Mallie McKenzie - Turning a Dream into Reality

"I had already fallen in love with Portland... So it was really, really like a dream come true for sure.” - Mallie McKenzie

Credit: Portland Thorns FC

On January 12, the 2024 NWSL Draft was supposed to be one of the best nights of Mallie McKenzie’s life. Unfortunately it turned into something else, when her name wasn’t called by commissioner Jessica Berman.

After that, McKenzie was going to look overseas for a professional soccer opportunity. Luckily, the Portland Thorns reached out through assistant coach Sarah Lowdon to bring her in on trial.

“It was a real whirlwind” said Mallie McKenzie. “I put my name in the draft and didn't end up getting drafted. I kind of set my sights on going to play abroad somewhere and then Sarah Lowdon who actually reached out before the draft and circled back around after. They were like, ‘we'd love you to come on trial, just to get you in here and see what you're like in our training environment if you fit’ and whatnot.”