Houston Dynamo 2024 player report cards: McKinze Gaines
(image via Instagram/@mckinze)
We’re continuing our 2024 report card series, recapping each Dynamo and Dash player’s season. Next, we look at winger McKinze Gaines.
2024 Grade: C
2024 by the numbers (MLS play)
Appearances: 11
Minutes played: 154
Goals: 0
Assists: 0
G+ per 96: -0.06
2024 in review
With the season-ending injury of Nelson Quiñones, Aliyu Ibrahim was the only player left to fill the left-wing role. In response, Pat Onstad and Asher Mendelsohn decided to bring in Mckenzie Gaines, an attacking midfielder with experience in Germany and several seasons in MLS, seeking to establish himself as a regular starter. He was brought in as a solid alternative and a competitive option for the position.
Gaines began the 2024 season on the bench for Nashville SC, but on April 22nd, it was announced that Houston Dynamo FC had acquired him from Nashville in exchange for $75,000 in 2025 General Allocation Money (GAM).
Gaines made his debut for the Dynamo on April 27th, coming on late in the second half against FC Dallas. Unfortunately, just a few weeks later, on May 18th, he suffered an injury in a match against FC Dallas, playing only 6 minutes. He made his return to the first team on July 17th, when he played a few minutes against San Jose. However, Gaines didn’t see any more action until August 25th, when he played 65 minutes for Houston Dynamo 2. From that point on, his appearances were sporadic, with five more appearances where he didn’t play more than 45 minutes at a time. Gaines' role was primarily as a substitute, either coming on to relieve Aliyu after a solid performance or to provide a spark when Aliyu wasn’t performing well.
Moment of the season
Gaines played the second half of the Dynamo’s 1-0 loss in Seattle on September 28. It was his longest stint in a Dynamo shirt, and his best. He recored 23 touches and completed 16 passes.
Looking forward
Gaines is currently out of contract and is a free agent, and did not make the list of the players that HDFC are currently negotiating with for the 2025 campaign. With the return from injury of both Quiñones and Lawrence Ennali that play the same position as Gaines, it is highly unlikely that he will return for next season.
