It’s only appropriate that the new Get to Know NJ/NY Gotham FC interview series starts with the player who has played in New Jersey her entire life: Kenie Wright.
Robbie: How did you first get introduced to soccer?
Kenie: So I started at a young age. I feel like everyone is always like I started at five so, yeah I started as soon as sports were available for kids. Both my parents were Division 1 athletes, my dad was a wrestler and my mom was a gymnast, so just there was always sports in our household. We were put in everything, but I really loved soccer at a young age. When travel ball started at like 8 years old, that is when I was like this is my passion. I have soccer all over my room like I was obsessed with it, like an unhealthy obsession, so I think from a young age, it was definitely my passion.
Robbie: How does it feel playing your entire career in your home state of New Jersey?
Kenie: It’s awesome! I was lucky enough to go to college at Rutgers and stay in Jersey to get to play in front of all my family and friends, even getting drafted by then Sky Blue FC now Gotham FC. It was awesome because I love New Jersey. I don’t want to leave New Jersey and the fact I get to do something I love and get to play in front of my friends and family. There is nothing better than that!
Robbie: What was it like being drafted in the 2019 NWSL Draft?
Kenie: So I was watching the draft live and I had no idea. Like I had no idea and I hope someone picks me up, when they called my name, I was like “Oh my gosh! Did they just say my name?”. I get to stay in New Jersey and play professional soccer. In that time, I was excited for like 2 minutes then I was like I still have to earn a contract because that’s what is crazy about the soccer world. You get drafted but you don’t get a contract right away for the most part so I was like “Alright, time to get to work!”. It was a switch of like I was excited then now I’m like I gotta get myself together.
Robbie: When did you first realize you could make soccer a career?
Kenie: It was always a dream like at a young age, you know like when you are in school at a young age and they ask you what you want to be when you grow up and I’m like a pro soccer player. It became a reality in college when I was a freshman and Erica Skroski was a senior at Rutgers. She got drafted and I was like that’s cool, people from Rutgers are getting drafted every year so as soon as I hit college, this is what I was gonna do! I need to perform well in college in order to make it to the next level.
Robbie: What is your goal coming back from your ACL injury?
Kenie: I think when I tore my ACL, it was always my goal to come back and be a better player, be stronger, be more fit, so I think right now what I’m focusing on is just becoming a better player from before when I got injured. I want to be a better player now! I think it’s just I’m gonna be grateful if I step foot on the field and I want to make an impact. You can come back from an ACL, it is a shame but I think a lot of people don’t come back from this injury because it is so brutal. I’m just so grateful and happy that I’m out at practice and get to kick around with my friends again.
Robbie: What is a short term goal with the team and what is a long term goal with the team?
Kenie: Short term goal for the team would just be staying consistent. Obviously, we had a really great start and I think we just need to continue to be consistent day in and day out in practice and that will correlate to the games. Long-term for this team, I think is obviously winning that championship. We definitely have the personnel to win a championship here. I think that would be awesome!
Robbie: What is your favorite moment with the club so far?
Kenie: Honestly, day in and day out, it would just be in the locker room with the girls. We just goof around and have so much fun with each other. For the soccer moment, I would say personally it was my first NWSL start in Red Bull Arena, it was the first game in Red Bull, and I got an assist that game. It was such a good feeling, that was the most fans we had ever gotten, it was such a cool atmosphere, and I’ll never forget that!
Robbie: What is a hobby or interest that you have outside of soccer?
Kenie: I really like to coach so I think that is something I want to pursue after my career but right now I’ve been coaching some teams and individuals. I think it’s really fun. It is nice to give back and just help out the youth.
Much like there is a new and improved NJ/NYGotham FC taking the pitch every week; we are anxious to see the new and improved Kenie Wright’s return to the pitch!
Check back in next week for the next article in the Get to Know NJ/NY Gotham FC with defender Sabrina Flores.
NJ/NY Gotham FC returns to the pitch this Sunday when they travel to face the Orlando Pride. The kickoff is set for 6:00 pm ET from Exploria Stadium, in Orlando, Florida. Fans unable to catch the match in person can catch it on Paramount+.
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