Mandy McGlynn Bio
Amanda Kathleen McGlynn, known professionally as Mandy McGlynn, is an American professional soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for the Utah Royals of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). Born on November 3, 1998, in Jacksonville, Florida, she previously played for NJ/NY Gotham FC, where she was part of the squad that won the 2023 NWSL Championship. McGlynn also had a stint abroad with Swedish club Piteå IF and represented the United States at both youth and senior international levels.
Standing at 5 feet 9 inches tall, McGlynn has built her reputation as a commanding shot-stopper with strong reflexes and composure under pressure. She played college soccer for the Virginia Tech Hokies before launching her professional career in 2020. In 2024, she signed a five-year contract extension with the Utah Royals, the longest active contract in the NWSL at the time of the agreement.
Early Life and Background
Mandy McGlynn was born and raised in Jacksonville, Florida, where she grew up in the American South and developed an early passion for soccer. She attended Sandalwood High School in Jacksonville, where she played as a goalkeeper and quickly established herself as one of the top young keepers in the region. Her performances in youth soccer earned her recognition and helped pave the way for a college scholarship.
McGlynn received a scholarship to play college soccer at Virginia Tech, joining the Hokies program as one of their promising young goalkeepers. During her four seasons with the team from 2016 to 2019, she became a back-to-back All-ACC first-team goalkeeper, demonstrating consistency and leadership in goal. Her college success positioned her as a strong candidate for the professional ranks.
Path to Soccer
Following her distinguished college career at Virginia Tech, McGlynn registered for the 2020 NWSL College Draft in January 2020. Sky Blue FC selected her with the 20th overall pick, marking her official entry into professional soccer. The 2020 NWSL season was ultimately cancelled due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sports, but McGlynn signed a one-year contract with Sky Blue FC in June 2020 and joined the team for the 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup tournament.
Her early professional path required patience and perseverance. With limited playing time during her first two seasons in the NWSL, McGlynn sought additional experience abroad, eventually signing with Swedish Damallsvenskan side Piteå IF. That international move proved pivotal, allowing her to develop her game and prepare for a larger role upon her return to American soccer.
Mandy McGlynn Career
Early Career (2020–2021)
McGlynn’s professional career began with NJ/NY Gotham FC, then known as Sky Blue FC. She signed with the club in 2020 and participated in the NWSL Challenge Cup tournament that year, although the regular season was cancelled. In 2021, she made her NWSL debut in a 1–1 draw against Kansas City NWSL on July 3, 2021, which would be her only appearance of the season.
Seeking regular minutes, McGlynn was announced on December 15, 2021, as a signing for Piteå IF of the Swedish Damallsvenskan, with Gotham FC retaining her NWSL rights until 2024. Piteå signed her to replace departing goalkeeper Guro Pettersen, providing McGlynn with an opportunity to refine her skills in a competitive European league.
Piteå IF and Sweden (2022)
During the 2022 Damallsvenskan season, McGlynn appeared in all 26 of Piteå’s matches, conceding 26 goals and recording 9 clean sheets. Her consistent performances helped Piteå finish the season in seventh place in the Swedish top flight. Before leaving Sweden, she was awarded the 2022 Norrstjärnan award as the top women’s footballer in Norrbotten County, a recognition of her impact during her time at the club.
McGlynn announced in October 2022 that she would leave Piteå and return to the United States to get married, ending her European chapter on a high note. Her strong campaign in Sweden positioned her well for a more prominent role back in the NWSL.
NJ/NY Gotham FC Championship Run (2023)
McGlynn signed a two-year contract with NJ/NY Gotham FC on January 6, 2023, returning to the club that had originally drafted her. In August 2023, she became the team’s starting goalkeeper after Abby Smith suffered a season-ending injury, a promotion that thrust her into the spotlight during the most important stretch of the season.
In the 2023 NWSL Championship match, McGlynn played a memorable role, though she was sent off in the 90+7th minute for handling the ball outside the penalty box. Outfield player Nealy Martin replaced her in net as Gotham held on to claim the championship 2–1 against OL Reign, securing the trophy for the club in dramatic fashion.
Utah Royals Era (2024–Present)
McGlynn was traded to the Utah Royals in December 2023, where she quickly became a central figure for the franchise. In 2024, she enjoyed a breakout season, starting 24 regular-season games and making 84 saves, the fourth-highest total in the league. Her performances earned her a nomination for the NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year award.
Following her stellar 2024 campaign, Utah signed McGlynn to a five-year contract extension, keeping her with the team through 2029 and representing the longest active contract in the NWSL at the time. On March 15, 2025, she registered her first career assist, playing a long ball to newly signed Bianca St-Georges, who finished against Bay FC in the season opener that finished 1–1.
Driving Style and Strengths
McGlynn is known for her commanding presence in the penalty area, sharp reflexes, and ability to organize her back line. Her 5-foot-9 frame and confident shot-stopping allow her to dominate aerial duels and one-on-one situations. She has demonstrated strong distribution skills, evident in her first career assist with the Utah Royals, and her composure under pressure makes her a reliable last line of defense.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among McGlynn’s most notable career moments is her role in the 2023 NWSL Championship victory with Gotham FC, where she played a key part before being sent off late in the match. She also received the 2022 Norrstjärnan award in Sweden and earned an NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year nomination in 2024, the same year she signed the longest active contract in the league.
Mandy McGlynn Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Mandy McGlynn was raised in Jacksonville, Florida, where her family supported her early development in soccer. Her pathway through Sandalwood High School and into Virginia Tech was supported by her family background in the American South, providing a foundation that helped her pursue a professional soccer career.
Personal Life
In January 2021, McGlynn announced her engagement to Tommy Haught, who proposed to her in Jacksonville Beach, Florida. The couple had been dating since October 2019 and married on December 1, 2022. McGlynn, whose maiden name was Haught, took the name McGlynn as her professional identity while building her career in the NWSL.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 NWSL season opened for McGlynn with a 1–1 draw against Bay FC, in which she contributed her first career assist on a long ball to Bianca St-Georges. Coming off a 2024 campaign that featured 24 regular-season starts and an NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year nomination, expectations are high for McGlynn to continue her strong form between the posts for the Utah Royals.
With a five-year contract extension keeping her in Utah through 2029, McGlynn is positioned as a foundational piece of the franchise’s long-term plans. Her leadership, consistency, and shot-stopping ability will be central to the Royals’ aspirations of climbing the NWSL standings and competing for playoff positions in 2025. The partnership between McGlynn and the Utah Royals organization signals a mutual commitment to sustained success in the league.
