The Women’s Game is an exclusive editorial series written by writer, broadcaster, and former college and pro soccer player Renee Washington for BrooklynFootballClub.com. Each week, Renee goes behind the scenes with Brooklyn FC Women, giving unique insights into the squad and sharing stories of the people behind the crest.
For Jennifer “Kaka” Cudjoe, representing Ghana has always meant more than pulling on a national team jersey.
The Accra, Ghana, native and Brooklyn FC midfielder has represented her nation at the senior level after previously competing for Ghana at the U-17 and U-20 levels. This past summer, she helped the Black Queens reach the quarterfinals of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, starting all five matches for the team.
But for Cudjoe, that international experience carries a deeper meaning beyond the field.
“Representing Ghana has been one of the most important things in my life,” Cudjoe said. “I’m really happy that I get to play for my country and also inspire the next generation to have hope in achieving their goals. For the players coming up, I’m glad I can be a role model to them, because I didn’t have one growing up.”
As a kid growing up in Ghana, Cudjoe didn’t have a mentor, personal coach or many of the resources that could have helped her build a pathway toward her dream.
She eventually left her home country to pursue soccer and an education in the United States. After competing collegiately first at two small colleges in Oklahoma and then finishing her career at the University of Maine at Fort Kent, she embarked on a professional career, spending with clubs in the NWSL, Denmark and, eventually, the Gainbridge Super League with Brooklyn FC.
Once she reached the professional level on the field, she was determined to make her mark off of it.
Turning Her Promise Into Action
“I vowed to myself that whenever I got to become a professional player, I would help the next generation of players achieve their goals and do things that I did,” Cudjoe said.
In 2022, she founded the Jennifer Cudjoe Community Project Foundation to help young athletes, particularly those who may lack access to resources and mentorship, pursue opportunities through sports and education.
“I love that with my foundation, I have changed so many players’ lives through soccer and education,” she said. “I love to see the players thrive.”
Her work with the next generation extends beyond her own foundation. Cudjoe is also an ambassador for Rush Changes Lives, an organization that works to provide young players from underserved communities with opportunities to advance through soccer and education.
Through that role, she has helped connect young Ghanaian players with opportunities in the United States, putting into action the kind of guidance she wished she had during her own journey.
The Meaning Behind No. 6
While Cudjoe didn’t grow up with the kind of inspiration and structural support she now hopes to provide for young players, she did have an important support system within her own family — her big sister.
“My sister is my hero and inspiration in my life,” Cudjoe said. “She paved the way for me to go to college and become a professional player.”
Cudjoe carries that connection with her onto the field by wearing her sister’s jersey number.
“Every time I wear the jersey number 6, I know that she’s on the field with me,” Cudjoe said. “That number means a lot to me. I owe everything to her.”
Leadership in Brooklyn
Reflecting on her career, Cudjoe shared that one of the challenges she has overcome is learning to embrace new opportunities in different countries and environments. That perspective carries into Brooklyn, where she is excited to help build a new team culture while embracing the city and its culture.
“Cudjoe is definitely an engine for us as a team and is an integral part of our style of play,” General Manager Samantha Johnson said. “Her leadership is essential to our evolution as a professional program. I look forward to having more conversations with her to learn more about her as a person. I am very excited to continue to see the group grow.”
DID YOU KNOW?
Cudjoe is a drummer.
She started playing drums in church while growing up and shared that she still plays when she is away in national team camp with Ghana.
Up Next: Brooklyn FC VS. SPORTING JAX
Cudjoe and Brooklyn FC Women are in action this Sunday, September 13, when they host Sporting JAX on a special afternoon at Maimonides Park.
Themed “Women Run the World,” the matchday is full of activations celebrating women’s empowerment, including a very special pregame panel featuring USWNT legends Brianna Scurry and Crystal Dunn along with women’s sports industry leaders Suzanne McKenzie, founder of ABLE MADE, and Rachel LaSala, COO of Ida Sports. The panel is moderated by former BKFC player Sam Rosette.
Brooklyn’s own hip-hop sensation Maiya the Don will take the field for an exclusive live pregame performance. She’ll perform her newly released BKFC anthem, “Back Outside Again,” getting the whole stadium hyped and ready for kickoff.
