Khyah Harper

Khyah Harper
Harper with Gotham FC in 2025
Personal information
Full name Khyah Lynn Harper[1]
Date of birth (2002-08-15) August 15, 2002[2]
Place of birth Lino Lakes, Minnesota, U.S.
Height 5 ft 5 in (1.65 m)
Position Forward
Team information
Current team
 Houston Dash
Number 34
Youth career
2015–2020 Minnesota Thunder
2016–2017 North Branch Vikings
2018–2020 Centennial Cougars
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2021–2024 Minnesota Golden Gophers 68 (20)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2023–2024 Salvo FC – (16)
2025– Gotham FC 17 (1)
2026– Houston Dash 0 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of July 28, 2026

Khyah Lynn Harper (born August 15, 2002) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a forward for the Houston Dash of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). She played college soccer for the Minnesota Golden Gophers and was named the Big Ten Forward of the Year in 2024. She began her professional career with Gotham FC in 2025, winning the NWSL Championship in her rookie season.

Early life

Harper was born and raised in Lino Lakes, Minnesota.[3] She played multiple sports growing up, including softball, baseball, track, and dance, but she had the most passion for soccer.[4] She committed to play college soccer for Minnesota before her freshman year.[4] After two years at North Branch Area High School, she transferred to Centennial High School,[4] helping the soccer team reach the state championship game in her junior year. In her senior year, she scored 26 goals with 10 assists and was named the Minnesota Star Tribune Metro Player of the Year and the Minnesota Gatorade Player of the Year. She finished her high school career with 134 goals and 71 assists across five seasons. She played club soccer at the Minnesota Thunder Academy, earning ECNL All-American honors in 2018.[5]

College career

Harper playing for Minnesota in 2024

Harper battled injuries during her first three seasons with the Minnesota Golden Gophers, going through surgeries for both ankles and the meniscus of one of her knees.[6][7] Leading up to her senior year in 2024, she spent the summer with Women's Premier Soccer League (WPSL) club Salvo SC and won the Golden Boot after leading the league with 16 goals.[8] She had a strong start to her senior season with the Golden Gophers, scoring two hat tricks within the first three games.[6] She finished her breakout season with 17 goals in 22 games (ranking second in the nation in the regular season). Minnesota earned their first NCAA tournament berth in six years and reached the third round, losing to eventual champions North Carolina. Harper was named the Big Ten Forward of the Year, first-team All-Big Ten, and second-team All-American by United Soccer Coaches.[5][9]

Club career

Gotham FC

Gotham FC announced on January 8, 2025, that they had signed Harper to her first professional contract on a one-year deal.[3] She made her professional debut on March 23, coming on as a second-half substitute for Sarah Schupansky in a 2–0 loss against the Orlando Pride in the home opener.[10] On August 1, in her first start, she scored her first professional goal with a diving header from Sarah Schupansky's cross in a 1–1 draw with the Chicago Stars.[11] In the CONCACAF W Champions Cup, she started every match in the group stage as Gotham progressed to the semifinals, scoring in a 2–1 win over Monterrey.[12]

On September 19, 2025, Harper signed a one-year contract extension with Gotham through 2026.[13] She finished her rookie season as an unused substitute in the playoffs as Gotham won their second NWSL Championship over the Washington Spirit.[14] On February 1, 2026, she scored Gotham's first goal of the year in the 4–0 win over AS FAR for third place at the inaugural FIFA Women's Champions Cup.[15] During a year and a half with the club, she made 25 appearances and scored 3 goals in all competitions.[16]

Houston Dash

On July 28, 2026, Harper was traded to the Houston Dash on a free transfer from Gotham.[17]

Personal life

Harper is the daughter of Desiree and Brett Harper. Her father played college football at Wisconsin–La Crosse, and her older sister Sadie played soccer alongside Harper throughout high school and college. She is a cousin of ice hockey player Hunter Miska.[5]

Honors and awards

Gotham FC

Individual

References

  1. ↑ "2024/25 Concacaf W Champions Cup Finals Roster" (PDF). CONCACAF. May 16, 2025. p. 2. Retrieved May 19, 2025.
  2. ↑ "Khyah Harper". Gotham FC. Retrieved February 23, 2025.
  3. 1 2 "Gotham FC Signs University of Minnesota Forward Khyah Harper". Gotham FC. January 8, 2025. Retrieved January 8, 2025.
  4. 1 2 3 Lyne, Michael (October 26, 2021). "'[We] wouldn't trade it for the world': The Harper sisters and their journey to Gophers soccer". Minnesota Daily. Retrieved January 8, 2025.
  5. 1 2 3 "Khyah Harper". Minnesota Golden Gophers. Retrieved January 8, 2025.
  6. 1 2 Zgoda, Jerry (September 12, 2024). "She's back. Gophers soccer senior Khyah Harper has multiple hat tricks to prove it". Minnesota Star Tribune. Retrieved January 8, 2025.
  7. ↑ Howard, Champ (September 14, 2024). "Khyah Harper kicks away injuries, shoots for sensational season". Minnesota Daily. Retrieved January 8, 2025.
  8. ↑ "2024 Golden Boot Race". Women's Premier Soccer League. July 13, 2024. Retrieved January 8, 2025.
  9. ↑ Christensen, Joe (November 11, 2024). "Gophers soccer lands first NCAA tournament bid since 2018". Minnesota Star Tribune. Retrieved January 8, 2025.
  10. ↑ "Gotham FC Falls to Orlando Pride on Home Opener". Gotham FC. March 23, 2025. Retrieved March 23, 2025.
  11. ↑ "Gotham FC Settles for Draw Against Chicago Stars FC". Gotham FC. August 1, 2025. Retrieved August 2, 2025.
  12. ↑ "Khyah Harper". flashscore.com. Retrieved December 9, 2025.
  13. ↑ "Forward Khyah Harper Signs Contract Extension with Gotham FC". Gotham FC. September 19, 2025. Retrieved December 9, 2025.
  14. 1 2 Mohs, Marielle (December 8, 2025). "Former Gopher soccer star wins NWSL championship her rookie season". CBS News. Retrieved December 9, 2025.
  15. ↑ "Gotham FC Earns Bronze Medal With Win Over ASFAR". Gotham FC. February 1, 2026. Retrieved July 28, 2026.
  16. ↑ "Gotham FC Transfers Forward Khyah Harper to the Houston Dash". Gotham FC. July 28, 2026. Retrieved July 28, 2026.
  17. ↑ "Houston Dash Acquire NWSL Champion Khyah Harper for 2026 Season". Houston Dash. July 28, 2026. Retrieved July 28, 2026.
  18. ↑ "Gotham FC wins NWSL Challenge Cup with a 2-0 victory over the Kansas City Current". Associated Press. June 26, 2026. Retrieved June 26, 2026.
  19. ↑ "Gotham FC Crowned Champions of Inaugural Concacaf W Champions Cup". Gotham FC. May 25, 2025. Retrieved December 9, 2025.
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