By: Henry Krueger, Gonzaga University ‘25
Spokane Zephyr FC continues to fill out its roster with young talent, having recently signed 23-year-old Makena Carr and 22-year-old Wayny Balata for the club’s inaugural season.
Carr, who was drafted 43rd overall by Seattle Reign FC in the 2024 National Women’s Soccer League Draft, spent three years at the University of Washington before wrapping up her collegiate career at Saint Mary’s College.
During her senior season for the Gaels, Carr’s ability to anchor the back line warranted her All-WCC First Team recognition. She also posted one goal and two assists in 15 games.
“Makena is a dynamic young player with incredible potential. She is not only hardworking and tough on defense, but possesses great ability with the ball at her feet as well,” said Katie Harnetiaux, President of USL Spokane and co-owner of Aequus Sports. “She can beat the oppositions one on one, find the right pass, and create goal scoring opportunities. We are very excited to have Makena with us!”
Carr grew up in Newcastle, Washington, east of Seattle, and said she was grateful for the chance to continue playing soccer in-state and compete for Zephyr FC.
“To have the opportunity to continue learning, growing, and having fun within the sport while being close to home is exciting,” Carr said. “Growing up, I would go back and forth from the west side of the state to the east for soccer games and basketball tournaments. So, over the years I became familiar with Spokane. I am so excited to be back and be a part of something special.”
Carr will join Zephyr alongside another recent college graduate in Wayny Balata, who is coming off her fifth and final season at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas.
As a midfielder for the Mustangs, Balata registered 16 goals and five assists in 56 matches, and among her accolades she was named to the AAC All-Rookie Team (2019) and All-Conference Second Team (2021).
Balata, who’s from Montreal, Quebec, made her debut in the Canadian youth program as a 15-year-old in 2017. She’s competed extensively in the Canadian national program, helping the squad take fourth at the U-17 World Cup in Uruguay. She also represented Canada at the 2020 Concacaf Women’s U-20 Championship in the Dominican Republic.
“Wayny is a technical midfielder who can turn really well and connect with her partners quickly,” Harnetiaux said. “Also having played in the U17 and U20 Canadian National Team, we are looking to help grow Wayny’s potential.”
While Spokane is nearly 2,500 miles from Montreal, Balata said she is eager to represent her new city in the USL Super League.
“It’s an exciting opportunity to get to play in a brand new league and be provided the chance to build and foster something special with the entire Spokane community,” Balata said. “It’s a unique experience that I am definitely looking forward to.”
Zephyr will begin play in August as a member of the United Soccer League’s Super League, a new league sanctioned by the U.S. Soccer Federation as Division One – the top of the women’s soccer pyramid in the United States. Other teams in the inaugural Super League season are Brooklyn FC, Carolina Ascent FC, Dallas Trinity FC, Fort Lauderdale United FC, Lexington FC, Tampa Bay Sun FC, and Washington, D.C., with eight more clubs joining in 2025 and beyond.
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