Here are the notables from December 10th and 11th:
- On Tuesday, the only last-minute trade before end-of-season roster announcements involved the San Diego Wave sending veteran defender Christen Westphal to the Houston Dash in exchange for an international spot and allocation money.
- On Wednesday, the Utah Royals announced the signing of their first U18 player, forward KK Ream, who won the 2024 Concacaf Girls Under-15 Championship as a member of the United States squad.
- Also on Wednesday, the Orlando Pride announced the signing of goalkeeper Kat Asman, who recently finished her rookie season with the Portland Thorns.
- In non-player news, Gotham FC’s home stadium has a new name.
Note: Recent re-signings will be covered in a separate post.
Utah Royals: Club signs 15-year-old forward KK Ream
On Wednesday (press release), the Royal announced the signing of their first Under-18 player, forward KK Ream, who is a native of Utah. Ream’s contract runs through the 2027 NWSL season, which is the required minimum under the league’s U18 entry mechanism (PDF).*
Ream was a member of the Under-15 United States Women’s Youth National Team which won the recent 2024 Concacaf Girls’ Under-15 Championship. In that tournament, Ream played 210 minutes (the equivalent of three full matches), with two starts, and had two goal contributions, which were both assists.
Ream is the second player from the USA’s U-15 championship squad to turn professional. In July, before the Concacaf tournament, forward Mak Whitham, who has a 2010 birth year, was signed by Gotham FC to a short-term contract. Whitham is expected to officially join Gotham full-time in January 2025.
Ream has a twin brother, Linkon Ream, who plays for Real Salt Lake academy squads.
*In the December 11th press release, Ream’s age was reported as “15 years and 157 days”, so her birthday should be July 7, 2009 (timeanddate.com). Thus, Ream will turn 18 during the 2027 season. Under the U18 entry mechanism, the contract length must “run through the Season in which the Player turns eighteen”.
End-of-Season Trade: Christen Westphal, from the San Diego Wave to the Houston Dash
Only one trade was announced on Tuesday, ahead of the end-of-season roster release deadline. That trade involved the San Diego Wave sending defender Christen Westphal to the Houston Dash in exchange for an international roster spot and $14,000 in guaranteed Allocation Money, plus the possibility of “additional Allocation Money if certain performance-based incentives are met”. (Wave press release, Dash press release)
During the 2024 regular season, Westphal was on all but one gameday roster for the Wave, and had 15 appearances, including 8 starts. In 2023, she started all 25 of her matches, going the full 90 in all but two of those matches. (NWSL game log)
Westphal was originally drafted by the Boston Breakers in 2016, where she played for two seasons before the team folded. She was then acquired by the Reign via a dispersal draft in 2018. After two seasons with Seattle, she joined the Portland Thorns. In December 2021, the San Diego Wave acquired Westphal ahead of their inaugural season via a a trade with the Reign. (Wikipedia bio)
Prior to the NWSL, Westphal played four seasons of NCAA soccer for the Florida Gators (player profile), where she started 94 of her 95 matches and scored 4 goals while registering 17 assists.
Westphal has attended several United States Youth Women’s National Team camps, primarily at the U-23 level (2014 to 2016). Her call-ups also include at least two U-18 camps in 2012.
Westphal’s current contract expires at the end of the 2025 NWSL season (December 2023 press release).
Free-Agency Move: Goalkeeper Kat Asman signs with the Orlando Pride, after rookie season with the Portland Thorns
On Wednesday, the Orlando Pride announced the signing of first-year goalkeeper Katherine “Kat” Asman to a two-year contract (press release). The 5’10” Asman was a free agent after spending a year with the Portland Thorns. Her previous contract was for the 2024 season with a “mutual second-year option” (Thorns press release).
Selected by the Portland Thorns as the 39th overall pick in the 2024 NWSL draft, Asman was the fourth goalkeeper chosen (Wikipedia).
In 2024, Asman did not feature in any regular season or Summer Cup matches (NWSL game log).
Prior to the NWSL, Asman played five seasons for Penn State (player profile). From a Thorns press release:
…where she served as the Nittany Lions’ starting goalkeeper in four of the five years. As Penn State’s goalkeeper, Asman made 323 saves in 87 matches, contributing to 27 shutouts.
Asman attended over a dozen United States youth camps from the U-14 to U-18 levels.
Gotham FC: Red Bull Arena is now “Sports Illustrated Stadium”
On Wednesday, the New York Red Bulls announced that its home stadium, which also hosts NJ/NY Gotham FC home matches, will now be known as “Sports Illustrated Stadium” thanks to a naming rights partnership with Sports Illustrated Tickets. (press release)
The naming rights deal has an announced length of 13 years and will also involve ticket services for Gotham FC home matches, starting in 2026:
In addition, Sports Illustrated Tickets will take over as the “Official Ticketing Partner” for all events at Sports Illustrated Stadium beginning in 2026. This includes all New York Red Bulls and NJ/NY Gotham FC home matches, as well as all international soccer games, youth events, concerts, watch parties and other events held at the stadium.
The deal has a value of at least $100 million, per Sportico.
Sports Illustrated Tickets does not own the trademark “Sports Illustrated” (BNN Bloomberg), instead it is one of a number of licensees of that brand (Sportico), which is owned by Authentic Brands Group (website).
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