At just 13 years old, Mak Whitham became the youngest player ever signed to the NWSL when she joined Gotham FC last year. This peek into her life reveals a refreshingly normal teenager—think board game nights, apple cider cravings, and a bedroom full of soccer trophies—who also happens to be breaking barriers in professional women's soccer.

Editor’s Note: Whitham's story isn't just about a record-breaking age—it's a reminder that elite athletes can still be kids. Her rapid rise challenges assumptions about readiness in pro sports while humanizing the next generation of female athletes. For fans, it’s a hopeful glimpse at the NWSL’s future; for young players, it’s proof that big dreams don’t have to wait.