On this special episode of “Listen In With KNN” sports talk radio show and podcast, host and executive producer Kelsey Nicole Nelson welcomes special guest Washington Spirit forward Makenna Morris.
Morris attended Clemson University, where she starred for the Tigers before being drafted No. 13 overall by the Washington Spirit in the 2024 NWSL draft in January. She secured numerous honors at Clemson including ACC All-Freshman (2020), Second Team All-ACC (2020) and Third Team All-ACC (2021).
Morris started playing soccer when she was little. She would play with her younger siblings and watch the Spirit play at the SoccerPlex in Boyds, Maryland. She called it a full-circle moment to now be playing for the Spirit team, which previously played in her hometown of Germantown, Maryland before calling Audi Field home.
“That was my childhood,” she said. “Me, my sister and my younger brother; We would try to sneak into games. It was right across the street from our house.”
Nelson asked Morris about her experience playing for the Spirit and to describe the atmosphere of playing in front of DMV sports fans. She said it’s amazing to play alongside players like Trinity Rodman and work with people who are invested in women’s soccer like Washington Spirit owner Michele Kang and the newest member of the Spirit ownership group, NBA Hall of Famer Magic Johnson.
The hype of women’s sports continues to grow and the Greater Washington metropolitan area with no exception. Morris told Nelson that the growth in women’s soccer and sports, in general, is so inspiring, and she loves that she’s a part of that.
“To play with people like Trinity, who bring a personality and more attention to the game with how good and funny she is. She just brings so much to the table,” Morris said. “We have owners that really invest in women’s soccer. They really do show up and do as much for us as possible in putting women’s sports on the map, and I love that.”
Morris described the D.C. sports fans as “committed” because they stay until the very end of the game and you can feel their love and energy in every moment.
“Playing in D.C. is where you want to be,” Morris said. “With a fan base like that, it doesn’t get better than that.”
Finding ways to continue to engage with the fan base, Morris is getting more involved in giving back to the community. On Oct. 21, Morris will co-host the Sugar Ray Leonard Jr. “Women Empowerment” Celebrity Golf Tournament presented by Next Health. Sugar Ray Leonard Jr. is the eldest son of Hall of Fame professional boxer Sugar Ray Leonard. All proceeds will go to Community Bridges Silver Spring and Lady Bridges of Baltimore, two organizations about empowerment for women from all backgrounds through mentorship, skills development and education.
“I can’t tell you how proud I am to be a host for an event like this,” she said. “For what I’m able to do with the Spirit, and all the leaders and women we have on our staff that show the importance of that leadership and how women can do it too. I think it’s so, so important.”
Women empowerment, to Morris, is using your voice to express who you are and not letting anything or anyone stop you from reaching your goals.
“Just breaking all barriers and knowing ‘I don’t care; this is what I want to do’,” she said. “I’m setting my standards high, I’m setting my goals high and I’m going to reach them.”
The upcoming Women Empowerment golf tournament takes place at the Lakewood Country Club in Rockville, Maryland. Tickets include an awards dinner, an open bar, a silent auction and a celebrity meet and greet in addition to the golf tournament.
Multiple celebrity athletes will attend such as MLB legend Johnny Damon, former NFL stars Brian Mitchell and Marshall Faulk, as well as pioneering female football coach Jen Welter, MLB veteran Mike Devereaux and former heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis. Washington Spirit player Corix Bethune will also attend.
“It’s crazy because I don’t consider myself to be one [a celebrity] yet,” Morris said. “So I’m like ‘oh my gosh’, I’m going to be fangirling.”
Visit Leonard Sports Management’s website to register for the Women Empowerment Golf Tournament. To watch the full interview with Morris, please visit the FOX Sports Radio YouTube video here.
