Leading the notables since the last update is the announcement by one of the all-time greats, Christine Sinclair, who will be ending her professional playing career at the end of the season.
Another retiring player, Gotham FC’s Kelley O’Hara was placed on the season-ending injury list due to “chronic knee degeneration”.
In other player-related news, three goalkeepers extended with their clubs: Alyssa Naeher of the Chicago Red Stars, Ann-Katrin Berger of Gotham FC, and Jordan Silkowitz of Bay FC.
Other players re-signing with their clubs include
- Orlando Pride: Julie Doyle
- Washington Spirit: Tara McKeown
- Houston Dash: Sophie Schmidt
- Utah Royals: Laura Flynn and Cristina Rogue
Additionally, the Washington Spirit have loaned defender Waniya Hudson to the Dallas Trinity of the USL Super League for the remainder of her contract.
Portland Thorns: Christine Sinclair announces retirement from professional soccer
On September 27th, the superlative Christine Sinclair announced that she will be retiring from professional soccer at the end of the 2024 NWSL season.
The Portland Thorns will celebrate and honor Sinclair at the team’s last home match of the regular season on Saturday, November 1st. (Thorns.com – Sinclair retirement page)
Sinclair will have spent her entire NWSL career with the Portland Thorns after being allocated to the club for the inaugural 2013 season (Wikipedia). She leads the club in total regular season goals scored as well as appearances and starts.
Before the advent of the NWSL, Sinclair played all three seasons of the WPS, first with FC Gold Pride and later with the Western New York Flash.
For the Canada Women’s National Team, Sinclair holds the individual record for international caps with 331 and has scored more international goals, 190 in total, than any other player, female or male. (Canada Soccer profile)
Chicago Red Stars: Goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher re-signs for another year
In late September, the Red Stars announced that USWNT goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher will return for the 2025 NWSL season, which would be her tenth season with the club. The announcement did not include any mentions of an option for 2026. (September 25th press release)
The 36-year-old Naeher began her professional career with the Boston Breakers in the WPS, then spent two seasons with Turbine Potsdam in the Frauen Bundesliga, before returning to the Breakers for the inaugural season of the NWSL in 2013. She was traded to the Red Stars in 2015 for defender Whitney Engen. (Wikipedia)
Gotham FC: Goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger extends through the 2026 NWSL season
Also in late September, Gotham FC announced that German international goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger has been extended for two NWSL seasons. (September 27th press release)
Berger joined Gotham in April 2024 after six seasons at Chelsea FC under current USWNT head coach Emma Hayes. Berger turns 34 on October 9th. (Wikipedia) Both her and Naeher overlapped on Turbine Potsdam’s first team. (de.Wikipedia)
Gotham FC: Retiring Kelley O’Hara placed on Season-Ending Injury List
On September 21st (press release), Gotham confirmed that outside-back Kelley O’Hara, who announced earlier this year that she was retiring at the end of the 2024 season, “has been placed on the season-ending injury list due to chronic knee degeneration”.
O’Hara, who won an Olympic gold medal (2012) and two FIFA Women’s World Cups (2015, 2019) with the USWNT will be honored by Gotham FC at their match against the Orlando Pride on Sunday, October 20th.
Bay FC: Goalkeeper Jordan Silkowitz signed for two more seasons
Jordan Silkowitz, who was acquired via a trade with the Kansas City Current in August, is set to stay with Bay FC through the 2026 NWSL season. (September 26th press release)
The 24-year-old goalkeeper has yet to see the field in an NWSL regular season match, but spent a season in Australia’s A League with the Brisbane Roar where she had 18 appearances with 3 shutouts.
Orlando Pride: Forward Julie Doyle extends through 2026
On Tuesday, the Orlando Pride announced that forward Julie Doyle has signed on for two additional seasons. (October 1st press release)
In 2021, Doyle won an NCAA College Cup with Santa Clara. After graduating from Santa Clara, Doyle was drafted in the first round of the 2022 NWSL Draft by Santa Clara. She has an actively maintained personal website: juliedoylesoccer.com.
Washington Spirit: Center-back Tara McKeown signs on for three more seasons
On September 19th (press release), the Washington Spirit announced that converted center-back Tara McKeown has extended through the 2027 NWSL season with an unspecified option for the 2028 season.
The 25-year-old McKeown is on track for Iron Woman status this season, starting all 22 regular season matches for the Spirit so far this season without being subbed off. (NWSL stats)
Originally drafted as a forward by the Spirit out of USC, where she was converted from an outside-back to forward, McKeown was converted to a center-back for the 2023 NWSL season. (Wikipedia)
Houston Dash: Canadian midfielder Sophie Schmidt extends through the 2026 NWSL season
On Friday, the Dash announced that midfielder Sophie Schmidt has extended for two additional seasons, with a mutual option for the 2027 NWSL season. (October 4th press release)
Schmidt, who turned 36 in June, retired from international soccer after the 2023 WWC. She is second all-time in caps for Canada, with 226 senior appearance, behind only Christine Sinclair, who has 331.
Prior to joining the Dash in 2019, Schmidt played three seasons in Germany with FFC Frankfurt. Before that, Schmidt played for Sky Blue FC (now Gotham FC) in the NWSL and magicJack in the WPS. (Wikipedia)
Utah Royals: One-year options exercised for Laura Flynn and Cristina Rogue
In mid-September, the Utah Royals announced that they had exercised options for the 2025 NWSL season on goalkeeper Cristina Roque and defender Lauren Flynn. Both players were drafted out of Florida State in the 2024 NWSL Draft. (September 19th press release)
On September 28th, Roque earned her first regular season NWSL cap in Utah’s 1-nil home win over Racing Louisville (Royals match recap). Roque has represented Puerto Rico at the senior and youth levels (soccerway.com profile), but was not named to Puerto Rico’s roster for the 2024 Concacaf W Gold Cup (concacaf.com roster).
Flynn, who was converted from winger to center-back in college (Wikipedia), started 10 matches this season, in place of an injured Kaleigh Riehl, but was placed on the season-ending injury list at the end of August after being diagnosed with compartment syndrome in both of her lower legs. According to Utah’s August press release, Flynn was expected to “undergo surgery to address the issue”.
Roque and Flynn won two NCAA national championships during their time with Florida State (2021 and 2023).
Washington Spirit: Defender Waniya Hudson loaned to Dallas Trinity of the USL Super League
On September 23rd (press release), the Spirit loaned rookie defender Waniya Hudson to USL Super League side Dallas Trinity for the rest of her contract, which expires after the end of the current NWSL season.
Hudson spent five seasons at Notre Dame (profile) and was a training player for Gotham in early 2024, before being signed by the Spirit in May (Spirit press release). She did not appear in any regular season or Summer Cup matches for the Spirit.
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