How record signing Addie McCain aims to help Lexington Sporting Club in year two

Addie McCain knows how to find the back of the net.

The midfielder scored 10 times last season to lead Fort Lauderdale United FC in the first season of the Gainbridge Super League, the country’s newest professional women’s soccer setup. It was a breakout season for McCain, who finished in a tie for fourth in the new league in goals scored and was named to the All-League first team.

Three of those 10 tallies for McCain came against Lexington Sporting Club, as she netted a hat trick against LSC in a 3-1 Fort Lauderdale win last September at the Lexington SC Stadium.

Perhaps this up-close look at McCain’s scoring prowess helped nudge LSC toward what became one of the team’s statement moves of the offseason.

LSC set a Super League record for the highest transfer fee paid when it acquired McCain from Fort Lauderdale earlier this summer.

“I think I’m, ultimately, just trying to be myself,” McCain told the Herald-Leader about handling the pressure that comes with being the most expensive transfer in the league’s short history. “I’ve never had these crazy expectations of myself. I just wanted to show up every day, enjoy what I’m doing and work hard at it.”

McCain knows how to win, too.

She spent four seasons playing college soccer in the SEC at Texas A&M, scoring 16 goals, tallying 16 assists and helping the Aggies reach four straight NCAA tournaments. McCain was selected 17th overall in the 2021 National Women’s Soccer League draft by the Kansas City Current, and she helped that squad reach the championship match in the 2022 NWSL season.

Last season in the Super League, McCain started all 30 matches and served as a captain for a Fort Lauderdale team reached the league’s inaugural title match.

“There’s that experience of making it to a final, knowing what it takes,” McCain said. “It’ll be my fifth year playing, and I’m able to just be a positive light.”

Addie McCain brings winning approach to Lexington SC

That winning mentality is something LSC hopes to harness.

Lexington finished its first season in the Super League in last place with a dismal 4-18-6 (W-L-D) record LSC had the worst goal differential (-33) in the league.

McCain isn’t the only major signing that LSC made this offseason. Last season’s Super League Player of the Year, midfielder Emina Ekic, also joined LSC from Spokane Zephyr FC.

Ekic — a Louisville native and a former star at duPont Manual High School and at the University of Louisville — finished last season with 10 goals, six assists and a spot on the Super League All-League first team.

“I’m super excited for her to be her, (she’s) such an incredible player,” McCain said. “It’s going to be nice wearing the same jersey finally. Hopefully I can play her a few balls and she puts them in the back of the net.

“She’s a goal scorer. She works hard, runs hard, defends hard. She kind of just does all the little things right.”

There’s no concern from McCain about two elite scorers sharing the field on the same squad. Lexington scored the second-fewest goals (29) of the eight teams in last season’s Super League.

“I think it’s just multiple threats,” McCain said. “It won’t matter who’s scoring as long as we’re putting goals in the back of the net.”

“They’re just absolute class. I’m a big fan of both of them,” said Shea Moyer, one of Lexington’s returning midfielders from last season. “... They both have very distinct styles of play. Emina is really crafty. Addie just gets herself in these fantastic pockets (of space).”

The playing style McCain envisions fits the desires of new Lexington coach Masaki Hemmi, who briefly coached McCain in the NWSL with the Chicago Stars.

“She’s got tons of experience,” Hemmi said of McCain. “A phenomenal player in between lines, and her ability to play the final pass is second to none. She’ll create a lot of goals, and she can also score and get on the end of it. She’ll lead by example (with) her decision-making and proactiveness on the field. She’s shown that really well this preseason.”

At his introductory press conference in early July, Hemmi said he wanted to give LSC fans “exciting football.” That’s exactly what the combination of Ekic and McCain could provide.

McCain said Hemmi’s approach has been evident during preseason prep.

“I feel like some of the priorities he sees on the field are things that I’m able to do,” McCain said. “He brings a good, positive mindset, positive attitude and I feel like you need that.”

Despite last season’s success, McCain fell just short of her ultimate goal. Fort Lauderdale lost to the Tampa Bay Sun in extra time of the Super League championship match.

Now in Lexington, McCain’s goal remains the same as LSC targets what would be an impressive worst-to-first turnaround.

“I want to bring a championship to Lexington, ultimately,” McCain said.

And she’ll start her quest to do so against familiar faces. Lexington begins the 2025-26 Super League season at 7:30 p.m. Saturday with a match at Fort Lauderdale.

“There’s all the talk and all the buildup of what we’re doing here, but ultimately, we have to get on the field and perform,” McCain said. “So it’ll be a nice first test, of course, and to play someone other than yourself is always exciting.”

This story was originally published August 21, 2025 at 5:00 AM.