Leading this edition’s notables is the news that the league “is entering exclusive negotiations” with the Denver bid for the second 2026 expansion franchise.
Former USWNT defender Becky Sauerbrunn announced her retirement from professional soccer on Tuesday.
In other player news, Washington Spirit has landed free agent midfielder Narumi Miura, previously of the North Carolina Courage, while Angel City has signed 23-year-old French international Julie Dufour and re-signed defender M.A. Vignola.
Additionally, six NWSL teams have announced that will play preseason friendlies at the 2025 Coachella Valley Invitational.
Expansion: League and Denver bid group are “entering exclusive negotiations”
Well, it looks like the squeaky wheel doesn’t always get the grease.
On Tuesday, Sportico reported that the NWSL “is entering exclusive negotiations” with the Denver bid group, according to “multiple people familiar with the details”. Per the same sources, the proposed expansion fee is ” in the $105 million to $120 million range”, which, at a minimum, would be about double (in nominal dollars) the $53 million fees paid by Bay FC and the 2026 Boston franchise.
The news was also confirmed by Meg Linehan of The Athletic.
The league and the bid group are essentially at the “agree to agree” stage and have not yet signed a final binding contract.
Bid groups from the Ohio cities of Cincinnati and Cleveland are the other two finalists.
Becky Sauerbrunn announces retirement
Also on Tuesday, long-time United States Women’s National Team defender Becky Sauerbrunn announced her retirement from professional soccer via an Instagram post.
In the NWSL, Sauerbrunn won a total of three NWSL championships (2014 and 2015, with FC Kansas City, and 2022 with the Portland Thorns) and an NWSL Shield (2021, with the Thorns).
As a member of the USWNT, Sauerbrunn won two FIFA Women’s World Cups (2015 and 2019) and an Olympic gold medal (2012).
Prior to playing professionally, Sauerbrunn was a four-year starter for the Virginia Cavaliers (2004 profile, via Wayback Machine). In her first year as a Cavalier, she was named the “ACC Freshman of the Year”, ahead of North Carolina’s Heather O’Reilly (UNC profile).
Sauerbrunn was a regular call-up to United States youth national team camps from the U-16 to U-23 levels. She was a member of the 2004 U-19 USWYNT that finished third in the second FIFA U-19 Women’s World Championship. Her first USA camp was a U-14 identification camp in 1999.
Further readings: Portland Thorns press release and U.S. Soccer press release.
Free Agency Move: Narumi Miura signs with Washington Spirit after two seasons with the North Carolina Courage
The Spirit have landed the services of midfielder Narumi Miura, who signed a two-year contract for the 2025 and 2026 NWSL seasons. Miura’s deal also includes an unspecified option for 2027. (December 17th press release)
At North Carolina, Miura was a regular starter, with 61 appearances across all competitions in her two years as an NWSL player. Her only regular season goal was the opener against Gotham FC in a 3:3 draw, back in September 2023. (NWSL game log)
Miura has over 30 senior international caps for Japan and was a member of the Nadeshiko squads for the 2019 FIFA WWC and the delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Angel City: M.A. Vignola re-ups for two more years, with option for 2027
An Angel City original is set to stay in the City of Angels for two more seasons.
On Monday, the club announced that outside-back M.A. Vignola had been signed to a new contract which will run through the 2026 NWSL season.
From the press release:
Since the 2022 inaugural season, Vignola has appeared in 43 total matches in all competitions for ACFC, clocking 2,278 total minutes on the pitch while earning four goals and three assists. After sitting out almost the entire 2022 season with injury, she had a breakout year in 2023, notching three goals and one assist. She again dealt with injuries in 2024, but recorded a goal and two assists in her limited playing time
The 26-year-old Vignola has one senior cap for the USWNT, which came in September 2023. She also had at least ten United States youth team call-ups, from the U-14 to U-19 levels.
Prior to her pro career, Vignola played four seasons of NCAA soccer for Tennessee (player profile), where she was utilized on both the defensive and forward lines.
Angel City: French forward Julie Dufour acquired via trade from Paris FC
Also on Tuesday, Angel City announced the signing of 23-year-old forward Julie Dufour via a transfer from Paris FC. Her new contract is for three full seasons and will expire at the end of the 2027 NWSL season.
From the December 17th press release:
During Dufour’s two seasons with Paris FC, she scored 19 goals in 41 match appearances in all competitions. Prior to her time with Paris FC, she spent three seasons each with Bordeaux and Lille, landing her 152 career match appearances and 33 career goals in her eight seasons in the Première Ligue.
The 5’4″ Dufour has 8 senior international caps for France, including two friendly appearances in October. (FFF.fr profile) During the most recent international window, Dufour was called into France’s U-23s. As a youth player, she won a UEFA Women’s U-19 Championship with France in 2019.
2025 Coachella Valley Invitational: Angel City, Bay FC, Dash, Thorns, Wave, and Reign will participate
On Tuesday, six NWSL teams — Angel City FC, Bay FC, the Houston Dash, the Portland Thorns, the San Diego Wave, and the Seattle Reign — announced that they will be playing preseason exhibition matches at the 2025 Coachella Valley Invitational in Indio, California, on the grounds of the Empire Polo Club.
The six NWSL teams will play two exhibition matches, with five rest and training days in between. The announced schedule (Angel City press release) is as follows:
Sunday, February 16th
- 11:00 a.m. PST — Angel City FC v. Portland Thorns
- 12:00 p.m. PST — San Diego Wave FC v. Houston Dash
- 1:00 p.m. PST — Bay FC v. Seattle Reign FC
Saturday, February 22nd
- 10:00 a.m. PST — Portland Thorns v. Houston Dash
- 11:00 a.m. PST — San Diego Wave FC v. Bay FC
- 12:00 p.m. PST — Angel City FC v. Seattle Reign FC
For details about attending, see coachellavalleyinvitational.com.
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