{{Short description|American soccer player (born 1999)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2022}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Elyse Bennett | image = NC Courage vs SD Wave (Oct 2024) 005.jpg | image_size = 200px | alt = | caption = Bennett with San Diego Wave FC in 2024 | fullname = Elyse Morgan Bennett<ref name="wsu-bio"/> | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1999|12|27}} | birth_place = Lake Forest, Illinois, U.S.<ref name="wsu-bio">{{Cite web |url=https://wsucougars.com/sports/womens-soccer/roster/elyse-bennett/10349 |title=Elyse Bennett – Bio |website=wsucougars.com |access-date=May 3, 2022}}</ref><!-- hometown is De Pere, Wisc., but birthplace is confirmed in WSU bio --> | height = 5 ft 10 in<ref name="wsu-bio"/> | position = Forward | currentclub = Montreal Roses | clubnumber = | youthyears1 = 2015–2017 | youthclubs1 = FC Wisconsin Eclipse<ref name="wsu-bio"/> | collegeyears1 = 2017–2021 | college1 = Washington State Cougars | collegecaps1 = 93 | collegegoals1 = 26 | years1 = 2022 | clubs1 = Kansas City Current | caps1 = 21 | goals1 = 3 | years2 = 2023 | clubs2 = OL Reign | caps2 = 21 | goals2 = 2 | years3 = 2024 | clubs3 = San Diego Wave | caps3 = 14 | goals3 = 0 | years4 = 2025 | clubs4 = Deportivo de La Coruña | caps4 = 9 | goals4 = 1 | years5 = 2025 | clubs5 = Orlando Pride | caps5 = 0 | goals5 = 0 | years6 = 2026– | clubs6 = Montreal Roses | caps6 = 0 | goals6 = 0 | nationalyears1 = | nationalteam1 = | nationalcaps1 = | nationalgoals1 = | medaltemplates = | club-update = 15:09, December 2, 2025 (UTC) | nationalteam-update = }}
'''Elyse Morgan Bennett''' (born December 27, 1999) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a forward for Northern Super League club Montreal Roses FC. She played college soccer for the Washington State Cougars before being selected seventh overall in the 2022 NWSL Draft by the Kansas City Current.
After playing one season in Kansas City, Bennett spent time with fellow NWSL teams OL Reign, San Diego Wave FC, and the Orlando Pride. She has also played for Spanish Liga F club Deportivo de La Coruña.
==Early life== Born in Lake Forest, Illinois, Bennett was raised in the Green Bay, Wisconsin area and played several youth sports through middle school before taking up soccer in high school.<ref name="wsu-bio"/><ref name="kc-edgar">{{Cite web |url=https://www.kansascity.com/sports/mls/kc-current/article261033837.html |title=Daughter of Super Bowl champ (and late-comer to soccer) makes own name with KC Current |author=Daniel Sperry |publisher=Kansas City Star |website=kansascity.com |access-date=May 3, 2022 |date=May 3, 2022}}</ref><ref name="bvm">{{Cite web |last1=Morris |first1=Matthew |title=Washington State's Elyse Bennett made it to Kansas City Current her own way |url=https://bvmsports.com/2022/01/11/washington-states-elyse-bennett-made-it-to-the-kansas-city-current-her-own-way/ |website=BVM Sports |date=January 11, 2022 |access-date=May 3, 2022}}</ref>
Bennett played one season for De Pere High School in De Pere, Wisconsin before joining the FC Wisconsin Eclipse youth program, where she became a top scorer in the Elite Clubs National League for the 2015–16 season.<ref name="wsu-bio"/><ref name="kc-edgar"/> She suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury during her senior year of high school.<ref name="kc-edgar" /><ref name="bvm" />
==College career== Bennett graduated from high school early and enrolled in Washington State University as an early recruit to its women's soccer team.<ref name="wsu-recruit">{{Cite web |url=https://wsucougars.com/news/2017/2/1/womens-soccer-soccer-signs-14-from-across-the-country.aspx |title=Soccer Signs 14 From Across The Country |date=February 1, 2017 |access-date=May 3, 2022 |publisher=Washington State Cougars athletic communications}}</ref>
After playing as a substitute and starter in her freshman season, Bennett became a regular starter at forward in her sophomore season before suffering a second ACL injury. She returned to start 23 of 24 matches in her junior year, 12 matches in the COVID-19-shortened 2020–21 spring season, and 21 matches in her fifth year in 2021.<ref name="wsu-bio"/>
Her fifth season featured career highs in goals (10), points (24), shots (93), shots on goal (37), and minutes played (1,557), and she was named to the All-Pac-12 first team and United Soccer Coaches All-American second team. Bennett was also the second Washington State player to play in more than 90 career matches, finishing with a second-most tally of 93 appearances.<ref name="wsu-bio"/><ref name="bvm"/>
==Club career==
=== Kansas City Current === The Kansas City Current selected Bennett with the club's first pick and the seventh pick overall of the 2022 NWSL Draft.<ref name="kc-draft">{{Cite web |url=https://www.kansascity.com/sports/mls/kc-current/article256706567.html |title=KC Current select Washington State forward with first-round pick in 2021 NWSL Draft |publisher=Kansas City Star |website=kansascity.com |author=Shaun Goodwin |date=December 18, 2021 |access-date=May 3, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Morris |first=Matthew |date=2022-01-11 |title=Washington State's Elyse Bennett made it to Kansas City Current her own way |url=https://bvmsports.com/2022/01/11/washington-states-elyse-bennett-made-it-to-the-kansas-city-current-her-own-way/ |access-date=2024-12-08 |website=BVM Sports |language=en-US}}</ref> After playing in both and scoring in one of Kansas City's preseason matches, Bennett signed her first professional contract with the Current.<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 15, 2022 |title=Kansas City Current Announces Roster, Agree to Contracts With 2022 NWSL Draft Class |url=https://www.kansascitycurrent.com/news/kansas-city-current-announces-roster-agree-to-contracts-with |access-date=December 7, 2024 |website=Kansas City Current}}</ref> During the 2022 NWSL Challenge Cup, Bennett recorded four assists in her first six professional matches,<ref name="kc-edgar" /> including a two-assist match against the Chicago Red Stars that earned her an NWSL Player of the Week award.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://fox4kc.com/sports/kansas-city-current/kc-current-midfielder-elyse-bennett-named-player-of-the-week/ |title=KC Current midfielder Elyse Bennett named Player of the Week |date=April 29, 2022 |access-date=May 3, 2022 |author=Juan Cisneros |publisher=FOX 4 Kansas City |website=fox4kc.com}}</ref> She scored her first professional goal on May 14, 2022, in a 2–2 draw with the Orlando Pride.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sperry |first=Daniel |date=May 14, 2022 |title=KC Current rally to tie late, then take lead, but extra-time goal gives Pride the draw |url=https://www.kansascity.com/sports/soccer/kc-current/article261450227.html |access-date=December 7, 2024 |website=The Kansas City Star}}</ref>
=== OL Reign === On January 11, 2023, OL Reign traded $150,000 in allocation money to the Kansas City Current in exchange for Bennett.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.olreign.com/news/2023/1/11/ol-reign-acquires-forward-elyse-bennett-and-draft-pick-in-trade-with-kc-current |title=OL Reign Acquires Forward Elyse Bennett and Draft Pick in Trade with KC Current |date=January 11, 2023 |access-date=December 18, 2023 |website=olreign.com |archive-date=June 30, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230630121128/https://www.olreign.com/news/2023/1/11/ol-reign-acquires-forward-elyse-bennett-and-draft-pick-in-trade-with-kc-current |url-status=dead}}</ref> She made her debut for the Reign during the club's first match of the season, coming on as a substitute in a 1–0 defeat to the Washington Spirit.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Spirit |first=Washington |date=2023-03-27 |title=Spirit Victorious, 1-0, in Season Opener Versus OL Reign |url=https://washingtonspirit.com/blog/2023/03/26/spirit-victorious-1-0-in-season-opener-versus-ol-reign/ |access-date=2024-12-08 |website=Washington Spirit |language=en-US}}</ref> Bennett tallied her first goal with the Reign in a 4–1 victory over Angel City FC on May 27.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Match Recap: OL Reign Flips the Script Against Angel City FC |url=https://www.reignfc.com/news/match-recap-ol-reign-flips-the-script-against-angel-city-fc-23s85 |access-date=2024-12-08 |website=Seattle Reign FC |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |agency=Associated Press |date=2023-05-28 |title=Angel City scores early but can't hold back OL Reign in loss |url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/soccer/angel-city-fc/story/2023-05-27/angel-city-lose-ol-reign-nwsl-recap |access-date=2024-12-08 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref> In July 2023, Bennett was nominated for NWSL Player of the Week honors after scoring a goal and recording an assist against Racing Louisville FC.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Forward Elyse Bennett Nominated for NWSL Player of the Week |url=https://www.reignfc.com/news/forward-elyse-bennett-nominated-for-nwsl-player-of-the-week-cytkr |access-date=2024-12-08 |website=Seattle Reign FC |language=en-US}}</ref>
Midway through the year, the Reign extended Bennett's contract through the 2024 season, with an additional year option for the 2025 season.<ref>{{Cite web |title=OL Reign Extends Contract of Forward Elyse Bennett |url=https://www.reignfc.com/news/ol-reign-extends-contract-of-forward-elyse-bennett-xr6ha |access-date=2024-12-08 |website=Seattle Reign FC |language=en-US}}</ref> Bennett and the Reign eventually advanced to the NWSL playoffs, vanquishing Angel City FC and San Diego Wave FC before facing off against NJ/NY Gotham FC in the final. Bennett came on as a substitute in the game and was involved in a sequence resulting in opposing goalkeeper Mandy Haught receiving a red card.<ref>{{Cite web |title=NJ/NY Gotham FC captures 2023 NWSL Championship |url=https://www.soccerwire.com/news/nj-ny-gotham-fc-captures-2023-nwsl-championship-beating-ol-reign-2-1/ |access-date=2024-12-08 |website=SoccerWire |language=en}}</ref> The Reign failed to score off of the ensuing free kick, and Gotham FC secured the title with a 2–1 win.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Communications |first=Gotham FC |date=2023-11-12 |title=Match Recap: NJ/NY Gotham FC Win NWSL Championship |url=https://www.gothamfc.com/news_article/show/1291137 |access-date=2024-12-08 |website=NJ/NY Gotham FC |language=en-us}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Armour |first=Ayrton Ostly and Nancy |title=NWSL Championship highlights: Gotham FC crowned champions as Rapinoe, Krieger end careers |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/soccer/nwsl/2023/11/11/nwsl-championship-megan-rapinoe-live-updates-ol-reign-gotham-fc/71539239007/ |access-date=2024-12-08 |website=USA TODAY |language=en-US}}</ref>
=== San Diego Wave === On December 15, 2023, the Utah Royals selected Bennett with their first pick (second overall) in the 2024 NWSL Expansion Draft.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.nwslsoccer.com/nwsl-expansion-draft |title=2024 NWSL EXPANSION DRAFT |date=December 15, 2023 |access-date=December 18, 2023 |website=nwslsoccer.com |archive-date=May 24, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240524185222/https://www.nwslsoccer.com/nwsl-expansion-draft |url-status=dead }}</ref> Two days later, Utah traded Bennett to San Diego Wave FC for $40,000 in allocation money.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://sandiegowavefc.com/san-diego-wave-fc-acquire-elyse-bennett-from-utah-royals/ |title=San Diego Wave FC Acquire Elyse Bennett from Utah Royals |date=December 17, 2023 |access-date=December 18, 2023 |website=sandiegowavefc.com}}</ref> She debuted for the Wave as part of the starting lineup that played against Gotham FC in the one-match NWSL Challenge Cup. The Wave won the game, 1–0, marking Bennett's first title with San Diego.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Emerick |first=Tyler |date=2024-03-16 |title=San Diego Wave FC Defeat 1-0 NJ/NY Gotham FC in 2024 UKG NWSL Challenge Cup |url=https://sandiegowavefc.com/san-diego-wave-fc-defeat-1-0-nj-ny-gotham-fc-in-2024-ukg-nwsl-challenge-cup/ |access-date=2024-12-08 |website=San Diego Wave Fútbol Club |language=en-US}}</ref> At the end of the season, Bennett was out of contract with the Wave.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Grueskin |first=Birgen |date=2024-12-10 |title=San Diego Wave FC Announces 2024 End-of-Year Roster Decisions |url=https://sandiegowavefc.com/san-diego-wave-fc-announces-2024-end-of-year-roster-decisions/ |access-date=2024-12-26 |website=San Diego Wave Fútbol Club |language=en-US}}</ref> The club later announced that Bennett would not be returning to San Diego and would instead be exploring opportunities as a free agent.<ref>{{Cite tweet |number=1868766968406589503 |user=sandiegowavefc |title=Colaprico, Ali, Bennett, and Messner have departed the club and will pursue other opportunities in NWSL free agency. |author=San Diego Wave FC |author-link=San Diego Wave FC |date=December 16, 2024 |access-date=December 25, 2024}}</ref> Bennett departed from the Wave with 14 league appearances and 0 goals in her lone season in San Diego.<ref name=":0">{{Soccerway}}</ref>
=== Deportivo de La Coruña === Bennett signed with Spanish team Deportivo de La Coruña on February 3, 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Elyse Bennett incorpórase ao Dépor ABANCA até final de temporada |url=https://www.rcdeportivo.es/gl/novas/elyse-bennett-incorporase-ao-depor-abanca-ate-final-de-temporada |access-date=2025-02-04 |website=www.rcdeportivo.es |language=gl}}</ref> She scored her first Deportivo goal in the team's penultimate match of the 2024–25 Liga F season, netting the equalizer that cemented Deportivo's place above the relegation line.<ref>{{Cite web |title=El Dépor ABANCA empata frente al Sevilla FC ante más de 5.000 personas en ABANCA-RIAZOR y confirma su permanencia en la Liga F |url=https://www.rcdeportivo.es/noticias/el-depor-abanca-empata-frente-al-sevilla-fc-ante-mas-de-5000-personas-en-abanca-riazor-y-confirma-su-permanencia-en-la-liga-f |access-date=2025-05-12 |website=www.rcdeportivo.es |language=es}}</ref>
=== Orlando Pride === On August 31, 2025, Bennett returned to the NWSL, signing a short-term contract with the Orlando Pride through the end of 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=31 August 2025 |title=Orlando Pride signs forward Elyse Bennett |url=https://www.orlandocitysc.com/pride/news/orlando-pride-signs-forward-elyse-bennett |access-date=2025-08-31 |website=Orlando City SC |language=en}}</ref> She made her first appearance for Orlando on September 2, coming on as a second-half substitute in the Pride's first-ever CONCACAF W Champions Cup match.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2 September 2025 |title=Match Report: Orlando Pride defeats L.D. Alajuelense 3-0 in first Concacaf Women’s Champions Cup match |url=https://www.orlandocitysc.com/pride/news/match-report-orlando-pride-defeats-l-d-alajuelense-3-0-in-first-concacaf-women-s-champions-cup-match |access-date=2025-09-04 |website= |publisher=Orlando Pride |language=en}}</ref> She made two other appearances for Orlando, both of which were also in CONCACAF matches, before departing from the club at the end of the season.<ref name=":0" />
=== Montreal Roses === On February 3, 2026, it was announced that Bennet had signed for Northern Super League side Montreal Roses FC.<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 3, 2026 |title=Montreal Roses Sign American Forward Bennet |url=https://en.rosesmtl.ca/news/montr%C3%A9al-roses-sign-american-forward-bennett |access-date=February 3, 2026 |website=Montreal Roses FC |language=en-CA}}</ref> She scored twice in her competitive debut for the club, a 2–0 win over Calgary Wild FC in the opening game of the Roses' 2026 season.<ref>{{Cite news |date=April 25, 2026 |title=Elyse Bennett's brace leads Montreal Roses to victory over Calgary Wild |url=https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/video/9.7177586 |access-date=April 25, 2026 |work=CBC Sports}}</ref>
==Personal life==
Bennett is the daughter of National Football League coach and former player Edgar Bennett. She has one older brother, Edgar IV.<ref name="wsu-bio"/><ref name="kc-edgar"/> Bennett credited advice from her father, who recovered from ACL injuries during his professional football career, with aiding her recovery from her own.<ref name="bvm"/>
== Career statistics ==
=== Club === {{Updated|December 2, 2025}} {| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" |+Appearances and goals by club, season and competition ! rowspan="2" |Club ! rowspan="2" |Season ! colspan="3" |League ! colspan="2" |Cup{{Efn|Includes the NWSL Challenge Cup}} ! colspan="2" |Playoffs{{Efn|Includes NWSL Playoffs}} ! colspan="2" |Continental{{Efn|Includes CONCACAF W Champions Cup}} ! colspan="2" |Other ! colspan="2" |Total |- !Division !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals |- |Kansas City Current |2022 | rowspan="3" |NWSL |21 |3 |7 |0 |3 |0 | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" |— |31 |3 |- |OL Reign |2023 |21 |2 |7 |1 |1 |0 | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" |— |29 |2 |- |San Diego Wave FC |2024 |14 |0 |1 |0 | colspan="2" |— |3 |0 |3{{Efn|Includes NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup}} |0 |21 |0 |- |Deportivo de La Coruña |2024–25 |Liga F |9 |1 | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" |— |9 |1 |- |Orlando Pride |2025 |NWSL |0 |0 |0 |0 | colspan="2" |— |3 |0 | colspan="2" |— |3 |0 |- ! colspan="3" |Career total !65 !6 !15 !1 !4 !0 !6 !0 !3 !0 !93 !6 |} {{notelist}}
== Honors == '''San Diego Wave'''
* NWSL Challenge Cup: 2024<ref>{{cite web |date=March 16, 2024 |title=San Diego Wave FC Defeat 1-0 NJ/NY Gotham FC in 2024 UKG NWSL Challenge Cup |url=https://sandiegowavefc.com/san-diego-wave-fc-defeat-1-0-nj-ny-gotham-fc-in-2024-ukg-nwsl-challenge-cup/}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category}} * {{Soccerway|id=810178}} * {{NWSL player|8d8c7710934e4343afee2535ade55bd9/elyse-bennett}} * [https://sandiegowavefc.com/player/elyse-bennett/ Elyse Bennett] at San Diego Wave FC * [https://web.archive.org/web/20230724063201/https://www.olreign.com/elyse-bennett Elyse Bennett] at OL Reign (archived) * [https://web.archive.org/web/20220420010749/https://www.kansascitycurrent.com/team/elyse-bennett Elyse Bennett] at Kansas City Current (archived) * [https://wsucougars.com/sports/womens-soccer/roster/elyse-bennett/10349 Elyse Bennett] at Washington State Cougars * {{Instagram}}
{{Montreal Roses FC squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bennett, Elyse}} Category:1999 births Category:Living people Category:African-American soccer players Category:American women's soccer players Category:National Women's Soccer League players Category:Washington State Cougars women's soccer players Category:North Carolina Courage draft picks Category:Soccer players from Lake County, Illinois Category:Women's association football forwards Category:Women's association football midfielders Category:Kansas City Current players Category:Soccer players from Wisconsin Category:Kansas City Current draft picks Category:Seattle Reign FC players Category:San Diego Wave FC players Category:Deportivo de La Coruña (women) players Category:American expatriate women's soccer players Category:Expatriate women's footballers in Spain Category:American expatriate sportspeople in Spain Category:Orlando Pride players Category:21st-century American sportswomen Category:Montreal Roses FC players Category:Expatriate women's soccer players in Canada Category:American expatriate sportspeople in Canada