Kaiya McCullough

Kaiya June McCullough (born May 29, 1998) is an American professional soccer player who formerly played as a defender for Würzburger Kickers of the German 2. Frauen-Bundesliga. She also previously played for National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) club Washington Spirit.

Kaiya McCullough
Personal information
Full name Kaiya June McCullough[1]
Date of birth (1998-05-29) May 29, 1998
Place of birth Irvine, California
Height 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Position(s) Defender
Youth career
El Toro HS
San Diego Surf
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2016–2019 UCLA Bruins 92 (1)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2020 Washington Spirit 0 (0)
2020 Würzburger Kickers 2 (0)
International career‡
2016 United States U-18
2017 United States U-19
2018 United States U-20
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of December 5, 2020
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of September 8, 2020

Club career

Washington Spirit

Washington Spirit drafted McCullough with the 32nd overall pick in the 2020 NWSL College Draft.[2] She subsequently signed with the team on February 10, 2020.[3]

On September 7, 2020, Washington Spirit announced that they have waived McCullough so that she could pursue opportunities overseas.[4] It later became known that a large part of her exit was motivated by verbal abuse and racism she faced under coach Richie Burke.[5]

Personal life and activism

Following former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick, McCullough has been kneeling during the US National Anthem to protest police brutality and racism since 2017.[6]

Since joining the NWSL, McCullough has been one of the most vocal players against racism in the league. She had a large role in organizing the league players' support for Black Lives Matter,[7] especially during the 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup.[8]

In August 2021, McCullough was joined by many former Washington Spirit teammates with allegations of abuse against coach Richie Burke. McCullough described Burke as belligerent and aggressive, and also claimed he made many racist and otherwise bigoted comments towards her and her teammates.[5] The Washington Spirit fired Burke in September.[9] Burke's firing amidst the 2021 NWSL abuse scandal put into question the abusive behaviors of many coaches in the NWSL and worldwide, and played a large role in the ousting of League Commissioner Lisa Baird.[10]

References
  1. "Kaiya McCullough". UCLA Bruins. Archived from the original on May 2, 2022. Retrieved June 22, 2022.
  2. Becherano, Lizzy (January 16, 2020). "Following Mal Pugh trade, Washington Spirit select 5 players at 2020 NWSL Draft". Black and Red United. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  3. Cavalier, Mason (February 10, 2020). "Spirit sign all five 2020 draftees, add to keeper corps". Washington Spirit. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  4. "Washington Spirit waive defender Kaiya McCullough". Washington Spirit. 7 September 2020. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  5. Hensley-Clancy, Molly (11 August 2021). "'He made me hate soccer': Players say they left NWSL's Spirit over coach's verbal abuse". Washington Post. Retrieved 2 October 2021.
  6. Rodriguez, Alicia (June 12, 2020). "Kaiya McCullough discusses her activism, at UCLA and now in NWSL". Bruins Nation. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  7. Carlisle, André (June 21, 2020). "Washington Spirit players on racism, #BlackLivesMatter, and progress: Kaiya McCullough on the power of kneeling". Black and Red United. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  8. Hensley-Clancy, Molly (June 26, 2020). "N.W.S.L. Players Kneel for Anthem as League Returns to Field". New York Times. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  9. Maurer, Pablo (28 September 2021). "Former Spirit coach Richie Burke fired 'for cause' NWSL investigation reveals". theathletic.com. The Athletic. Retrieved 2 October 2021.
  10. "National Women's Soccer League commissioner is out amid scandal". npr.org. NPR. 2 October 2021. Retrieved 2 October 2021.


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