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As Mykiaa Minniss walked to the stage during the National Women’s Soccer League Draft, she paused to wipe tears from her face.
The former Doherty High School and Washington State soccer star called the moment “surreal” and felt it encapsulated her soccer journey.
The NWSL’s Kansas City Current selected Minniss 35th in the third round at the Philadelphia Convention Center on Jan. 12.
“This makes the little girl inside of me so happy,” Minniss says. “Seeing the looks on my loved ones; faces when I got drafted made me feel so good. Putting my name out there and making a statement for Doherty, Colorado Springs and Washington State is so important.”
Minniss played three seasons at Doherty from 2015-17, when those teams amassed a 30-17-1 record. Minniss, who played defender, finished her high school career with 40 goals and 19 assists.
Minniss also played for a club team, Real Colorado, located in Denver, where she would train six times per week. Minniss traveled more than three hours roundtrip from Colorado Springs to Denver each day.
Minniss hopes her devotion inspires future athletes who hope to play professionally.
“I hope this makes them put their head down, work and know that they can do it too,” Minniss says. “They also can’t be afraid of that move. I was nervous to drive down and back [from Denver] every day and wake up the next morning for school. But I think people shouldn’t be afraid of change and putting their name out there.”
While at Washington State, Minniss helped the Cougars’ soccer team achieve one of its deepest postseason runs in school history.
In 2019, the Cougars defeated Memphis, Virginia, West Virginia and South Carolina in the NCAA Women’s soccer tournament en route to the semifinals.
Minniss’ goal in the 95th minute against 19-2 South Carolina secured the Cougars’ berth in the Final Four against the No. 2 seed North Carolina Tar Heels. The Cougars lost the match 1-0.
Washington State athletics’ website lists Minniss as “one of the most decorated and experienced players in WSU soccer history.”
In her Division I soccer career, Minniss played and started in 92 contests and logged all but 22 minutes of field time in her final season.
The Kansas City Current’s schedule will be released “at a later date,” according to the team’s website.
But Minniss said she’s happy to be a member of the Current and is happy to have family nearby to support her.
“I have a lot of family in Nebraska who can drive to games and I have a lot of family in Colorado who can drive to watch us play,” Minniss says. “This is exciting because I didn’t know where [I’d get drafted], so knowing I’m close to home is good. … I wanted my family to be able to come to the games. Them being just 10 hours away is great for me.”