Kennedy Kelly looks to bring passion to Stanford
Stanford women’s soccer has a stellar defender committed to their program in class of 2026 defender Kennedy Kelly out of Dallas, Georgia in the Atlanta area. Kelly took the time to chat with CardinalSportsReport.com about why she chose Stanford and what she hopes to bring to The Farm.
Like many young women who grow up playing soccer, Kelly has looked to Stanford as a pinnacle of excellence both on and off the field. She’s always dreamed of playing for the Cardinal and so when the opportunity came for her to play at Stanford, it was an easy decision for her to make.
“That’s easy. Stanford has been one of my dream schools since I was a kid and started playing soccer at age four,” Kelly said. “Stanford is the best of the best when it comes to soccer and academics so I know it will push me to be at the top of my game on the field and in the classroom which really motivates me.”
Of course, Kelly still wanted to check out the campus for herself to confirm that Stanford was indeed the right place for her. Upon visiting, she was even more sure that she wanted to represent the Cardinal at the next level.
“I thought the Stanford community was amazing,” Kelly said. “The campus was so beautiful and I thought the academic and athletic facilities were top-notch, especially Cagan stadium. There was so much green space and places to explore around campus. I really like that student athletes were in close proximity of each other and had access to a lot of amenities including access to tutors and mentors.”
What Stanford most likes about Kelly’s game is her athleticism and technical skill. That combination is hard to find and should serve her well as she looks to play in the backline of the defense.
“Coach Paul likes my athleticism, technical ability especially my distribution and communication,” Kelly explained. “He sees me playing my current position which is center back. He said he saw qualities in my game similar to Naomi Girma when she first came to Stanford.”
Touching more on head coach Paul Ratcliffe, Kelly likes a variety of things about him. She likes his championship experience, his demeanor, and his impressive track record for developing some of the top players in the nation.
“I like Coach Ratcliffe for multiple reasons: his calmness on the sidelines during games, his experience winning national championships, and his ability to produce top-level players, especially center backs,” Kelly said. “I am most excited and looking forward to growing as a player technically and tactically under Coach Ratcliffe. I believe I can be one of the top center backs in the United States under his coaching and staff. From a team perspective, I am looking forward to playing in highly competitive environments that strive to win national championships.”
In order to improve her game, Kelly enjoys watching film of some of the best players in the world from both the men’s and women’s game. By watching what they do, she’s able to hone her craft and learn what she can do better.
“On the women’s side, I definitely watch Girma and Elise Evans because they are great all around defenders and I like how they approach the game mentally and from a tactical standpoint ,” Kelly said. “On the men’s side, I like Trent Alexander-Arnold, Alfonso Davies, and Vini because they are fast and technical.”
Playing at Stanford, Kelly is looking forward to the chance to compete in the ACC. She knows how deep the league is and how many talented teams there are. On top of that, she is excited to play against friends who have committed to other ACC schools.
“I’m really excited to play in the ACC, because it is considered by most to be the best league in college soccer with so many elite teams and players,” Kelly said. “I’m looking forward to the challenge of playing against some of the best in the country and I believe it will allow me to showcase my skills and abilities that hopefully will lead to me playing professionally and on the national team. Besides playing against top-tier schools like UNC, Duke, Florida St, Wake and Virginia, I’m excited to face former teammates at club and ODP who have committed to other ACC schools.”
On the academic side, Kelly has an interest in becoming a sports doctor. She has always had an interest in helping athletes recover from injuries and feels like a degree in biology would set her up well for a career path in that field.
“Yes, I want to study biology at Stanford to prepare myself for a career as a sports doctor,” Kelly said. “This career path stands out to me the most because I’ve always been passionate about helping athletes overcome injuries.”
Above all else, Kennedy Kelly promises to bring a winning attitude to The Farm. She loves to compete and bring out the best in those around her. She wants Stanford fans to know that she’ll give it her all and always put her team first:
“My message to Stanford fans would be that they’re getting a player that is passionate about winning. My personality on the field has been described as fiery and relentless, and I will not stop until we get a winning result. Winning a national championship with my club team was the best feeling I’ve had since I started playing soccer. It showed me that hard work pays off, so I’m ready to push myself to the limits to help Stanford win another national championship.”
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