL in 2025, NWSL interest was evident, leading to her eventual signing with Louisville. Now, in her first professional season, McKeen has already appeared in 10 games, with much more to come in her career.
Evan O’Steen – Seattle Reign
The youngest of the 18-year olds in the NWSL is Evan O’Steen, Seattle’s young goalkeeper who came to the NWSL in 2026. O’Steen made a name for herself as one of the nation’s young goalkeeping talents in Texas, winning two ECNL championships with her youth club, Solar SC.
O’Steen headed to Florida State in 2025, where in four appearances she allowed zero goals, all while playing with the United States U-17 national team. After one year with FSU, O’Steen headed to Seattle, signing with the Reign and going down as the youngest goalkeeper to ever sign in the NWSL. O’Steen has had 2026 to learn behind Claudia Dickey, and will look to continue to develop as one of the league’s future goalkeeping stalwarts.
Featured image via @makwhitman