Michelle Cooper

Forward (she/her)

HOMETOWN: Clarkston, Michigan, USA

HEIGHT: 5'3"

Michelle Cooper joined the Kansas City Current in January 2023 as the No. 2 overall pick in the 2023 NWSL Draft. In her rookie season, Cooper made 21 regular-season appearances with 17 starts, scoring three goals and providing one assist. Notably, she set an NWSL record by scoring just 22 seconds into a match against the Washington Spirit on June 18, 2023, marking the fastest goal in league history. In 2024, Cooper continued her upward trajectory, contributing three goals and two assists in 21 regular season matches with 15 starts.

Internationally, Cooper has represented the United States across various youth levels, including the U-16, U-18, U-19, and U-20 national teams. She scored eight goals at the 2022 Concacaf U-20 Championship to win the Golden Boot as the top scorer and the Golden Ball as the best overall player while helping the U.S. win the title. Cooper then captained the U-20 squad at the 2022 FIFA U-20 World Cup where she notched one goal. She also participated at the Sud Ladies Cup in 2022 with the U-20 team, totaling one goal and one assist to lead the U.S. to the tournament title.

Prior to joining the professional ranks, Cooper experienced two standout collegiate seasons at Duke University from 2021-22. She amassed 31 goals and 16 assists in 40 appearances, managing to provide a goal or assist in nearly 75 percent of the games she played. As a sophomore in 2022, Cooper made history by becoming the first MAC Hermann Trophy winner in Blue Devils history, totaling an ACC-leading 19 goals, 11 assists and nine multi-point games. Additional honors include 2021 ACC Freshman of the Year, 2022 ACC Offensive Player of the Year, two-time First Team All-American, two-time All-ACC First Team and two-time All-Atlantic Region First Team.