Ellie Wheeler Bio
Ellis Nicole Wheeler, known professionally as Ellie Wheeler, is an American professional soccer player who plays as an outside back for the Kansas City Current of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). Born on December 14, 2001, in Fairfax Station, Virginia, she previously played college soccer for the Penn State Nittany Lions before being selected by the Current in the second round of the 2024 NWSL Draft. Wheeler has earned a reputation as a dependable defender who contributes on both ends of the field.
Early Life and Background
Wheeler grew up in Fairfax Station, Virginia, where she developed a strong passion for soccer at a young age. During her youth, she played as a midfielder or forward for FC Virginia, where she earned Development Academy all-conference honors. Her performances at the club level drew attention from several top college programs, and she ultimately chose to commit to Penn State as a freshman, turning down offers from schools including North Carolina and Duke.
TopDrawerSoccer recognized her potential by ranking her as the number 34 prospect of the 2020 recruiting class. Wheeler is the daughter of Scott Wheeler and Nicole Wheeler and has two brothers. She later married Olympic wrestler Roman Bravo-Young in Tucson, Arizona, on December 27, 2025, after getting engaged on the field at CPKC Stadium on March 15, 2025.
Path to Professional Soccer
Wheeler’s journey to the professional ranks began during her time with the United States youth national teams. In July 2018, she received a call-up to a training camp with the United States under-17 team. She later represented the United States under-19 team in a friendly tournament held in Spain during February and March 2020. She also played for the under-23 team against NWSL opponents during the 2023 preseason.
Her transition from forward to defender came during her freshman year at Penn State when head coach Erica Dambach converted her to defense in the spring of 2021. Wheeler adapted to the change by playing the wingback position before moving to center back as a sophomore and eventually settling at right back, where she would become a key contributor for the Nittany Lions.
Ellie Wheeler Career
Early Career (2020–2023)
Wheeler played four seasons of college soccer for the Penn State Nittany Lions from 2020 to 2023. Over that span, she appeared in 77 matches, making 76 starts, and scored three goals while playing as a defender. Her development through multiple defensive roles helped her become one of the most reliable players on the Nittany Lions back line.
During her junior season in 2022, Wheeler helped Penn State win the Big Ten tournament. In her senior year in 2023, she and the second-seeded Nittany Lions reached the NCAA tournament quarterfinals, breaking a streak of three consecutive appearances that ended in the round of 16.
NWSL Breakthrough (2024)
The Kansas City Current selected Wheeler 18th overall in the second round of the 2024 NWSL Draft, making her the team’s highest pick of the night. She signed a one-year contract with an option to extend for another year. Wheeler made her professional debut on March 16, 2024, starting and playing the full match in a season-opening victory over the Portland Thorns at the Current’s newly built CPKC Stadium.
In that debut match, she scored her first professional goal by finishing a loose ball in the penalty area during a 5–4 win. Wheeler appeared in 23 regular-season matches as a rookie, starting 14, and scored one goal as Kansas City finished fourth in the standings. She played every minute of both playoff games, including a 1–0 quarterfinal win over the North Carolina Courage and a 3–2 semifinal defeat to the Orlando Pride.
Kansas City Current Era (2024–Present)
On August 27, 2024, Wheeler signed a four-year contract extension that kept her with the Current through 2028. In the 2025 season, she continued to be a regular contributor on the back line, playing in 21 matches with 15 starts and scoring one goal. Her efforts helped Kansas City capture the NWSL Shield with the best record in the league, setting multiple league records for most points, most wins, and fewest goals allowed in a single season.
On August 23, 2025, Wheeler recorded two goal involvements, heading in a cross from Izzy Rodriguez and assisting Temwa Chawinga in a 2–0 road win over the Portland Thorns. In the playoff quarterfinals, she scored a crucial equalizer in the 96th minute against Gotham FC, marking the latest equalizer in NWSL playoff history, although Kansas City ultimately fell 2–1 in extra time.
Notable Events and Milestones
Wheeler’s professional debut goal at CPKC Stadium in 2024 stood out as a signature moment in her early career. Her 96th-minute equalizer against Gotham FC in the 2025 playoffs further cemented her reputation for delivering in high-pressure situations. She was also part of the Kansas City squad that set new league benchmarks during the 2025 regular season.
Ellie Wheeler Career Wins
Wheeler has contributed to several significant team achievements across her college and professional career. At Penn State, she was part of the squad that won the Big Ten tournament in 2022 and reached the NCAA tournament quarterfinals in 2023. With the Kansas City Current, she helped the team win the NWSL Shield in 2025 and played a role in the franchise’s inaugural season at CPKC Stadium in 2024.
Ellie Wheeler Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Wheeler comes from a supportive family that played an important role in her athletic development. Her father, Scott Wheeler, and her mother, Nicole Wheeler, encouraged her early involvement in soccer. She grew up alongside two brothers in Fairfax Station, Virginia, where she first began playing the sport competitively.
Personal Life
Wheeler is engaged to Olympic wrestler Roman Bravo-Young, who proposed to her on the field at CPKC Stadium on March 15, 2025, following the Current’s season-opening victory over the Portland Thorns. The couple later married in Tucson, Arizona, on December 27, 2025. Standing at 5 feet 7 inches tall, Wheeler balances her professional soccer career with her personal life in the Kansas City area.
2025 Season Performance
Wheeler played an integral role in the Kansas City Current’s record-setting 2025 campaign, appearing in 21 matches with 15 starts while scoring one goal. Her consistent defending helped the Current claim the NWSL Shield and establish new league records for most points, wins, and fewest goals allowed. She also contributed offensively, recording a goal and an assist in a 2–0 win over the Portland Thorns on August 23, 2025.
In the postseason, Wheeler delivered one of the most memorable moments of her young career by scoring a 96th-minute equalizer against Gotham FC in the quarterfinals, the latest equalizer in NWSL playoff history. Although Kansas City fell 2–1 in extra time, Wheeler’s performance throughout the season highlighted her growth as a key contributor for the Current.