MASL’S FIRST FEMALE COACH, JENNA WINEBRENNER JOINS COMETS STAFF

INDEPENDENCE, MO. – The Kansas City Comets have announced the addition of the NWSL Kansas City Current defender Jenna Winebrenner to the 2022-23 coaching staff making Winebrenner the first female coach in MASL history as the Comets kick off the season on November 25 at St. Louis.

The Kansas City Current drafted Winebrenner in the fourth round of the 2021 NWSL draft and signed the local stand-out. She started in six matches and made 11 appearances for the Current as the team made a run to the 2022 NWSL Championship match.

MASL Commissioner Keith Tozer noted Winebrenner’s experience and resumé when discussing what she brings to the Comets and League when he said, “We are honored to have Jenna Winebrenner join the coaching staff of the Kansas City Comets. Her professional experience and passion for the game will be an asset behind the bench. As the first female coach in the Major Arena Soccer League, we know she will be an inspiration to the next generation of soccer players, coaches and sports professionals watching our games.”

Comets fans’ first opportunity to see Winebrenner on the bench for the Comet will come on Saturday, November 26 when the St. Louis Ambush make the first of three appearances at Cable Dahmer Arena this season. Winebrenner is ready to go.

She said, “Being from Kansas City, I’ve grown up watching the Comets and I’m grateful for the opportunity to work with the organization. Excited to get started with the team!”

Winebrenner joins a Kansas City coaching staff led by long-time Comet Leo Gibson, who says she has already made an impact. “We are so fortunate to add Jenna to our coaching staff. Her understanding of the indoor game has already been a welcome addition to the players daily preparation,” Gibson said.

Winebrenner graduated from Park Hill High School and her squad posted a 65-17-5 record during her first three years. 2014 and 2015 saw her named Conference Defender of the year with 2016 bringing the Player of the Year award. Her collegiate career was just as stellar.

The defender spent the first four years of her college career with Notre Dame where the Fighting Irish amassed 22 shutouts with her on the backline. In all, she played 55 games for Notre Dame before transferring to TCU for her senior season and was one of seven players to start every game for the Horned Frogs.

While at TCU, she recorded three assists and all three led to the game-winning goal. Winebrenner played the full 90 in 18 of her 24 games including every minute of TCU’s Big-12 Tournament run on her way to being named the 2021 Big-12 Tournament Defensive Player of the Year and 1^st Team All-Big-12.

Tickets for Saturday’s game vs St. Louis and all Comets home games are available at www.kccomets.com/tickets