
Kristen McNabb: Uncommon Composure
Meet Reign FC rookie Kristen McNabb, a defender who tore her first ACL her senior year of high school after committing to play collegiate soccer at the University of Virginia. After redshirting her freshman season, McNabb tore her second ACL in the final match of her second year.
Despite the “mentally exhausting” experience, it instilled a relaxed attitude in McNabb. While she called the second injury “devastating” due to the team’s overall success that season, she took a much different approach to her recovery.
“The second time around I was a lot more like…if it happens, it happens,” said McNabb. “I was a lot more relaxed, and just tried to have fun and not think as much. The first time, you get in your head and get nervous thinking about it too much. I just tried to stay relaxed.”
McNabb, who was born in California but moved to New Jersey around 7th grade, always knew she wanted to play college soccer. As part of a competitive club team, she was always traveling and playing in college show cases. Despite traveling so often, McNabb is a self-described “homebody.” McNabb knew the east coast was where she wanted to stay, and fell in love with Virginia.
During her time at Virginia, McNabb had a solid collegiate career. Named to the All-ACC second-team after her senior season, the defender played in 89 games during her career as a Cavalier, starting 71. Even with that success, there were still question marks about a possible professional career.

Taking full advantage of her fifth year of college eligibility, due to her freshman year redshirt, McNabb took the time to consider if she wanted to try to make the next level. Ultimately, McNabb thought it was worth a shot.
“My coach said that the draft can be weird, and to not get my hopes up,” said McNabb. “He told me about a couple teams that were maybe interested, but I was just hoping. Whatever happens, happens. I was just fingers-crossed that I would get a call, but if not I would get my foot in the door some other way.”
For a player unsure if she would get a call on draft day, the east coast transplant certainly didn’t expect one all the way from the west coast. McNabb was picked in the fourth round of the 2017 NWSL College Draft with the 37th overall pick by Laura Harvey and Seattle Reign FC.

McNabb’s selection continued a tradition of Virginia players in the NWSL. A Cavalier has been taken in every NWSL College Draft, a total of 11 University of Virginia alumnae. Almost every match McNabb sees a familiar face or old teammate, most recently facing off against her old roommate Brittany Ratcliffe of FC Kansas City.
“I love Virginia, I had the best five years of my life there,” said McNabb. “I think all of us just have so much pride to have gone there. It’s awesome playing mostly every team and I can see one of my old teammates there. It’s also a little weird, especially when they play forward.”
So far this season McNabb has appeared in 12 matches, starting seven of them. She’s been a key component of the Reign FC backline, helping the team earn two shutouts this year. She’s also contributed offensively, scoring her first career professional goal in just her second career match against the Houston Dash.

McNabb has remained composed throughout those starts, even as she goes up against veteran players. Facing off against forwards across the league with extensive resumes and international experience, has never been something McNabb gets tied up in.
“If you think about it too much, and look at the names of the people you’re facing, it’s very easy to get frazzled and think that they are just a different caliber of player,” said McNabb. “Many of them are, but if you don’t look at that and you just play, it gives you an edge up. What some of these players have accomplished is unreal. I can’t match that, so I just play the best I can.”

It’s McNabb’s play and collected demeanor on the field that has impressed Harvey. Not often does a fourth round NWSL draft pick have such an impact on a squad. Harvey now knows that no matter what situation she puts McNabb in, the defender will respond with focus and determination to get the job done.
“They [the rookies], just don’t get fazed,” said Harvey. “They don’t get all caught up with what they’re potentially achieving. I love that about them. I think that has brought a bit of grit to us. It’s not really like me to play a lot of rookies, but I can’t ignore them. That’s the way it is. They’ve added a spark, and a light, and a youth to us.”
Others have given similar positive reviews, and McNabb has even been mentioned as a possible candidate for NWSL Rookie of the Year. That it’s not only her name being thrown into the ring, but that she plays defender, a position not often recognized, “blows [her] mind.” For now, McNabb is just focused on taking things one game at a time.
“I don’t think my rookie season has been too much like I expected it to be, it’s exceeded expectations,” said McNabb. “I just wanted to get on the field. Now that I’ve gotten a significant amount of minutes, I just want to be consistent and play the best I can. Hopefully it just gets better from here, individually and as a team.”
