NWSL: End-Of-Season Roster Updates for All 14 Clubs (10-Dec-2024)

On Tuesday, December 10th, all 14 NWSL teams published their initial offseason rosters. This post includes the announced roster for each club, in a standardized format.

The lists for each club are organized as follows:

  • Currently Signed: All players signed to a contract (for at least part of 2025) but not presently loaned to another club.
  • Out on Loan: Signed players that have current loan agreements.
  • Loan Expired: Players on loan from other clubs who have returned to their home club.
  • In Negotiations: Free agent players that the club acknowledges as still negotiating.
  • Free Agents: Players with expiring contracts that have not been retained and/or with options that have not been exercised.
  • Retired: Players that have announced their retirements from professional club soccer.
Continue reading “NWSL: End-Of-Season Roster Updates for All 14 Clubs (10-Dec-2024)”

NWSL News of Note: Becki Tweed out as Angel City head coach, Dash hire Angela Hucles Mangano, Red Stars sign Halle Mackiewicz, Bay FC re-signs three rookies

Leading the notables from Monday, December 9th are the news that Becki Tweed is no longer Angel City’s head coach and former Angel City general manager Angela Hucles Mangano is now the President of Women’s Soccer for the Houston Dash.

In player news, the Chicago Red Stars have signed former Clemson goalkeeper Halle Mackiewicz. She returns to the States after playing her rookie pro season in Sweden’s Damallsvenskan.

Also, Bay FC re-signed three first-year professionals: Goalkeeper Emmie Allen plus midfielders Caroline Conti and Jamie Shepherd.

Continue reading “NWSL News of Note: Becki Tweed out as Angel City head coach, Dash hire Angela Hucles Mangano, Red Stars sign Halle Mackiewicz, Bay FC re-signs three rookies”

NWSL News of Note, Players Edition: Claire Emslie, Penelope Hocking, Maddie Moreau, Hanna Glas, and Hannah Stambaugh all extend; Carrie Lawrence retires; Ouleye Sarr on SEI List

In November, Scottish forward Claire Emslie extended with Angel City for two more season, while Bay FC re-signed forward Penelope Hocking and rookie defender Maddie Moreau. Meanwhile, the Seattle Reign have secured Swedish defender Hanna Glas for at least another year.

Also, earlier this week, Angel City signed goalkeeper Hannah Stambaugh to a new one-year contract.

Just before Thanksgiving, the Washington Spirit placed French forward Ouleye Sarr on the season-ending injury list for a back injury suffered in September.

Additionally, based on an Instagram message by Annaïg Butel, it appears that the French defender will not return to the Washington Spirit for the 2025 season.

Note: Free agency moves will be covered in a separate post that should be published sometime this weekend.

Continue reading “NWSL News of Note, Players Edition: Claire Emslie, Penelope Hocking, Maddie Moreau, Hanna Glas, and Hannah Stambaugh all extend; Carrie Lawrence retires; Ouleye Sarr on SEI List”

NWSL News of Note: Dash sign U-18 midfielder Zoe Matthews, Olivia Wade-Katoa on SEI List, Bay FC sign midfielder Catherine Paulson

Friday’s notables all involve midfielders:

  • The Houston Dash signed 6’2″ midfielder Zoe Matthews under the U18 Entry Mechanism. Matthews is eligible to play for both Jamaica and the USA.
  • The Portland Thorns placed rookie midfielder Olivia Wade-Katoa is out for the rest of the season and will undergo knee surgery.
  • Bay FC signed Catherine Paulson for the remainder of the season. Paulson had been a National Team Replacement Player during Savy King’s absence.
Continue reading “NWSL News of Note: Dash sign U-18 midfielder Zoe Matthews, Olivia Wade-Katoa on SEI List, Bay FC sign midfielder Catherine Paulson”

NWSL News of Note, Teams Edition: Billionaire Marc Lasry expected to acquire controlling stake in Courage; Bay FC to build training facility, Current stadium to host 2025 NCAA College Cup

Leading this edition of notables is the news that Steve Malik, the primary owner of the North Carolina Courage is in formal talks to sell a 60% stake in the Courage to billionaire Marc Lasry. Should that deal go through retired NWSL player Lauren Holiday is expected to have “a very active role” in the Courage organization.

Also, Bay FC has announced plans to acquire a lease of land on Treasure Island, in the San Francisco Bay, for a permanent and dedicated training facility, which would also include offices for its sporting operations.

In head coaching news, the Houston Dash have officially parted ways with Fran Alonso who had been mysteriously absent from the team since the end of June.

Other notables include:

  • Angel City: MLS club Los Angeles FC acquires minority stake
  • Kansas City Current: CPKC Stadium will host 2025 NCAA Women’s College Cup
  • Gotham FC: Ali Krieger named Club Ambassador
  • Portland Thorns: RAJ Sports awarded Portland WNBA Franchise
  • Racing Louisville’s attendance woes — “We’d love to see more of you”

Angel City’s violation of the salary cap and other league rules is covered in a separate post: Angel City FC fined $200,000 and docked 3 points for violating salary cap and other league rules.

Additionally, SafeSports investigation into former Chicago Red Stars head coach Rory Dames has apparently been closed due to “insufficient” evidence. However, the root cause appears to be a blatantly deficient investigation.

Continue reading “NWSL News of Note, Teams Edition: Billionaire Marc Lasry expected to acquire controlling stake in Courage; Bay FC to build training facility, Current stadium to host 2025 NCAA College Cup”

NWSL News of Note, Players Edition: Christine Sinclair announces retirement, Contract renewals include Alyssa Naeher, Ann-Katrin Berger, Julie Doyle, and Tara McKeown

Leading the notables since the last update is the announcement by one of the all-time greats, Christine Sinclair, who will be ending her professional playing career at the end of the season.

Another retiring player, Gotham FC’s Kelley O’Hara was placed on the season-ending injury list due to “chronic knee degeneration”.

In other player-related news, three goalkeepers extended with their clubs: Alyssa Naeher of the Chicago Red Stars, Ann-Katrin Berger of Gotham FC, and Jordan Silkowitz of Bay FC.

Other players re-signing with their clubs include

  • Orlando Pride: Julie Doyle
  • Washington Spirit: Tara McKeown
  • Houston Dash: Sophie Schmidt
  • Utah Royals: Laura Flynn and Cristina Rogue

Additionally, the Washington Spirit have loaned defender Waniya Hudson to the Dallas Trinity of the USL Super League for the remainder of her contract.

Continue reading “NWSL News of Note, Players Edition: Christine Sinclair announces retirement, Contract renewals include Alyssa Naeher, Ann-Katrin Berger, Julie Doyle, and Tara McKeown”

NWSL News of Note: Sharples to KC, Anderson Extends with Chicago, Flynn on Utah’s SEI List

Here are the notable updates since Tuesday’s update:

  • Sharples to KC, Silkowitz to Bay FC
  • Utah Royals: Defender Lauren Flynn placed on SEI List
  • Chicago Red Stars: Center-back Hannah Anderson signs on for 3 more seasons
Continue reading “NWSL News of Note: Sharples to KC, Anderson Extends with Chicago, Flynn on Utah’s SEI List”

NWSL News of Note: Dahlkemper to Bay FC, Proulx to Juventus, Nielsen and Wheeler Re-Up, Free Agency Lists

A few more days are left in the August transfer and the hits keep on coming.

Here are the headlines since the last update:

  • Abby Dahlkemper Traded from the San Diego Wave to Bay FC
  • Canadian goalkeeper Lysianne Proulx Traded from Bay FC to Juventus
  • Paige Nielsen Signs New Four-Year Contract with the Houston Dash
  • Ellie Wheeler Signs New Four-Year Contract with the Kansas City Current
  • Portland Thorns Trade Portuguese forward Ana Dias to Tigres UANL
  • Washington Spirit Upgrade NTR Players to Season Contracts

Also, the initial lists of free agents for the 2025 season were released.

Continue reading “NWSL News of Note: Dahlkemper to Bay FC, Proulx to Juventus, Nielsen and Wheeler Re-Up, Free Agency Lists”

NWSL News of Note: Olympics Break Catch-Up: Balcer-Howell Swap, Katie Zelem to Angel City, Jess Carter to Gotham, and Lots More

After a seven week break for the 2024 Paris Olympics, where the USWNT once again won gold, the second-half of the 2024 National Women’s Soccer League season gets underway on Friday, August 23rd.

During the Olympic break, most of the teams were involved in player trades, signings, and other roster moves. The most notable (and shocking) trade during the break, just happened on Monday, when the Seattle Reign and Racing Louisville swapped forward Bethany Balcer for Racing’s captain, midfielder Jaelin Howell. Meanwhile, the most surprising signing was not a player, but an interim head coach: Landon Donovan, with the San Diego Wave.

Updates:

  • August 20th: Racing signs Colombian defender Ángela Barón, NC Courage loan defender Talia Staude to USL Super League side Tampa Bay Sun…

For player-related moves, as well as other developments involving all fourteen NWSL teams, including Angel City FC’s sale to Willow Bay and Bob Iger, keep reading…

Continue reading “NWSL News of Note: Olympics Break Catch-Up: Balcer-Howell Swap, Katie Zelem to Angel City, Jess Carter to Gotham, and Lots More”