“I am always striving to improve, not just physically, but also mentally and emotionally,” she mentioned. “There’s a fulfillment in setting a goal and then achieving it. Working diligently and seeing the fruits of that hard work truly pay off.”

Mak is the youngest in a growing youth movement within the NWSL, sparked by a then-15-year-old Olivia Moultrie.

Moultrie, who plays as a midfielder for Portland Thorns, successfully challenged the NWSL’s age requirement by winning an antitrust lawsuit she filed in 2021. By 2022, the league introduced a policy allowing teams to sign several players under 18, albeit with certain limitations.

It isn’t unusual for male teams to showcase young talents. For instance, Freddy Adu made his debut with D.C. United back in 2004 at the age of just 14, becoming the youngest person ever to debut in any U.S. professional sport then. Two decades later, Cavan Sullivan followed in his footsteps by debuting for the Philadelphia Union in the MLS at the same age.

Mak’s father noted that the decision to let their own teen make her professional debut was not one the family members took lightly. She spent months training with multiple NWSL teams ,in addition to her time spent working with Gotham, before signing a deal.

“She continued to have growth and success within that environment,” Whitham said. “So, Mak wanted it, and we were committed to supporting her dreams.”

Gotham’s general manager, Yael Averbuch West, and head coach Juan Carlos Amorós, have partnered with the family to “to ensure she is continuing to grow not only in her game but as a person,” Whitham said.

“We have a very strong relationship with Gotham and have meetings on a set cadence concerning all areas of her development at Gotham,” he added.

Some of the league-mandated safeguards for young players include anti-trade protections until they turn 18, a separate changing area from the adults, regular drug testing and requirements that the team helps pay for housing and schooling costs.

Mak says she’s grateful to have a family that would move across the country to help her achieve her dream. She pointed out that her father’s sports career was similar, as he joined the 1998 Team USA ski team when he was still in high school.

“He understands the sacrifices and he understands the challenges that come with it,” Mak said. “So I’m really grateful to have him. And I have my mom as well, she helps me with a lot of things, like with schooling … I can go to her and have really good conversations.”