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Kristen Anne Mewis (born February 25, 1991) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for West Ham United of the Women's Super League (WSL) and the United States national team.[2][3]

Quick Facts Personal information, Full name ...
Kristie Mewis
Mewis in 2022
Personal information
Full name Kristen Anne Mewis[1]
Date of birth (1991-02-25) February 25, 1991 (age 33)
Place of birth Weymouth, Massachusetts, U.S.
Height 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
West Ham United
Number 15
Youth career
SC Scorpions
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2009–2012 Boston College Eagles 61 (33)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2013 Canberra United FC 2 (2)
2013 FC Kansas City 20 (1)
2014–2016 Boston Breakers 51 (10)
2014Iga FC Kunoichi (loan) 7 (5)
2015–2016Bayern Munich (loan) 7 (1)
2017 Washington Spirit 14 (2)
2017 Chicago Red Stars 1 (1)
2017–2021 Houston Dash 58 (11)
2022–2023 NJ/NY Gotham FC 31 (2)
2023– West Ham United 4 (0)
International career
2008 United States U17 16 (9)
2009–2010 United States U20 26 (6)
United States U23
2013– United States 53 (7)
Medal record
Olympic Games
Bronze medal – third place2020 TokyoTeam
CONCACAF W Championship
Winner2022 Mexico
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of October 13, 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of August 6, 2023
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Early life

Mewis grew up in Hanson, Massachusetts, where she attended Whitman-Hanson Regional High School and played on the soccer team. She finished her high school career with 74 goals and 34 assists. She was a three-time NSCAA All-American, three-time All-New England and All-Massachusetts team honoree and a three-time Eastern Massachusetts Girls Soccer Association Div. 1 First-Team All-Star. In 2008, Mewis was named the NSCAA Youth Player of the Year and the US Soccer Young Female Athlete of the Year. In 2009, she was named to the Parade All-America team.[4]

Mewis played for the Region 1 Olympic Development Program (ODP) team from 2003 to 2007. She played with her younger sister Sam at the 2008 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup and the 2010 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup.[4][5]

Boston College, 2009–2012

As a freshman at Boston College, Mewis recorded five goals and six assists, and was second on the team in shots taken with 72, bettered only by fellow Eagle and United States U-17 teammate, Vicki DiMartino.[6] Mewis played and started in 23 games and tied for fourth on the team in scoring with five goals and six assists for 16 points. Mewis played midfield and filled in on defense due to injuries. She was named to the All-ACC Freshmen Team, the Top Drawer Soccer All-Rookie team, and Soccer America All-Rookie team and earned NSCAA All-Southeast Region first team honors.[4]

During her sophomore year in 2010, Mewis started all 25 games on the season and led the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) in shots with 101. She scored ten goals, ranking seventh in the ACC and second for Boston. She was first on the team in assists with 14; tied for the ACC lead. She tied for fifth in the ACC in points with 34. Mewis set a school record by recording a goal or assist in 11 consecutive games from August 29 to October tallying seven goals and eight assists during the run. She was awarded ACC Player of the Week and CollegeSoccer360 Team of the Week honors on October 4. Mewis was named New England Soccer News Player of the Year and was an All-ACC first team selection. She was a Hermann Trophy semifinalist and a member of Soccer America MVP's first team. Mewis received NSCAA All-American first team accolades and was named to Top Drawer Soccer's second team. She was also the NSCAA Player of the Week on September 29.[4]

In 2011, Mewis led the team in scoring eight goals and six assists for 22 points and was named the Offensive Team MVP. Starting and playing in 20 games during the season, Mewis logged 1,545 minutes of play while leading the team in shots with 81. She averaged 4.05 shots per game, ranking second in the ACC and was 11th in the ACC in points, with 22. Mewis was a NSCAA Division 1 All-America third team selection and earned NSCAA Southeast Regional first team honors. She was an all-ACC first team selection, was named to the Soccer America MVP second team, and was named to the Soccer America Preseason All-America list. Mewis was named to the Preseason Hermann Trophy Watch List and was a semifinalist for the award.[4]

During her senior year, Mewis finished the 2012 season with a career-high 16 goals, 12 assists for a career-high 44 points. She recorded nine multi-point games (three or more points) and had a goal or assist in 15 of 21 games this season. Mewis is the all-time leading scorer in the Boston College program with 116 total points. After opening the season with a nine-game scoring streak, second to her personal and program record of 11 games which she accomplished in 2010, she was named a Division 1 ECAC All-Star and Hermann Trophy Semifinalist. Mewis received NSCAA First Team All-America and All-Southeast Region honors and was named to the TopDrawerSoccer.com Team of the Season – Upperclassmen – first team. She was named to the All-ACC first team and College Sports Madness All-American first team. Mewis tallied her first career hat trick in a match against Harvard. The three goals made her the all-time leader in points at Boston College. She finished her career with 39 goals, 38 assists, nine game-winning goals and 21 multiple-point games. She was the second player in program history to register a goal in five straight games.[4]

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Club career

Canberra United FC, 2013

Mewis signed with the Australian W-League team Canberra United FC to finish the final two weeks of the 2012–13 season.[7][8][9][10] She made her first appearance for the club during a 5–0 win against the Western Sydney Wanderers FC on January 8 and scored the team's fifth goal in the 89th minute of the match.[11][12] Her second and final appearance occurred on January 12 when the team was defeated 5–1 by eventual regular season champions, Brisbane Roar FC. Mewis scored Canberra's only goal of the match in the 45th minute.[13] Canberra United finished fifth during the regular season with a 5–3–4 record.[14]

FC Kansas City, 2013

In January 2013, Mewis was drafted in the first round (third pick overall) of the 2013 NWSL College Draft to FC Kansas City for the inaugural season of the National Women's Soccer League.[15][16][17] She was elevated to U.S. Soccer-subsidized status during the year.[18] She scored her first goal of the season in the 74th minute of the Blues' 3–2 win over Portland Thorns FC on May 8.[19] Mewis made 20 starts as a rookie for FC Kansas City during the regular season helping the team finish second in the standings with an 11–5–6 record.[20] The team advanced to the playoffs but were defeated 3–2 in the semifinals by Portland.[21][22]

Boston Breakers, 2014–2016

In November 2013, FC Kansas City traded Mewis to Seattle Reign FC for Amy Rodriguez.[23] Of the trade, Reign FC coach, Laura Harvey said, "Kristie is a young, bright and talented player who we feel can benefit our long-term plan. She has proven that she can be a high-level player in this environment and we feel we have the structure to help push Kristie to the next level."[24] On November 18, 2013, she was traded alongside Michelle Betos and two 2015 NWSL College Draft picks to the Boston Breakers for Sydney Leroux.[25]

She started in 15 games and scored 3 goals in 2014 for the Breakers.

Iga FC Kunoichi, 2014 (loan)

October 2014 Mewis signed a three-month contract with Iga FC Kunoichi of the Japanese Nadeshiko League first division. Wearing number 31 and playing as a forward, Mewis scored five goals in seven games, which included two braces. During matches in which she played, Iga FC compiled a record of 6–1.[26]

FC Bayern Munich, 2015 (loan)

In August 2015, Mewis signed a one-year contract with Bayern Munich.[26][27]

Washington Spirit, 2016–2017

In November 2016, Mewis was traded along with Kassey Kallman from the Boston Breakers to the Washington Spirit for Megan Oyster.[28]

Chicago Red Stars, 2017

On August 21, 2017, Mewis was traded to the Chicago Red Stars for their first round draft pick in the 2018 NWSL College Draft.[29] In her first and only game for the Red Stars (against her previous team), she scored a goal in the first half helping to secure a victory for the Red Stars and eliminating the Spirit from playoff contention.[30]

Houston Dash, 2017–2021

On August 30, 2017, about a week after being traded to the Chicago Red Stars, Mewis was traded to the Houston Dash for USWNT player Morgan Brian with additional, undisclosed future considerations going to Houston.[31]

Mewis was voted onto the NWSL's May 2018 Team of the Month.[32]

During a game in May 2018 vs the Washington Spirit, Mewis tore her ACL. Mewis returned stronger in 2019 with a new mindset stating: "Me tearing my ACL was kind of a blessing in disguise because I feel like it just woke me up a little bit. It just made me ask myself, 'Kristie, what are you doing? You need to come back from this. You're being OK with being 70 or 80 percent,'" she continued, "It was just hard to admit to myself that I wasn't happy with where I was. But I think I just woke up one day and was like, 'Let's do this.'".[33] The next year, Mewis would go on to help the Houston Dash win their first trophy at the 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup.

Gotham FC, 2022–2023

On December 16, 2021, Mewis was selected by NWSL expansion club San Diego Wave FC in the 2022 NWSL Expansion Draft and subsequently traded to Gotham FC in exchange for $200,000 in allocation money.[34] In the 2023 NWSL semifinal, Mewis made an assist to Katie Stengel, who made the game 1–0 against Portland Thorns and sent Gotham FC to the final, where they won.[35] In December 2023, Mewis and Gotham FC mutually agreed to part ways.[36]

West Ham United, 2023–

On December 22, 2023, Mewis joined Women's Super League club, West Ham United.[37] She made her debut for the club on January 21, 2024, coming on as a substitute for Honoka Hayashi in the 62nd minute, assisting a goal in the 4–3 loss against Tottenham Hotspur.[38]

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International career

Youth teams

Thumb
Candlestick Park, October 2013

Mewis co-captained the United States U-17 team that was runner-up at the inaugural 2008 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in New Zealand.[39] Over the course of the tournament, Mewis scored two goals. She was the recipient of the Bronze Ball as the tournament's third-best player.[40] Mewis also played in the 2010 U-20 Women's World Cup in Germany where the team lost in the quarterfinals. Mewis's younger sister Sam was also a member of both youth World Cup squads.

Senior team

In January 2013, Mewis was called to the national training camp by head coach Tom Sermanni in preparation for a friendly match against Scotland.[41] She made her debut for the senior team on February 9, 2013, against Scotland and was placed on the roster for 2013 Algarve Cup.[42] Mewis scored the game-opening goal in the third minute of a friendly match against South Korea on June 15, 2013, near her hometown in Massachusetts.[43]

After earning 15 caps between 2013 and 2014, Mewis fell off the national team radar. Following a five-year absence, she was called back up to a USWNT talent identification training camp in December 2019 by new coach Vlatko Andonovski.[44] She was called to the full senior team training camps in both October and November 2020 prior to a friendly against the Netherlands. Mewis came on as a second-half substitute against the Netherlands, marking her first appearance in over six years, and scoring in the 70th minute. Her second international goal came 2,722 days after her first in June 2013, the longest span between goals in team history.[45]

In October 2020, after winning the Challenge Cup with the Houston Dash, Mewis credited her improvement in form to the process of recovering from an anterior cruciate ligament injury she suffered in 2018, particularly citing how it forced her to re-evaluate her competitive mentality. Following her recovery, Mewis returned the Dash in May 2019, and her improved form was rewarded with her first national team call-up in more than three years.[46]

On June 21, 2023, Andonovski named Mewis to the United States squad for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup in Australia.[47] While she did not feature during the group stage, she made her first World Cup appearance during the game against Sweden, coming on in the last minute of extra time before the penalty shootout.[48] With her first and only touch in the World Cup, Mewis converted her shot, putting the U.S. up 3–2. However, the team went on to miss three of the next four penalties, eliminating the U.S. from the World Cup in the Round of 16.

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Personal life

Mewis is the older sister of Sam Mewis, who also played on the United States women's national soccer team.[49] She previously dated Houston Dash teammate Rachel Daly.[50] Since the beginning of 2021, Mewis has been in a relationship with Australian soccer player Sam Kerr. Mewis and Kerr are engaged as of late 2023.[51] On November 18, 2024, she announced that she and Kerr were expecting their first child, due in 2025. [52]

Television and film

Mewis appeared in the Netflix documentary series Under Pressure, which follows the U.S. women's national soccer team as they compete in the 2023 World Cup. The docuseries premiered on December 12, 2023.[53]

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Career statistics

Club

As of October 13, 2024[54]
More information Club, Season ...
Club Season Division League League Cup[a] NWSL Challenge Cup[b] Continental[c] Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Canberra United FC 2012–13 W-League 2222
FC Kansas City 2013 NWSL 20110211
Boston Breakers 2014 173173
2015 206206
2016 141141
Washington Spirit 2017 142142
Chicago Red Stars 2017 1111
Houston Dash 2017 5050
2018 112112
2019 224224
2020 113113
2021 1632210195
NJ/NY Gotham FC 2022 18252123
2023 13 0 1 0 2 0 15 0
Total 173 27 2 0 20 7 1 0 196 34
West Ham United 2023–24 WSL 3 0 3 0
2024–25 1 0 0 0 1 0
Total 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0
Iga FC Kunoichi Mie (loan) 2014 Nadeshiko League 7 5 7 5
FC Bayern Munich (loan) 2015–16 Frauen-Bundesliga 7 1 0 0 7 1
Total 7 1 7 5 0 0 0 0 14 6
Career total 18428952071021240
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  1. Includes NWSL Playoffs, W-League playoffs, and Nadeshiko League regulation playoffs

International

As of match played August 6, 2023
More information National Team, Year ...
National TeamYearAppsGoalsAssists
United States
20131012
2014500
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020110
20211722
20221330
2023700
Total5374
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International goals

More information No., Cap ...
No. Cap Date Venue Opponent Minute Assist Score Result Competition
1 6 June 15, 2013[55] Foxborough, Massachusetts  South Korea 3' Sydney Leroux 1-0 4-1 Friendly
2 16 November 27, 2020[45] Breda, Netherlands  Netherlands 70' Lynn Williams 2-0 2–0
3 17 January 18, 2021[56] Orlando, Florida  Colombia 85' Carli Lloyd 4-0 4–0
4 21 February 24, 2021[57]  Argentina 41' Casey Krueger 4-0 6–0 2021 SheBelieves Cup
5 36 February 23, 2022[58] Frisco, Texas  Iceland 88' Margaret Purce 5-0 5–0 2022 SheBelieves Cup
6 42 July 7, 2022[59] Guadalupe, Mexico  Jamaica 83' penalty kick 4-0 5–0 2022 CONCACAF Championship
7 43 July 11, 2022[60] San Nicolás de los Garza, Mexico  Mexico 89' unassisted 1-0 1–0
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Honors and awards

Houston Dash
NJ/NY Gotham FC

United States

Individual

See also

References

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