Where are they now?

In this latest edition of our quarterly newsletter, we focus on 3 CUSC alumni who have all recently embarked on professional careers in the women's game. Read on to hear 3 stories about 3 young ladies who are making the club proud.

From Club Fields to the Professional Game

At Cincinnati United Soccer Club, the goal has always been simple: create an environment where players can develop, challenge themselves, and discover just how far their journey in the game might take them.

For some, that journey leads to high school success. For others, it leads to college soccer. And occasionally, it continues even further.

This quarter’s Where Are They Now? feature highlights three alumni who have recently taken that next step into the professional game: sisters Morgan and Taylor White, and goalkeeper Maddie Prohaska. Today, Morgan plays professionally in France for Stade de Reims, while Taylor and Maddie both now compete in the NWSL with Racing Louisville FC.

While their paths have taken them to different places and opportunities, their stories share several common threads—family influence, the competitive environment of CUP, perseverance through setbacks, and a mindset built around growth and opportunity.

Perhaps most importantly, each of them still traces the roots of their development back to the same place: the training fields, coaches, teammates, and lessons they experienced at CUSC.

The Power of the Environment

Ask any of the three players about their early days in the game, and one theme emerges immediately: soccer was never just something they did—it was something that surrounded them.

For Maddie Prohaska, the sport was woven into family life from the beginning.

“My sister and I both played, and really we played every sport growing up,” she explains. “Soccer was always part of our family. My grandfather had been a high school soccer coach, and my mom played as well. It felt natural that soccer would be a big part of my life.”

Her path to Cincinnati United came almost by accident, when a parent helped organize a group of Lakota players looking to take the next step into club soccer. What began as a small group eventually became a team that stayed together for nearly eight years, collecting state championships and competing in national tournaments.

For the White sisters, the competitive spark started even earlier—at home.

“Growing up with two other siblings who also played made anything soccer chaotic,” Morgan says. “Whether we were inside the house with a makeshift field or outside in the backyard, it was always competitive.”

Taylor remembers it similarly, though from a slightly different perspective as the youngest sibling.

“Morgan and my brother would throw me around on the field,” she laughs. “But it made me pretty tough.”

Those early experiences—whether family competition or a team formed by local connections—eventually led all three players to CUP, where the level of competition quickly changed.

“When I transitioned into CUP, the girls were good and the level was really high,” Morgan recalls. “That pushed me to unlock qualities within myself that have grown into what my game is today.”

Taylor felt the same shift when she joined.

“When I switched over to CUP, I definitely started taking soccer a bit more seriously because the environment was intense,” she says.

For Maddie, the impact of that environment extended beyond soccer itself.

“If I had to describe my experience with CUP in one word, it would be foundational,” she says. “It helped shape who I became—not only as a soccer player, but as a person.”

Learning the Habits That Last

One of the most powerful aspects of youth sports is that the lessons learned early often stay with athletes long after they leave the field.

For Maddie, some of those lessons were surprisingly simple—but incredibly important.

“One thing that always sticks with me from my youth days is something my coach Bobby used to say: ‘Early is on time, and on time is late,’” she recalls. “If I wasn’t at practice 20 minutes early, I felt late. Those habits have served me really well as a professional.”

That mindset—showing up prepared, respecting teammates, and embracing the process—became a foundation for all three players as they advanced to the next stages of their careers.

Morgan remembers that same expectation to keep improving.

“Doing extra work and always striving to be the best on the field, whether it’s practice or a game, was something we learned early,” she says. “There’s always the next person up, so it’s important to stay ready.”

For Taylor, the biggest lesson was something slightly different: rediscovering joy in the game.

“To have fun,” she says simply. “There were times when soccer wasn’t fun for me. Finding that joy again was the key.”

It’s a lesson that resonates with many young players, especially as the game becomes more competitive.

And it’s also a reminder that development isn’t always a straight line.

The College Years: Growth Through Challenge

All three players continued their journeys through college soccer, where the pace, expectations, and pressures of the game increased dramatically.

Morgan spent four years at Marshall University before transferring to Arkansas for her final season, a move that required both courage and adaptability.

“My senior year at Marshall was a make-or-break year for me,” she says. “I knew I wanted to transfer, so I had to perform and show what I could do.”

Her experience at Arkansas felt like starting over again.

“It felt like freshman year all over again—new coaches, new teammates, a new system,” she explains. “But it showed me that I can adapt and work under pressure.”

Taylor experienced a similar turning point during her senior season at West Virginia.

“I knew it was my last year to make an impact and showcase my talents,” she says. “My coaches and teammates believed in me, and that gave me a lot of confidence.”

For Maddie at Auburn, the challenges came in a different form.

During her sophomore year, she began to realize that her identity had become completely tied to soccer.

“For most of my life, my identity and soccer were intertwined,” she explains. “Separating them was challenging, but it allowed me to find joy in the game again.”

Working with a sports psychologist helped her develop a healthier relationship with the sport.

“It helped me realize that soccer is really a vehicle,” she says. “It’s a vehicle for learning, building relationships, and creating community.”

That perspective—seeing soccer as part of life rather than the entirety of it—ultimately helped her rediscover the love of the sport.

The Leap to the Professional Game

Even for elite players, the transition from college soccer to the professional game can feel surreal.

For Taylor, the moment she realized it might happen came through conversations with her college coaches.

“When you have a coach who has produced several pro players and she believes you have the talent, you start to understand that you’re good enough for the next level,” she says.

The day Racing Louisville expressed interest in signing her quickly became unforgettable.

“It was a very emotional day for me because it was a dream come true—not just for me, but for my entire family,” Taylor says.

Morgan’s path to the professional game followed a slightly different route, first taking her overseas.

After a brief stint playing in Austria, she signed with Stade de Reims in France, where the style of play forced her to adapt.

“The game here is very tactical,” she explains. “It’s not as fast-paced as college soccer in the U.S., so I’ve had to adjust and become more thoughtful with my movement and spatial awareness.”

Living abroad has also provided personal growth beyond the game.

“It’s taught me to be patient, to have faith, and to really immerse myself in the experience,” she says. “Everyone has their own journey.”

Maddie’s path included a combine with Seattle Reign FC that eventually led to her rookie contract.

“When they told me they wanted to offer me a contract, I was so overwhelmed I almost forgot to smile,” she remembers. Maddie has since moved closer to home to also play at Racing Louisville as well, alongside Taylor. [2 CUP Alumnae playing in the pros together within 2 hours of the city....get yourselves down there people!]

Moments that all 3 girls experience today—standing in professional stadiums or walking onto the field for the first time—create powerful reminders of how far the journey has come.

Family, Support, and Shared Motivation

One of the most unique aspects of this story is the sibling dynamic between Morgan and Taylor.

Despite being four years apart and rarely playing on the same teams growing up, their soccer journeys have remained closely connected.

“We’ve always been really close,” Morgan says. “But as the older sister, I’ve always had that leader or teacher role.”

Now that both are professionals, that relationship has evolved into something new.

“It’s about reassurance and helping Taylor adjust to the demands of the professional game,” Morgan explains.

Taylor agrees that having her sister navigating the same path has been invaluable.

“She’s been through some of the things I’m going through,” Taylor says. “So she’s able to calm me down when I get worked up about my game.”

Their conversations now include tactics, training, and professional expectations—but also the same sibling competitiveness that existed in their backyard games.

“We literally talk every day,” Taylor says. “Now that soccer is our job, we can bounce ideas, games, and challenges off each other.”

Bringing It Back to the Next Generation

For all three players, the journey from youth soccer to the professional game still feels deeply connected to where it began.

And when they think about the young players currently training at Cincinnati United, they hope their stories offer encouragement rather than pressure.

Maddie believes curiosity and growth should always remain the focus.

“You don’t have to be the best player today,” she says. “What matters most is staying curious and having a genuine desire to grow.”

Morgan echoes that perspective.

“If you work hard, believe in yourself, and have a strong support system, anything is within reach,” she says.

And Taylor reminds young players that difficult moments are part of the journey.

“There will be seasons when things aren’t going your way,” she says. “That’s when it’s important to lean on the people around you.”

The Journey Continues

At a time when youth soccer continues to evolve—with changes in leagues, structures, and pathways—stories like these serve as an important reminder of what truly matters.

Development takes time. Confidence is built through competition. And the lessons learned during youth soccer often extend far beyond the game itself.

For Cincinnati United Soccer Club, the success of players like Maddie Prohaska, Morgan White, and Taylor White represents more than professional contracts or international opportunities.

It reflects a long-standing commitment to creating an environment where players can grow, challenge themselves, and pursue their goals—whatever those goals may ultimately become.

And somewhere on the club’s training fields today, the next chapter of that story is already beginning.

- Thanks to Maddie, Morgan and Taylor for taking the time to reflect on your journeys in amongst your busy schedules. The club continues to wish you all the best both on and off the field. We are proud of you!

All 3 girls were gracious enough to send us so many photos that we have organized them into a slide show below. Ordered by age, starting with Morgan, then Maddie and then Taylor.