Kickin' It with Mallie McKenzie
Kickin' It with Mallie McKenzie
We are beyond honored to be joined by the one of the newest Portland Thorns, Mallie McKenzie! Get to know her with a fun Q & A.
After a heartbreaking experience and not hearing her name on 2024 NWSL Draft night, the undrafted rookie still defied the odds. Mallie McKenzie took advantage of being a trialist (non-roster invitee) and made the Portland Thorns roster! Her calling card has been the ability to play almost any position and is considered a ‘Swiss Army Knife’ player for the team.
Mallie McKenzie started all three matches in the NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup. She saw minutes at winger, right wide midfielder/wingback, and center back.
Kickin’ It with Mallie McKenzie
Phuoc Nguyen - Stumptown Footy: What do you like to do for fun on an off day?
Mallie McKenzie: On an off day? Three of us live in a house: Me, Gabby Provenzano, and Lauren Kozal. I’ve labeled our activities as very leisurely. We puzzle, we garden, and we play pickleball. Those are our three. We’re like retired old ladies just living in the same house together. You never want to do too much. [I’ve] done some exploring of Oregon/Portland, I can’t do too strenuous hikes because you don’t wanna get super tired. So, yeah, we puzzle. We just grew cucumbers, we got to harvest yesterday. We were so excited about and we crossword. So, yeah, very simple but fun, fun things to do for sure.
STF: Speaking of Gardening, did Kelli Hubly help you all?
Mallie McKenzie: Yes, Kelli. Well, because she was talking, she has some crazy plants. She's talking about her tomatoes like strawberries. She's a professional. So she gave us some tips. Also, she was having like an animal problem underneath her garden. We learned that you're supposed to put cardboard down underneath the plant — so we told her that. So I feel like it's a symbiotic relationship a little bit, but she definitely helped us at the beginning just because, and she has like 900 plants inside her house too. It's crazy.
STF: Favorite spots to eat or have coffee?
Mallie McKenzie: Yes, I mean, I didn't know how much I was missing out on good coffee being from the Southeast until I came to Portland. Starbucks is like the highest of the high in Athens, Georgia. But yeah, coming here almost every coffee shop, but there's one in Beaverton near where we live. And it's so like just like a simple, it's called The Coffee Shop. I go there literally every off day and it's so simple. I get an oat milk latte with cinnamon and sometimes vanilla and it's heavenly. I literally like get so excited every time I'm driving there. So I'm like, oh, this is about to be delicious. That's my, that's my go to coffee shop and then I've made some stops around other Portland places and love them as well.
STF: What is your favorite food and dessert?
Mallie McKenzie: Favorite food or like meal that I've ever that I like to eat, chicken Panang curry from like Thai restaurants - I loved that. That is my favorite food because especially coming out here you can find good Thai food with every like 0.2 miles. There's just so many great options. So I've already gotten that like probably five times since being here. That's by far my favorite meal. And then dessert? That’s such a hard question because I love sweet treats so much. People make fun of me for this. But I say I think it's bread pudding. I don't think people, a lot of people have had bread pudding because when I say that they're like, that sounds gross. And I understand the thought of like bread being in a pudding does sound kind of gross. But actual bread pudding, it's like, it's, I don't even know how to describe it, but it's like bread soaked in just like a really good, like sauce or whatever. Like, it's delicious. So, that's, that's probably very southern to me. But, yeah, that is, that was my favorite dessert.
STF: What is your favorite berry?
Mallie McKenzie: That’s an interesting question. My favorite berry [is] probably a strawberry. I have blueberries every morning in my oats, but probably a strawberry like a good strawberry. I have been open to marionberries here. I’d never had that before - big fan of them. But yeah, I think can’t go wrong with strawberry.
STF: Do you have a Squishmallow?
Mallie McKenzie: Shoutout Sam Coffey. We have a communal one in our living room that Sam actually gave us when she got like a million from Squishmallows. But, I actually have like the off brand Target one that’s weighted. So it's like it feels like a little pet on you because it's like heavy and it's just like comforting - It’s from Target. My best friend has one from home and his name is Sirnocerous and mine is Lady Lizzie. I can’t believe, I just forgot that, she’s like a child to me. But, yeah, Lady Lizzie is my Squishmallow’s name.
STF: What type of music do you like to listen to? Do you have a favorite artist?
Mallie McKenzie: I would say it’s like, or I used to say it’s like the alternative indie type thing. Like my favorite artist through and through is probably Vampire Weekend. But this year Chapell Roan coming out with all of her songs right now they're hitting so, right in the summer, like, they're just such a fun pop beat.Like good dance songs, good scream sing songs. I’m really liking, currently, Chapell Roan. Historically, and probably will last me a lot longer, Vampire Weekend.
STF: Favorite movie?
Mallie McKenzie: That’s such a hard question. Yes, I think I love movies, but Silver Linings Playbook with Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper - it gets me every time. It’s got the drama, it’s got the comedy, it’s got the romance, it’s so cute. But, it’s also like real. I probably watched that movie at least 10 times, if not more in my lifetime. So that one is true and true for me. Every time I watch it I will enjoy it.
STF: FIFA is about to introduce women’s career mode for the first time and you’re going to be part of the game on the Portland Thorns. Has all of this kicked in yet?
Mallie McKenzie: No, I think I'm gonna actually have to see that and be like this is, I don't like because it still just doesn't seem like, you know, you played games like that growing up and then actually be able to see myself. That would be so cool and then I would force my brothers to buy it because they're both big video gamers and I'd be like, yeah, you're gonna be playing and you better choose me as your person to play with.
STF: How many siblings do you have?
Mallie McKenzie: I have two older brothers - one’s 27, one is 26, so I’m the youngest.
STF: What’s your go-to Karaoke song?
Mallie McKenzie: That’s a very good question. I have two, either Skyscraper by Demi Lovato or Man in the Mirror by Michael Jackson. I’m not good [at karaoke]. I am not good. However, I love karaoke. So I will be singing my heart out when the time comes for me to sing either of those songs.
STF: If you could pick an entrance song to walk out to at Providence park, what would you choose?
Mallie McKenzie: Oh, gosh. I think I’m gonna butcher who it’s by. Something Creed - I think it’s called Fortunate One. The songs like ‘da dow, da dow, da dow. I think that would be, I, again, I don't listen to cool enough music to have a really good Walk Up song, however, I think, yeah, it's called Fortunate One by something Creed. In fact, I should remember it because it's on my pregame playlist, but that would be my walk out song.
STF: Are you obsessed with any TV show right now?
Mallie McKenzie: I watched Bridgerton, all of it. I love this summer’s season, they were phenomenal. Then me and my roommate just watched succession and watched the entire show within a day and are now patiently waiting January 2025 when season two comes out. So that’s also one that I really, really am enjoying.
BONUS: It is awesome. Like how much we can talk about Love Island in our locker room. But I, I could, I honestly feel like I could tell you enough about it and I haven't seen anything just from the debrief that everybody has. But no, I watched other seasons that we were literally talking about watching it right now. Yeah, apparently Love Island USA this year, the most entertaining show of all time. So, that's definitely something I cannot wait to watch because I love a good, I love a good reality TV, drama moment.
STF: Can you share some items on your bucket list with us?
Mallie McKenzie: Ok. On my bucket list? Oregon bucket list? I want to go to Crater Lake. I’v heard it’s gorgeous and like just a sight to see. Career bucket list? I think I would like to play in another country just to see what that experience is like. You know, be open to a different culture, different style of play, just a different environment - not anytime in the near future. But, I think this, that’s something that I could see myself doing. Then, vacation bucket list. I would want to go to Thailand at some point. One, the food. Obviously I love Thai food and then I’ve heard it’s just a gorgeous place. That’s a really cool place to visit if you get the chance. Those are three things that are probably on different parts of my bucket list.
STF: Do you have any pets?
Mallie McKenzie: Yes, his name is Gage. He’s a Springer Spaniel. We were fostering dogs during COVID. So we went to the Humane Society but so many people had the same idea as us that we had to reach out to like specific rescues. The Springer Spaniel rescue reached back out to us. So we had fostered three before Gage and then he came and was like 10 months old - he was so sweet and so cute that we were like, we’re going to have to keep him. He’s right now at home with my family but like I had him some of college so he’s like partiallly mine. So that was, that was a tough blow when coming out here, but it ended up being worth it. But yeah, he's adorable. He’s not the smartest, but he really loves us. So that’s what matters.
STF: If you could have one superpower, what would it be?
Mallie McKenzie: My freshman roommate told this this, shoutout Haley! I’ve always thought it was so smart to be able to control the weather plus, like the seasons. So, like if I want a sunny day, I want some rain. So, I wanted to stay inside and watch movies. You know, that would be my superpower.
STF: Who’s your best friend on the team?
Mallie McKenzie: I can’t. My roommates are the best: Gabby and we call her [Lauren] Kozal, they’re awesome. I could not have been more lucky getting to live with them. Then, Isa Obaze. She came here with me. We’re both, you know, in this together and she is so great and funny and we just match each other’s energy.
STF: How would you describe your personal style?
Mallie McKenzie: I would say my style, like I thought I had pretty good athleisure wear coming out here. I would show up to practice in like a Nike sweatshirt and sweatpants and people are coming in with like Jordans on these cool vintage like sweatshirts, they just look so badass. So I would say I have pretty decent basic style, but my style has definitely been expanded coming out here and getting influence from people - Like Liv Moultrie, Kelli Hubly has really good shoe game as well. Like just seeing people what they wear every day, I’m like ‘oh, I like that, oh I like that.’ The Nike store, we’re so close that I’ve definitely made a few runs to that and expanded my wardrobe. My show game, I would say definitely needs some work. But, you know, it’s been growing since I’ve got out here. I’ve definitely made a few, few purchases.
STF: If you could take one thing from your hometown and bring it to Portland, what would it be?
Mallie McKenzie: Oh such a good question. Besides my family and my dog I love them. I would take, this is a very simple answer, but biscuit. I love how biscuits are made in the south that, you know, not good for you - they're definitely covered in butter. They’re like this big, but like a good biscuit from Roswell or Athens, Georgia from what I've experienced has yet to be matched. That is what I miss besides, I would definitely bring my family and my dog because I love them so much.
I cannot thank Mallie McKenzie enough for her time and the super fun interview. It was an absolute blast! All of us at STF are grateful to her and wish her all the best this season and in her bright soccer future.
Be sure to follow her on socials!
Instagram: @malliemckenzie
Twitter: @malliemckenzie
Seems relentlessly positive, which is what you want in a teammate. Great piece, Phuoc! Hope she gets more field time and settles into her best slot, because the eye test says she's a solid player who can impact the flow of a game.
And yes, springers are kind of dumb and all kinds of loveable.
She should check out Pine State on Division for that biscuit she's craving.