Position: Forward
Birthdate: Feb. 28, 1988
Hometown: Phoenix, Arizona
Height: 6-foot
Pronunciation: Jess McDonald
College: University of North Carolina
Previous Team: North Carolina Courage (NWSL)
2023: Spent the offseason on loan with Western United in Australia, scoring twice and assisting once. With Racing, McDonald started four matches before going on maternity leave for the remainder of the 2023 season.
2022: McDonald appeared in all 22 regular-season matches in her first year with Racing, starting 19. Her three goals and four assists all were critical in Racing earning points, including a stoppage-time game-winner in Racing’s regular-season finale against the Kansas City Current.
Before Racing Louisville FC: McDonald had been with the NC Courage organization since 2016, when it was then located in Western New York. She finished schooling at the University of North Carolina and has been well traveled as a professional, with Racing marking her record seventh NWSL club.
Along the way, McDonald rose to rank first all-time in NWSL assists (27) and fourth in goals (51). She helped the Courage claim three shields (2017-2019) and a trio of NWSL Championship wins (2016, 2018 and 2019). Her resume includes a Championship MVP award from the 2018 final.
She has one son, Jeremiah, who will make the move to Louisville in tandem with McDonald.
International: McDonald broke into the U.S. Women’s National Team in 2018, scoring a game winner against Portugal in her first appearance. The next year, she made the final 23-player roster for the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup eventually won by the U.S.
