Maya McCutcheon (born April 12, 2001) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a defensive midfielder for New Zealand club Wellington Phoenix FC of the A-League Women. She played college soccer for the Oklahoma Sooners and the West Virginia Mountaineers.

Maya McCutcheon
McCutcheon with the North Carolina Courage in 2024
Personal information
Date of birth (2001-04-12) April 12, 2001 (age 23)[1]
Height 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Position(s) Defender, defensive midfielder
Team information
Current team
Wellington Phoenix FC
Number 6
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2019–2021 Oklahoma 35 (3)
2021–2023 West Virginia 62 (6)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2024 North Carolina Courage 0 (0)
2024– Wellington Phoenix FC 2 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Early life and college career

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McCutcheon grew up in Murphy, Texas, one of three children born to Dadario and Melanie McCutcheon.[2] Her father played college football at Tuskegee, and her sister, Daria, played college basketball at Louisiana Tech.[2] A captain in FC Dallas's youth program, McCutcheon won the ECNL under-16 national championship in 2017 and conference titles in 2017 and 2018.[2][3] She played high school soccer at Plano East Senior High School and committed to the University of Oklahoma as a sophomore.[4]

McCutcheon spent two seasons with the Oklahoma Sooners, making 35 appearances (27 starts), and was named to the All-Big 12 freshman team after scoring three goals in 2019.[2][5] She then transferred to West Virginia University, scoring on her debut against Buffalo in 2021.[6][7] A co-captain for two years, she started all 62 games for West Virginia over three seasons and won the Big 12 tournament in 2022.[8][9]

Club career

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2024: North Carolina Courage, Wellington Phoenix

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After going undrafted in the 2024 NWSL Draft, McCutcheon trained with Bay FC and the North Carolina Courage in the 2024 preseason and was signed to a one-year injury replacement contract with the Courage.[10][11] She was waived for a week in August but re-signed as a national team replacement player for the duration of the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup.[12][13]

McCutcheon left the Courage to sign with New Zealand club Wellington Phoenix FC on September 16, 2024, ahead of the 2024–25 A-League Women season.[14][15]

References

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  1. ^ "Maya McCutcheon". North Carolina Courage. Retrieved March 13, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d "Maya McCutcheon – Women's Soccer". West Virginia University Athletics. Retrieved March 13, 2024.
  3. ^ Eskilson, J.R. (July 9, 2017). "Hawks, FC Dallas, Blues win ECNL titles". TopDrawerSoccer. Retrieved March 13, 2024.
  4. ^ Raglin, Taylor (November 14, 2018). "Plano East sees 19 ink letters of intent in packed Signing Day ceremony". Plano Star Courier. Retrieved March 13, 2024.
  5. ^ Wolfhope, Katie (September 2, 2021). "Transfer Maya McCutcheon shines in early season play: 'It kind of didn't feel real, wearing the WVU jersey'". The Daily Athenaeum. Retrieved March 13, 2024.
  6. ^ Sneed, Olivia (July 6, 2021). "WVU Signs McCutcheon". West Virginia University Athletics. Retrieved March 13, 2024.
  7. ^ Sneed, Olivia (August 19, 2021). "WVU Opens 2021 with Win Over Buffalo". West Virginia University Athletics. Retrieved March 13, 2024.
  8. ^ Sneed, Olivia (November 6, 2022). "West Virginia Claims Fifth Big 12 Tournament Title". West Virginia University Athletics. Retrieved March 13, 2024.
  9. ^ Sneed, Olivia (March 13, 2024). "McCutcheon Signs with NC Courage". West Virginia University Athletics. Retrieved March 13, 2024.
  10. ^ "2024 Start-of-Season Roster". North Carolina Courage. March 13, 2024. Retrieved March 13, 2024.
  11. ^ "Bay FC announces 2024 preseason roster to open training camp". Bay FC. January 23, 2024. Retrieved March 13, 2024.
  12. ^ "Replacement contracts of Victoria Haugen and Maya McCutcheon waived". North Carolina Courage. August 21, 2024. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
  13. ^ "Haugen and McCutcheon signed to replacement contracts". North Carolina Courage. August 27, 2024. Retrieved August 31, 2024.
  14. ^ "American midfielder signs on with the Nix". Wellington Phoenix. June 17, 2024. Retrieved September 16, 2024.
  15. ^ Rollo, Phillip (September 16, 2024). "Why Wellington Phoenix have Cortnee Vine to thank for their latest import signing". Stuff. Retrieved October 27, 2024.
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