Born in Garland, Texas to Kelly and Kathy Henderson, Melissa attended and played for Berkner High School in Richardson, Texas where she received several honors and awards during her time. Henderson played three seasons for the varsity soccer squad and set school records with 66 goals and was second overall in assists with 45 in 47 career matches. Henderson did not play her senior season due to national-team commitments. She was named a Parade All-American following her sophomore and junior seasons, a two-time all-district performer at Berkner where she was also district MVP and all-area, two-time NSCAA youth All- American in 2006 and 2007, 2007 NSCAA/Adidas Youth Player of the Year, and became the first junior women's soccer player ever named Gatorade National High School Player of the Year ; only six other juniors have ever received the Gatorade national honor at the time. On top of Henderson's dominant high school soccer career she was also a three-year member of the National Honor Society, involved in student council, served as student council senior class secretary, helped coach younger soccer players and was a member of Young Life.
Henderson attended University of Notre Dame where she majored in Psychology and was a star attacker for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. During her junior year, she was nominated for an ESPY Award. At the time of her graduation, Henderson ranked among the top 10 in school history in eight career categories, including goals, goals per match, points, points per match, match-winning goals, match-winning points, first goals and hat tricks. She was one of 27 players in school history with at least 20 goals and 20 assists during her career and set single-season school records in 2009 for match-winning goals and first goals. She tied the school's single-season record for hat tricks at three in 2011 and matched the school record with four goals in 2009 during a win over Central Michigan and 2011 Senior Night victory over DePaul. She was one of two players in school history with two four-goal matches in her career. Henderson was one of four Fighting Irish players to ever have multiple eight-point matches in their careers and was the only player in school history to score three goals in the first half of a match. As a junior, she won the Honda Sports Award as the nation's top soccer player.
Henderson was the second overall pick in the 2012 WPS Draft, going to Sky Blue FC, but the league folded before the season ever started. Following the suspension of the WPS, Henderson signed on with the Boston Breakers in the WPSL Elite where she played four games.
Henderson was acquired by the Houston Dash on July 9, 2014. She announced her retirement in October 2015. Henderson came out of retirement in February 2016 to rejoin the Dash for the 2016 season.
Retirement
Henderson announced her second retirement from professional soccer on June 14, 2017.
International career
Henderson has extensive experience at the youth National Team level having played on the U-16, U-17, U-20 and U-23 teams. She was called into the full national team camp in 2011 as they trained for Olympic qualifiers.
