McDowell was born in Denver, Colorado, on March 21, 1978[1] to Scott and Kathy McDowell.[2] She grew up with four siblings in Lakewood, Colorado.
McDowell attended Wheat Ridge High School, where she excelled in athletics. She earned recognition as the most valuable player for her school's track, basketball, cross country, and soccer teams.[2] Her achievements in soccer led to her being named first-team All-League and All-State for all four years.[2] In the realm of running, she made history by becoming the first person in Colorado state history to secure four individual state championships.[2] In basketball, she garnered first-team All-League honors three times over her four-year varsity tenure.[2] In 1995, the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame named her the Female Prep Athlete of the Year.[3] The subsequent year, she received the Fred Steinmark High School Athlete of the Year Award.[2]
In 2003, McDowell was traded to play for the Washington Freedom, though she never played for the team before being sent to play for the Carolina Courage,[6] who quickly waived her.[7] She ultimately played the season with the Boston Breakers.[7]