Leading the notables for the last two days of 2024 are Gotham’s signing of Brazilian international forward Gabi Portilho and its acquisition of goalkeeper Shelby Hogan. Hogan was acquired via a trade with the Portland Thorns, who received an international roster spot for 2025.
Also, two clubs announced the signings of recent NCAA players:
- Forward Karlie Lema, who is the 2024 ACC Offensive Player of the Year, has been signed by Bay FC after four seasons at the University of California, Berkeley.
- The Utah Royals have bolstered their goalkeeping corps with the addition of Mia Justus, who played for the University of Texas and Florida State.
Meanwhile, Portuguese international forward Jéssica Silva has committed to another half-season with Gotham FC.
Additionally, former United States Women’s National Team goalkeeper Nicole Barnhart announced her retirement from professional soccer.
Gotham FC: Brazilian international forward Gabi Portilho signed to two-year contract, with option for 2027
On December 30th (press release), the club announced that Portilho, who was a free agent, had been signed to a two-year contract, which also includes an unspecified option.
The 29-year-old Portilho joins Gotham after four years with São Paulo club Corinthians.
Portilho had a breakout performance at the 2024 Summer Olympics, scoring two goals during the knockout phase: The game-winner against host France in the quarterfinals and Brazil’s second goal against Spain in the semifinals. Portilho also had an assist in the Spain semifinal.
Although first called up to the Brazil senior WNT in 2017, Portilho was withdrawn due to a serious knee injury and did not make her debut until 2022.
Trade: Thorns send goalkeeper Shelby Hogan and $40,000 in allocation money to Gotham for international roster spot and $10,000 in intra-league transfer funds
On the last day of 2024, the Portland Thorns and Gotham FC announced that 26-year-old goalkeeper Shelby Hogan, who was Portland’s starter for most of the 2024 season, had been traded to Gotham. (Thorns press release, Gotham press release)
Deal Summary:
- Gotham: Acquires goalkeeper Shelby Hogan and receives $40,00 in allocation money
- Thorns: Acquires 2025 international roster spot and receives $10,000 in intra-league transfer funds
In 2024, the 5’11” Hogan appeared in 21 regular season matches, one postseason match, one Summer Cup match, and three Concacaf W Champions Cup matches.
A four-year veteran of the NWSL, Hogan was signed by Portland in February 2021 (press release) after not being selected in that year’s draft.
Before turning pro, Hogan played three seasons of NCAA soccer at Providence (player profile) after missing her freshman year due to injury.
The Thorns now have just two goalkeepers on their books: Australian international Mackenzie Arnold and former starter Bella Bixby, who did not play in 2024 as she was on maternity leave. Bixby recently signed a new one-year contract with an option year. Arnold’s contract runs through 2026 and includes a mutual option for the 2027 NWSL season (July 2024 press release).
With the addition of Hogan, Gotham has three netminders under contract for 2025. The other two ‘keepers are German international Ann-Katrin Berger and Abby Smith, who missed almost all of the 2024 season due to a leg injury. Smith appeared as a 90th minute sub in the Summer Cup final (Facebook video) and was on the bench for Gotham’s final regular season match (NWSL game log).
Hogan’s current contract runs through the 2025 season and includes an option for 2026 (OregonLive.com). Berger’s contract, which was signed in September, goes through the 2026 NWSL season. Smith is contracted through the end of 2025 (November 2022 press release).
Gotham also had 36-year-old goalkeeper Michelle Betos under contract for 2024, but she is now a free agent.
Bay FC: Cal forward Karlie Lema signed to three-year contract with option for 2028
On December 30th (press release), Bay FC announced the signing of 5’10” forward Karlie Lema via a contract that runs through the 2027 season and includes an unspecified option for the 2028 NWSL season.
Lema is a native of the Bay area and played youth club soccer for MVLA. Current Bay FC head coach Albertin Montoya is MVLA’s former Technical Director. His wife (profile) and father (profile) are also associated with MVLA.
Over four seasons at Cal (player profile), Lema scored 31 goals and registered 12 assists over 76 matches. For the 2024 season, Lema was named the ACC Offensive Player of the Year after a standout performance of 16 goals and 6 assists.
Lema had been called into at least seven United States youth national team camps, primarily at the U-17 level (five camps in 2019 and 2020).
Utah Royals: U. of Texas goalkeeper Mia Justus signed to three-year contract
On December 30th (press release), the Royals announced that former United States youth international goalkeeper Mia Justus has signed a contract which runs through the 2027 NWSL season.
The 5’9″ Justus was a two-year starter at the University of Texas (player profile). She played her first two seasons of NCAA soccer at Florida State (player profile) as a secondary goalkeeper behind Cristina Roque (FSU profile), who was drafted and signed by Utah ahead of the 2024 NWSL season.
Justus has attended over 25 United States youth camps and was a member of the U-20 USWYNT in 2022, playing in that year’s FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup and the 2022 Concacaf Women’s Under-20 Championship.
Justus is a cousin of retired United States Men’s National Team goalkeeper Tim Howard.
The Royals now have three goalkeepers signed for 2025:
- Mandy Haught (5’9″, age 26) — Haught is under contract through the 2026 season and was recently capped by the USWNT.
- Cristina Roque (5’7″, age 23) — Absent a new contract, Roque will be a free agent after the 2025 season (March 2024 press release with contract details)
- Mia Justus (5’9″, age 22) — The rookie is under contract through 2027.
Gotham FC: Portuguese forward Jéssica Silva inks six-month deal
On December 31st, Gotham announced that Jéssica Silva has been signed to a new six-month contract that runs through June 30, 2025. Silva joined Gotham back in August on a contract that ran through the end of the 2024 season.
Silva only saw limited action with Gotham in 2024, appearing in four regular season matches (NWSL stats) and three Concacaf W Champion matches, all as a substitute.
Silva’s new contract expires just ahead of the 2025 Women’s Euro, which runs from July 2nd to July 27th. The friendly window preceding the tournament begins on Monday, June 23rd (FIFA match calendar). Portugal is in Group C with its Iberian neighbor Spain plus Belgium and Italy.
Nicole Barnhart announces retirement from professional soccer
On December 30th, goalkeeper Nicole Barnhart, who was last with the Washington Spirit, announced her retirement via social media (Instagram).
The 43-year-old Barnhart began her pro career in the defunct Women’s Professional Soccer (“WPS”), where she played two seasons with FC Gold Pride. After the Gold Pride dissolved, she played a year with the Philadelphia Independence.
An NWSL original, Barnhart was allocated to FC Kansas City and spent a total of nine years with that franchise (2013-2017) and its successors, the first Utah Royals (2018-2020) and the present Kansas City franchise (2021).
After being released by Kansas City in the middle of the 2021 season, Barnhart signed with the Washington Spirit ahead of the 2022 season.
From the NWSL press release:
Barnhart holds the NWSL record for most regular-season shutouts (52) and was the league’s first-ever Goalkeeper of the Year in 2013. She is also the only goalkeeper to win back-to-back NWSL Championships, leading FC Kansas City to titles in 2014 and 2015, and the first to reach 100 career regular-season appearances.
Barnhart also won a WPS championship with FC Gold Pride.
As a member of the United States Women’s National Team, Barnhart spent most of her career as a back-up, primarily behind Hope Solo. However, when Solo was out due to shoulder surgery, Barnhart started 15 straight matches from October 2010 to March 2011.
Barnhart’s USWNT career began in 2004 and ended in 2015. Her last appearance, as a substitute came in 2013. Barnhart’s first cap, an October 2004 friendly against Mexico, was memorable: Barnhart entered in the 86th minute as a field player, substituting for Angela Hucles, who rolled her ankle and was unable to continue.
Barnhart won two Olympic gold medals with the USWNT, in 2008 and 2012.
Barnhart played NCAA soccer for Stanford from 2000 to 2004, where she holds the record for career shutouts at 35 (tied with Jane Campbell, who played more matches) and is second in goals against average at 0.45 (behind Emily Oliver, who average 0.36 from 2010 to 2013). (Stanford records page)
Before the USWNT, Barnhart was a regular call-up to the old U-21 WNT, being named to four Nordic Cup rosters from 2002 to 2005. Her earliest known youth camp was at the U-18 level in 1999.
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