Leading the notables for Friday, January 17th, is the news that forward Christen Press will return to the NWSL and Angel City for at least one more season.
In other player news…
- Gotham FC trades goalkeeper Abby Smith to the Houston Dash for $20,000 in intra-league transfer funds.
- The North Carolina Courage signs free agent forward Hannah Betfort through 2026 with a mutual option for 2027.
- Racing Louisville signs senior Nebraska forward Sarah Weber via a two-year contract.
Additionally, the Washington Spirit have room for another international signing after acquiring an international slot from the Orlando Pride.
Angel City: Veteran forward Christen Press extends through 2025 season
On Friday, the club announced that forward Christen Press, who was out of action for over two years due to an ACL injury in her right knee, will return for at least one more season after signing a new one-year contract (press release).
After making her return in the Summer Cup, Press featured in eight of Angel City’s final 10 regular season matches, including a start in ACFC’s final match of the season (NWSL game log). Her first goal since the ACL injury came in her 100th NWSL match in October 2024 against the North Carolina Courage (ACFC match recap).
A prolific goal-scorer throughout most of her collegiate and professional playing career, Press has played pro soccer in the United States and Sweden.
Press was Angel City’s first player signing and joined the club ahead of the 2022 season after one season at Manchester United under manager Casey Stoney, who was recently named the head coach of the Canada Women’s National Team.
Previously, Press played for the original Utah Royals (2018-2020) and the Chicago Red Stars (2014-2017) in the NWSL. She also spent over three seasons in Sweden with Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC (2012, 2018) and Tyresö FF (2013-2014).
Press began her pro career in the final year of the Women’s Professional Soccer league by being drafted by the Washington Freedom, which then became magicJack.
At the senior international level, Press was active with the United States Women’s National Team from 2013 to 2021. She was a member of two FIFA Women’s World Cup winning squads, in 2015 and 2019. Over 155 international matches, Press has tallied 64 goals and registered 32 assists.
During her collegiate career at Stanford, Press was awarded the 2010 MAC Hermann Trophy. She played four seasons, from 2007 to 2010, and finished with 71 goals, which is still a program record, and 41 assists (second-most in program history, behind only Catarina Macario).
Press had about a dozen United States youth international call-ups, primarily at the U-23 level, with a lone U-20 call-up in January 2008.
Trade: Houston Dash acquires goalkeeper Abby Smith from Gotham FC
On Friday, Gotham FC (press release) and the Houston Dash (press release) announced that 31-year-old goalkeeper Abby Smith had been traded to the Dash in exchange for $20,000 of intra-league transfer funds.
Smith’s current contract expires after the 2025 season (November 2022 press release).
A native of the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex, Smith joins the Dash after two seasons with Gotham, where she was their starter during the 2023 season, prior to a season-ending lower leg injury (x.com post) in August 2023. That injury also caused her to miss most of the 2024 season. (NWSL game log)
Smith was originally drafted by the Boston Breakers ahead of the 2016 seasons and played two years for the Breakers, though her rookie season was cut short in her second match by a serious right knee injury. In her second year, Smith was the main starter for the Breakers.
Following the dissolution of the Breakers, she was selected in the 2018 Dispersal Draft by the first Utah Royals and spent three years with Utah until the team folded. During that time, she was Utah’s main starter for the 2018 season but did not appear at all in 2019, as Nicole Barnhart started all 24 matches for the Royals.
After the original Royals folded, Smith was transferred to Kansas City, where she started in six matches during the 2021 season before being traded to the Portland Thorns. While at Portland, Smith started one regular season match and one Challenge Cup match in 2022.
Smith played four seasons at the University of Texas (player profile) from 2012 to 2015, where she started over 70 matches.
Smith attended over 30 United States youth national team camps from the U-15 to the U-23 levels and was a member of the USA squad that won the 2012 FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup. She has at least two call-ups to the United States Women’s National Team, but has not appeared in any senior international matches.
North Carolina Courage: Free agent forward Hannah Betfort inks two-year contract with 2027 mutual option
On Friday (press release), the Courage announced the signing of forward Hannah Betfort on a contract that runs through the 2026 NWSL season and includes a mutual option for the 2027 season.
Betfort played for the Utah Royals during the 2024 season, where she appeared in 24 regular season matches with 18 starts (NWSL game log). Her previous contract had an option for 2025 (January 2023 Thorns press release) that went unexercised.
Betfort ended the 2024 regular season with two goals, which were scored in the final three matches against her first club, the Portland Thorns, and Gotham FC. In her three Summer Cup appearances, Betfort scored goals against the Thorns and Club Tijuana.
Although the 5’10” Betfort has been deployed mostly, if not exclusively, as a forward in the NWSL, during her NCAA career at Wake Forest (player profile), she was utilized primarily as a defender, namely at center-back, but also as a right outside-back (StumptownFooty.com article).
At Wake Forest, Betfort was a recruited walk-on and went on to be a co-captain during her junior and senior seasons. Over her four seasons as a Demon Deacon, she appeared in 66 matches, where she scored six goals (all tallied in her first two years) and registered eight assists. Four of her goals were game-winners.
The move brings the 26-year-old Betfort closer to her hometown of Columbia, South Carolina.
Betfort has two United States youth national team call-ups, both at the U-18 level in 2018. For both rosters, she was listed as a forward.
Betfort, who turned 26 earlier this month, was a recruited walk-on at Wake Forest and went on to be a co-captain during her junior and senior seasons.
Racing Louisville: Nebraska forward/midfielder Sarah Weber signs two-year contract
On Friday, the club announced the signing of Sarah Weber, who recently wrapped up four seasons at the University of Nebraska, via a two-year contract. According to Racing’s press release, Weber has been utilized as a center forward and a left winger.
Sarah Weber
- Positions: Forward (center) / Midfielder (left winger)
- Height: 5’6″
- Age: 21 (born 14-Feb-2003)
- Hometown: Gretna, Nebraska
- FIFA Nationality: USA
- NCAA Team: Nebraska (2021-2024)
- NCAA Career Stats: 43 goals and 16 assists over 78 matches (4 seasons)
- NWSL Contract Details: Signed through 2026
- Press Release: “Racing signs youth international forward Weber to first pro deal” (17-Jan-2025)
- U.S. YNT Experience: One U-23 USWYNT call-up in 2023, where she was listed as a midfielder
- January 2025 Futures Camp: No
- Notables: Named to the All-Big Ten First-Team three years in a row. In high school, was state Gatorade player of the year for both her junior and senior years.
Weber is the second rookie to sign with Racing in 2025. On Thursday, the club announced that Duke’s Ella Hase was signed to a two-year contract.
Trade: The Orlando Pride sends one international roster spot to the Washington Spirit for $50,000 in allocation money
On Friday, both clubs announced the transaction (Spirit press release, Pride press release), which now gives the Spirit eight international slots, seven of which are currently filled:
- Leicy Santos (Colombia)
- Ouleye Sarr (France)
- Esme Morgan (England)
- Rosemonde Kouassi (Ivory Coast)
- Narumi Miura (Japan)
- Deborah Abiodun (Nigeria)
- Tamara Bolt (Brazil)
- {Open}
Quick Notes
Nicole Barnhart, who officially retired from playing professional soccer in December, has been named an assistant goalkeeping coach for the Washington Spirit (press release).
Utah Royals forward and 2024 FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup Bronze Ball awardee Ally Sentnor was voted U.S. Soccer’s Young Female Player of the Year for 2024 (press release).
No additional teams have announced a preseason roster since Wednesday, when the Kansas City Current, Seattle Reign, and Utah Royals posted their rosters.
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