Friday’s notables all involve midfielders:
- The Houston Dash signed 6’2″ midfielder Zoe Matthews under the U18 Entry Mechanism. Matthews is eligible to play for both Jamaica and the USA.
- The Portland Thorns placed rookie midfielder Olivia Wade-Katoa is out for the rest of the season and will undergo knee surgery.
- Bay FC signed Catherine Paulson for the remainder of the season. Paulson had been a National Team Replacement Player during Savy King’s absence.
Houston Dash: 17-year-old midfielder Zoe Matthews signed through 2026 NWSL season
Leading Friday’s news is the signing of 6’2″ attacking midfielder Zoe Matthews by the Houston Dash via the league’s U18 Entry Mechanism. (October 11th press release) Matthews had been verbally committed to play NCAA soccer at LSU (x.com).
The Dash signed Matthews through the 2026 NWSL season, which is one year beyond what was required under the U18 Entry Mechanism rules (PDF). Matthews was born in 2007 and will turn 18 next spring, on May 25th.
In August of this year, Matthews trained with the Orlando Pride (x.com) and the Chicago Red Stars (x.com).
Matthews is eligible to play for both Jamaica as well as the USA. She has attended at least three USA youth camps (one U-15 in 2022, one U-16 in 2022, and one U-16 in 2023) and has played international youth friendlies for the USA. Matthews has been called into at least two senior Jamaica camps by Lorne Donaldson, who is now the head coach for the Chicago Red Stars.
Matthews was born and raised in Texas and hails from the Dallas / Fort Worth area. She recently played for the Legends FC youth club and was previously with Solar SC.
Matthews has been mentored by North Carolina Courage midfielder Brianna Pinto after being paired together by Voice in Sport. (Washington Post)
According to the Dash’s press release, Matthews’s first appearance for the club could come as early as their next match on Sunday, October 13th, against the San Diego Wave.
Portland Thorns: Midfielder Olivia Wade-Katoa placed on Season-Ending Injury list
On Friday, the Thorns announced that rookie midfielder Olivia Wade-Katoa “will undergo arthroscopic surgery of her right knee” and has been placed on the Season-Ending Injury List. (October 11th press release)
Wade-Katoa was injured in the Thorns’s Concacaf W Champions Cup group stage match against Santa Fe FC on October 1st.
Wade-Katoa has played only limited regular season minutes for the Thorns, tallying just 34 minutes over five substitute appearances (NWSL stats, NWSL game log).
Bay FC: Midfielder Catherine Paulson signed for rest of 2024 NWSL season
Midfielder Catherine Paulson, who had been with Bay FC as a National Team Replacement Player in late August and September (August 27th press release), has been signed by the club for the rest of the season. (October 11th press release)
Paulson has not yet played a regular season match for Bay FC and has only been listed on one gameday roster. (NWSL game log) She did play the full second half of Bay FC’s friendly against Barcelona.
Paulson played collegiately at Stanford (profile) with her twin sister, Sarah (Stanford profile). Both played for youth club MVLA.
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