From a four-year-old on a Kona field to a thirty-year-old playing in stadiums worldwide, McKenna Davidson (Kenna) loves to play soccer.
Success came early for Kenna. While attending Kealakehe High School in Kona, HI, she helped her team win the Big Island Interscholastic Federation (BIIF) title in 2012 and earned the BIIF Player of the Year Award.
“My life revolved around soccer, but I didn’t think that I would play beyond college,” Kenna says.
She went on to compete all four years at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III level while attending Pacific University in Oregon. After college, her first semi-professional coach invited her to play in the United States Women's Premier Soccer League for Chattanooga Football Club (FC) and, later, Issaquah Gunners FC and Fresno Freeze FC.
In 2018, Kenna’s first international contract came after an invitation from a coach in Ireland, making her the first Hawaiian to play in the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Champions League. Accepting the offer with no assurance of pay, Kenna took a considerable risk, but one she says she will never regret.
“It ended up being the best decision I could’ve made in my career,” she shares.
In Ireland, Kenna played in UEFA Champions League qualifying rounds, leading to more contracts, first with Lithuania, then Iceland and then Albania. In this last location, she signed for the UEFA Champions League round of 16 and played against Chelsea, Real Madrid, and Paris Saint-Germain, which became highlights for her.
“When I look back on that time in my career, I still can’t believe that I, just a girl from Kona, got to play in those huge stadiums against those big-name teams,” Kenna says.
Then came playing in Japan, but only after an unexpected blow. Kenna was forced to take a year off because of an incident with her ex-agent, something she has since learned other female athletes have faced with their male agents. Kenna considered retiring, but a friend encouraged her to play with the Lily Wolf F club in Ishikawa, Japan, where she plays outside back and winger.
“I definitely had to be resilient and fight for myself,” she says, “There have been many bumps in my journey.”
As a professional athlete, Kenna strives to be healthy. Her favorite way to stay fit is through gym workouts, but during the soccer season, she’s learned to adjust her routines to ensure her body is prepared for games. Adding to her workouts, Kenna likes running, walking her dogs, playing pickleball with her mom, swimming at the beach, or riding horseback.
Eating healthy foods is also essential to her. She partners with Easy Meals Japan to receive nutritious food throughout the day. She gets expert advice from a nutritionist that helps her be a proficient athlete while playing professional soccer in Japan. Kenna avoids diets and listens to her body’s signals.
“I definitely believe in intuitive eating, and that’s what’s worked for me my whole career,” she shares.
Knowing that playing professional sports is demanding, Kenna focuses on her mental health. She surrounds herself with caring people and reflects on the importance of living in the moment.
Kenna acknowledges that she owes her success to her supportive ‘ohana, which includes her family back home, boyfriend, fellow teammates, current agent, and many of her past and present coaches, who have all encouraged her along the way.
“Team sports have taught me that I can’t be selfish because I have other people relying on me and trusting me to show up as my best self,” she says. “They do the same, and together, we can support and help each other grow.”
Although unsure of what’s next, Kenna is secure in her roots. She loves Hawai‘i and describes it as a safe space, a place where everything about it makes her feel like herself. She learned many lessons growing up on the Big Island and still carries them.
While at home between seasons, in 2023, Kenna and her boyfriend started a nonprofit futsal program and a summer program called The Players Hui. Both programs allow children to learn soccer and train on the field.
When Kenna played for Honolulu Bulls Soccer Club in O‘ahu as a youth, she loved the club’s ‘ohana culture and looked up to the older girls playing. This helped shape Kenna into the inspiring role model she is today. Her advice to aspiring young female athletes is simple.
“I want the younger girls who look up to me to know that anything is possible, but it won’t come without hard work and believing in yourself. Even a girl from an island in the middle of the Pacific can make their dreams come true with the right mindset.”
If you want to learn more about Kenna’s global journey, check out her Instagram account @kennahawaii.
I still can’t believe that I, just a girl from Kona, got to play in those huge stadiums against those big-name teams.
Even a girl from an island in the middle of the Pacific can make their dreams come true with the right mindset.