Tara McKeown | QueenBallers Player profile

Tara

McKeown

Jul 2, 1999

#9 - Defender

Washington Spirit

Tara Leana McKeown is an American professional football player who plays as a center back for National Women's Soccer League club Washington Spirit. Formerly a forward, she played college football for the USC Trojans before being drafted eighth overall by the Spirit in the 2021 NWSL Draft.

Did You Know?

In high school, she ran track and specialized in hurdles.

She has a bachelor's degree in Human Development and Aging from the University of Southern California.

She loves country music, naming Kenny Chesney, Luke Combs, Megan Maroney, and Kelsea Ballerini as her favorite artists. She grew up listening to country because of her parents, though she used to dislike it.

Her favorite player growing up was Mia Hamm, who inspired her to play football at a high level. She met Mia during an unofficial visit to UNC.

She doesn’t have a pet with her currently but hopes to get one during the offseason. She’s considering a cat because of its lower maintenance compared to a dog.

Her most memorable Spirit moment was winning the 2021 NWSL Championship and drawing a penalty.

She doesn’t have traditional superstitions but always drinks Pedialyte on gameday to avoid dehydration, a habit she picked up in college.

Her dream car is a Range Rover—she envisions it as her ultimate “soccer mom car.” She is also interesting in electric cars.

She wanted to go pro in football from a young age, first thinking of the possibility when she started playing club football at 8 years old.

For her, the greatest players are Lionel Messi and Mia Hamm.

Her go-to meal at home is pasta with turkey meat sauce, often using Rao’s or arrabbiata sauce.

Her go-to dance song is any country song. She even knows how to line dance a little and would jump on the dance floor for it.

She began playing football at age 5.

Another player she looked up to growing up was Abby Wambach.

Her nickname is 'T'.

She wore #9 throughout her youth but switched to #13 in college.

She likes TV shows Love Island and Stranger Things.

A movie she can quote from start to finish is Country Song.

Her least favorite food are dates.

She says her family is her inspiration. She was raised with two sisters and one brother.

Her favorite emoji is ?.

Her karaoke song would be Bohemian Rhapsody.

If she could choose to live anywhere in the world, she would choose California,

She is a night owl.

Her favorite class in college was Anatomy.

Her favorite season is summer.

Best Actions

Tara McKeown takes it herself | NWSL Quarter-final

NWSL Goal

Club Achievements

NWSL Championship	1×
Sud Ladies Cup	1×

Awards

NWSL Player of the Week

1×

Stats

Year	Club	AP	GL
2021 - present	Washington Spirit	93	7
2017 - 2021	USC Trojans	76	33
International Stats
2019 -	United States U23	3	1
2017 - 2018	United States U20	14	0

Team: Washington Spirit

Nicole Barnhart

Nicole
Barnhart

Croix Bethune

Lyza Bosselmann

Lyza
Bosselmann

Courtney Brown

Annaïg Butel

Jenna Butler

Gabrielle Carle

Gabrielle
Carle

Ashley Hatch

Anna Heilferty

Hal Hershfelt

Aubrey Kingsbury

Aubrey
Kingsbury

Rosemonde
Kouassi

Casey Krueger

Civana Kuhlmann

Civana
Kuhlmann

Sandy MacIver

Paige Metayer

Esme Morgan

Makenna Morris

Brittany Ratcliffe

Brittany
Ratcliffe

Chloe Ricketts

Trinity Rodman

Leicy Santos

Ouleymata Sarr

Lena Silano

Heather Stainbrook

Heather
Stainbrook

Andi Sullivan

Kate Wiesner

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