Kennedy Fuller decided to turn professional and sign with Angel City FC as a 16-year-old.
On Sunday, just eight days after turning 17, Fuller was in the starting lineup as Angel City opened the season against Bay FC in front a sellout crowd of 22,000 at BMO Stadium.
Fuller said learned she was starting the previous night.
“I wouldn’t have been able to get the courage without my teammates,” Fuller said. “Before the game I had a bunch of pats on the back, a lot of ‘let’s go’ and that really helped.”
As for those first-game nerves.
“A little bit,” she said when asked if she was nervous. “That’s good, if you’re not nervous, I don’t think you care enough.”
The decision to turn pro and bypass college (Fuller was a North Carolina) commit was a difficult one, but Fuller believes she made the right decision.
“It was difficult,” she said. “UNC is an amazing place and I still feel like it’s my home. (Associate head coach) Damon (Nahas) and (head coach) Anson (Dorrance) are amazing and nothing bad to say about them, they’re awesome … having to tell them was probably one of the hardest parts because they supported me and they had confidence in me. I wouldn’t have done it (signed with Angel City) if I didn’t think this is a place for me to grow and if I didn’t feel comfortable.”
Fuller became the youngest player in Angel City’s short history to play in the game, but she did than just play. Fuller went 90 minutes, had three shots, two on target, was credited with four duels on and finished with a pass accuracy of 79.2%.
“I would never guess she’s 17 years old,” defender and vice captain Sarah Gorden said. “Super impressed and proud of her and I’m excited to see where her career goes.”
Fuller is no stranger to big decisions. She committed to North Carolina at 15 after her freshman season and she chose to graduate high school early.
Fuller earned the Golden Boot with U.S. U-17 team at the CONCACAF Women’s…
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