A couple of readying bounces, some instruction from Gotham FC head coach Juan Carlos Amorós followed by an encouraging handshake and smile. Those were the moments late Saturday night before forward Mak Whitham,

Mak Whitham, 14, became the youngest player in NWSL history to appear in a regular-season match, during NJ/NY Gotham FC's season opener against Seattle Reign on Saturday night. The Gotham FC forward took the pitch at Lumen Field in Seattle as a substitute in the third minute of second-half stoppage.

Fourteen-year-old Mak Whitman became the youngest player in National Women's Soccer League history when she took the field for Gotham FC versus the Seattle Reign on Friday night. She debuted as a substitute in the third minute of second half stoppage.

Mak Whitham made history Saturday night as the youngest player to appear in a NWSL regular-season match. The 14-year-old forward entered as a stoppage-time substitute for NJ/NY Gotham FC during a 1-1 draw against Seattle Reign at Lumen Field.