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Ellie Wheeler

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Ellie Wheeler
Wheeler with the Kansas City Current in 2024
Personal information
Full name Ellis Nicole Wheeler[1]
Date of birth (2001-12-14) December 14, 2001 (age 22)
Height 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
 Kansas City Current
Number 5
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2020–2023 Penn State Nittany Lions 77 (3)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2024– Kansas City Current 13 (1)
International career
2020 United States U-19 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of July 20, 2024

Ellis Nicole Wheeler (born December 14, 2001) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a defender for the Kansas City Current of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). She played college soccer for the Penn State Nittany Lions and was selected by the Current in the second round of the 2024 NWSL Draft.

Early life and college career

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Wheeler grew up in Fairfax Station, Virginia, the daughter of Scott and Nicole Wheeler, and has two brothers.[2][3] She played club soccer as a forward for FC Virginia of the Elite Clubs National League (ECNL), leading her division in goals in 2015–16.[4] She committed to the Pennsylvania State University in March 2017.[4]

Penn State Nittany Lions, 2020–2023

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Wheeler was a four-year starter for the Penn State Nittany Lions from 2020 to 2023.[2] She was converted to a defender at the college level, moving to wing back for her first season and then center back in the team's back three as a sophomore.[5] As a junior, she helped the team win the 2022 Big Ten tournament.[3] She recorded three goals and six assists over 77 appearances.[2]

Club career

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Kansas City Current, 2024–

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The Kansas City Current selected Wheeler 18th overall in the second round of the 2024 NWSL Draft, the team's highest pick of the night.[6] She was signed to a one-year contract with a one-year option.[7] She made her professional debut in the starting lineup of the season opener on May 16, 2024, and scored the second goal of a 5–4 home win against Portland Thorns FC.[8] On August 27, her contract was extended for four years to keep her with the Current through the 2028 season.[9]

International career

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Wheeler participated in Virginia's Olympic Development Program in 2013 and 2014.[4] She was called into a training camp with the United States national under-17 team in July 2018.[10] She was rostered with the national under-19 team for a friendly tournament in Spain in February–March 2020.[11] While in college, she played friendlies with the national under-23 team against NWSL clubs in the 2023 preseason.[12]

References

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  1. ^ "Penn State Commencement, Summer Session 2023, Baccalaureate and Associate Degrees" (PDF). Penn State. August 12, 2023. p. 14. Retrieved August 1, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c "Ellie Wheeler – Women's Soccer". Penn State Nittany Lions. Retrieved May 2, 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Ellie Wheeler". Kansas City Current. Retrieved May 2, 2024.
  4. ^ a b c Clark, Travis (March 17, 2017). "ECNL scoring ace makes 2020 commitment". TopDrawerSoccer. Retrieved May 2, 2024.
  5. ^ Lyons, Otis (August 25, 2021). "Ellie Wheeler's Defensive Improvement Key To Penn State Women's Soccer's Success". Onward State. Retrieved May 2, 2024.
  6. ^ Sperry, Daniel (January 13, 2024). "KC Current pick versatile right-back from Penn State, 2 goalkeepers in NWSL Draft". The Kansas City Star. Retrieved May 2, 2024.
  7. ^ "Kansas City Current sign pair of draft picks ahead of 2024 season". Kansas City Current. March 7, 2024. Retrieved May 2, 2024.
  8. ^ Sperry, Daniel (March 18, 2024). "History made & a wild game: KC Current electrify CPKC Stadium in season-opening win". The Kansas City Star. Retrieved May 2, 2024.
  9. ^ "Kansas City Current extend defender Ellie Wheeler for four years". Kansas City Current. August 27, 2024. Retrieved August 28, 2024.
  10. ^ "U17 WNT heads to Kansas City for camp". United States Soccer Federation. July 16, 2018. Retrieved May 2, 2024 – via TopDrawerSoccer.
  11. ^ "U19 WNT roster announced for La Manga". United States Soccer Federation. February 25, 2020. Retrieved May 2, 2024 – via TopDrawerSoccer.
  12. ^ "U23 WNT Roster for Thorns Tournament". United States Soccer Federation. March 3, 2023. Retrieved March 11, 2024 – via TopDrawerSoccer.com.
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