NWSL: 2025 Regular Season — Opening Day Rosters (Updated)

Wednesday, March 12, was the deadline for the fourteen teams of the 2025 National Women’s Soccer League to publish their initial regular season rosters, which are required to have at least 22 and no more than 26 active players.

This post is a compilation of those rosters, presented in a standard format. For each club, there are three separate lists, organized by position:

  • Active Roster: Players who should be available for gameday roster selection. However, some players may have minor injuries that do not necessitate being named to an injury/illness list and could be unavailable. In most cases, players that have short-term or other non-standard contracts have been noted, but some may have been missed as not all clubs provided such details in their roster press releases. Additionally, players who occupy international slots have been noted.
  • Extended Absences: Players who are unavailable due to injury or other reasons. This includes players on the season-ending and 45-day injury/illness lists as well as those on maternity leave and mental health leave. (This list also includes players who have not yet reported to their respective clubs. It is unclear whether those players count toward the number of active players.)
  • Out on Loan: Players who have been loaned to another team for at least the start of the 2025 regular season. The club that they are currently playing for and the length of the loan is included in parentheses after each player’s name.
Continue reading “NWSL: 2025 Regular Season — Opening Day Rosters (Updated)”

NWSL Week in Review: Savy King traded from Bay FC to Angel City, Abuse scandal settlement announced

Topping last week’s notables is the news that the National Women’s Soccer League has agreed to a settlement agreement with the Attorneys General of New York, Illinois, and the District of Columbia. The settlement agreement was a result of a joint investigation into the NWSL in the wake of the player abuse scandal. That scandal eventually led to the Yates Report (PDF) and a separate report produced by the NWSL and the NWSL Players Association (PDF).

In player transactions…

  • The lead story is the trade of defender Savy King from Bay FC to Angel City for a $300,000 transfer fee that will be paid over two seasons.
  • Meanwhile, the top story from the East Coast is Gotham FC re-signing free agent forward Midge Purce.
  • Bay FC signed rookie midfielder Hannah Bebar, who will not immediately join the club as she is finishing a master’s degree at Duke University.
  • Down in SoCal, Angel City goalkeeper Angelina Anderson is now under contract through the 2028 season.
  • South African international Linda Motlhalo‘s second stint in the NWSL has ended after she and Racing Louisville agreed to a mutual contract termination.
  • The Washington Spirit are loaning rookie midfielder Deborah Abiodun and Brazilian forward Tamara Bolt to the USL Super League’s Dallas Trinity for the 2025 calendar year.
  • Olympique Lyonnais center-back Kysha Sylla is being sent on loan to the Spirit for one year.

In team news, the Portland Thorns have announced a shared performance center with the new WNBA franchise.

Also, the Utah Royals have added two unannounced non-roster invitees.

Continue reading “NWSL Week in Review: Savy King traded from Bay FC to Angel City, Abuse scandal settlement announced”

NWSL News of Note, Incoming Moves: Pride acquires Prisca Chilufya, Angel City adds Miyabi Moriya, Wave invite Penn State’s Jordan Fusco

On the last day of January, two NWSL clubs announced the signing of internationals, both via transfers:

  • The Orlando Pride have acquired Zambian international Prisca Chilufya from FC Juárez of Liga MX Femenil. Chilufya inked a three-year deal that runs through the 2027 NWSL season.
  • Meanwhile, Japanese international Miyabi Moriya has transferred to Angel City after ten years with INAC Kobe Leonessa. She is signed for one season and has a club option for 2026.

Earlier this week, the San Diego Wave have apparently added another non-roster invitee: Midfielder Jordan Fusco, who recently wrapped up her NCAA career at Penn State after three seasons with the Tennessee Volunteers.

Additionally, the Houston Dash now have enough non-roster invitees for one side of an 11-v-11 scrimmage after adding six more recent collegiate players.

Continue reading “NWSL News of Note, Incoming Moves: Pride acquires Prisca Chilufya, Angel City adds Miyabi Moriya, Wave invite Penn State’s Jordan Fusco”

NWSL News of Note: Chawinga and the Thompson sisters extend through 2028, Gotham signs UCLA’s Sofia Cook, Royals acquire Nuria Rábano, Lily Woodham will remain on loan, Lexi Missimo stays local

Leading the player notables for Wednesday, January 29th, are the news that 2024 NWSL MVP Temwa Chawinga has extended through the 2028 NWSL season with the Kansas City Current and that both Thompson sisters, Alyssa and Gisele, have done the same with Angel City.

Meanwhile, tThe Utah Royals have added another Spanish player: Outside-back Nuria Rábano, who was teammates with Ana Tejada at Real Sociedad.

In other player news, Gotham signed another rookie, UCLA’s Sofia Cook, to a multi-year deal, and the Seattle Reign have extended the loan of Welsh international Lily Woodham to Crystal Palace.

Also, Texas standout Lexi Missimo will not be taking her talents to the NWSL or Europe anytime soon after signing with her hometown club, the Dallas Trinity, of the nascent USL Super League.

Continue reading “NWSL News of Note: Chawinga and the Thompson sisters extend through 2028, Gotham signs UCLA’s Sofia Cook, Royals acquire Nuria Rábano, Lily Woodham will remain on loan, Lexi Missimo stays local”

NWSL News of Note: Naomi Girma to Chelsea, Messiah Bright traded from Angel City to the Dash, Jenna Nighswonger set to leave Gotham for Arsenal

The big news of the weekend was the official introduction of Naomi Girma in Chelsea Blue on Sunday, after a trade from the San Diego Wave, which reportedly involves the largest transfer fee in women’s soccer history.

Girma may not be the only United States Women’s National Team player heading to England, as it appears that Jenna Nighswonger will be traded from Gotham to Arsenal.

In other player news, forward Messiah Bright will be playing for her third team in three years after being traded from Angel City to the Houston Dash.

Continue reading “NWSL News of Note: Naomi Girma to Chelsea, Messiah Bright traded from Angel City to the Dash, Jenna Nighswonger set to leave Gotham for Arsenal”

NWSL: 2025 Preseason Rosters, Part 5 — Angel City FC

On Wednesday, an eighth club, Angel City released their initial preseason roster for the 2025 NWSL season.

ACFC has invited five non-rostered players, including two members of the USA’s squad for the 2024 FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup:

  • Midfielder Scottie Antonucci, who is also eligible for the 2025 U-17 WWC, and
  • Forward Leena Powell, who is an official commit for UCLA.

The other three invitees are all collegiate seniors:

  • University of Portland goalkeeper Bre Norris,
  • Mississippi State midfielder Hannah Johnson, and
  • Rutgers forward Riley Tiernan.

In the same press release, ACFC also confirmed the appointment of former Houston Dash head coach Sam Laity as interim head coach.

Continue reading “NWSL: 2025 Preseason Rosters, Part 5 — Angel City FC”

NWSL News of Note: Alanna Kennedy returns, Dash sign Danielle Colaprico and Duke’s Maggie Graham, Courage acquire Shinomi Koyama, Kyra Carusa extends with Wave, Jen Beattie retires

Leading Tuesday’s notables is the return of Australian international Alanna Kennedy, who has signed with Angel City through the 2025 NWSL season. Her contract also includes a mutual option for 2026.

The Houston Dash announced two midfield signings on Tuesday, bringing in both youth and experience: Free agent Danielle Colaprico, who has been in the NWSL since 2015, and Maggie Graham, who enters the NWSL as a rookie after five seasons with the Duke Blue Devils.

Meanwhile, the North Carolina Courage unveiled their signing of Japanese international midfielder Shinomi Koyami.

Also, the San Diego Wave confirmed that Ireland international forward Kyra Carusa is set to stay another year in her hometown after she exercised her player option for the 2025 NWSL season.

Additionally, former Scotland international Jen Beattie has announced her retirement from professional after one season in the NWSL with Bay FC.

Continue reading “NWSL News of Note: Alanna Kennedy returns, Dash sign Danielle Colaprico and Duke’s Maggie Graham, Courage acquire Shinomi Koyama, Kyra Carusa extends with Wave, Jen Beattie retires”

NWSL News of Note: Christen Press re-ups with Angel City, Dash acquire Abby Smith from Gotham, Courage signs Hannah Betfort, Racing signs Nebraska’s Sarah Weber, Pride trades international spot to Spirit

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.

Continue reading “NWSL News of Note: Christen Press re-ups with Angel City, Dash acquire Abby Smith from Gotham, Courage signs Hannah Betfort, Racing signs Nebraska’s Sarah Weber, Pride trades international spot to Spirit”

NWSL News of Note: Angel City hires Mark Parsons, Chicago signs Manaka Hayashi, Wave acquires Gia Corley, Courage confirm Kerolin free agency, Brecken Mozingo extended by Utah

Leading the notables for the first day of the 2025 preseason window is an Angel City front office signing: Mark Parsons, who has over nine years of head coaching experience in the NWSL, has been named the club’s new general manager.

In player news…

  • The Chicago Stars signed Santa Clara midfielder and Japanese youth international Manaka Hayashi through 2027.
  • The San Diego Wave acquired midfielder Gia Corley from TSG Hoffenheim on a two-year contract.
  • On social media, the North Carolina Courage confirmed that Brazilian forward Kerolin is pursuing free agency.
  • In its preseason roster announcement, the Utah Royals revealed that the 2026 option on Brecken Mozingo’s contract has been exercised.
Continue reading “NWSL News of Note: Angel City hires Mark Parsons, Chicago signs Manaka Hayashi, Wave acquires Gia Corley, Courage confirm Kerolin free agency, Brecken Mozingo extended by Utah”

NWSL News of Note, Signings Edition: Angel City inks Mississippi State’s Macey Hodge, Gotham signs Pitt’s Sarah Schupansky, Bella Bixby re-ups with Thorns, Hillary Beall extends with Wave

During the last full week of 2024, two NWSL clubs announced the signing of collegiate players and two other clubs announced the re-signing of goalkeepers.

The two players who recently wrapped up their NCAA careers are Mississippi State midfielder Macey Hodge, who signed with Angel City, and University of Pittsburgh forward Sarah Schupansky, who is joining Gotham FC.

Meanwhile, the Portland Thorns retained their 2023 starting goalkeeper, Bella Bixby, who missed all of the 2024 season due to maternity leave, and the San Diego Wave have re-signed back-up ‘keeper Hillary Beall.

Continue reading “NWSL News of Note, Signings Edition: Angel City inks Mississippi State’s Macey Hodge, Gotham signs Pitt’s Sarah Schupansky, Bella Bixby re-ups with Thorns, Hillary Beall extends with Wave”