Speyside, Tobago striker Kennya “Ya Ya” Cordner  became the first female footballer from Trinidad and Tobago to sign  with a professional women’s team in the United States when she was contracted by Seattle Reign FC for the rest of the  National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) season.

While several other T&T players such as Maylee Attin Johnson and Tasha St Louis have played at amateur and semipro level in the USA, Cordner is the first to be signed at the highest level of club competition.

Cordner, who graduated from Young Harris College in the United States,  has been added to the Reign FC roster pending medical clearance, and will make her debut with the squad as soon as her visa has been approved.

At age 26,  Cordner is already an 11-year veteran of the national women’s football team, which she joined as a 15-year-old.

Cordner played in two CONCACAF women’s Gold Cup tournaments, the Pan American Games and several World Cup and Olympic Games qualifiers. Cordner top-scored with nine goals for T&T in CONCACAF Zone qualifying for the 2012 Olympics.

Known for blistering speed and a powerful shot, Cordner previously had a professional stint  in Australia with Brisbane Roar FC of Australia’s W-League.

Prior to signing with Seattle Reign, Cordner played semi-professional football in the United States with Northampton Laurels FC, and spent last season with Issaqua FC, the reserve team for Seattle Reign.  

In her first four matches with the Reign FC reserves this season, Cordner scored three goals. She was called up to play in the June 2 Reign FC friendly against the Haiti national women’s team, and scored a goal in Reign’s 6-0 victory.

“At every level she has played, Kennya has shown she knows how to find the net,” Reign FC head coach Laura Harvey said. “We are clearly a club that is in need of a player who can consistently deliver goals, so we are excited to see the impact Kennya can have in the NWSL.”

Adding USA national team veteran Megan Rapinoe and Cordner to the Reign FC roster necessitated the waiving of two current members of the Reign FC squad—forward Tiffany Cameron and midfielder Lyndsey Patterson.  

“Lyndsey and Tiffany have been with the club from our earliest training sessions in Japan, which made our decision incredibly difficult,” said Harvey. “Both Lyndsey and Tiffany are extremely hard workers, great teammates and very talented players. We are hopeful they find another opportunity to play in the NWSL.”

Reign FC will hit the east coast for two games in the coming week. First up is a match against Western New York Flash on Sunday, which will be followed by next Wednesday’s clash with the Boston Breakers. Reign FC will return home to the Moda Health Pitch at Starfire Stadium for a match against the Chicago Red Stars, next Saturday, June 29.

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