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 News of Note, Internal Moves: Courage trade Haley Hopkins to Current, Yazmeen Ryan inks new deal with Dash, Kelli Hubly joins Bay FC

Leading the intra-NWSL notables for the end of January is the trade of forward Haley Hopkins from the North Carolina Courage to the Kansas City Current.

Meanwhile, United States Women’s National Team forward Yazmeen Ryan has signed a new contract that should keep her with the Houston Dash through the 2027 NWSL season.

In free agency news, center-back Kelli Hubly, who had spent the previous eight years with the Portland Thorns, is staying on the West Coast after signing a two-year deal with Bay FC.

Additionally, the San Diego Wave and Gotham FC both announced the hiring of assistant coaches.

Continue reading “NWSL News of Note, Internal Moves: Courage trade Haley Hopkins to Current, Yazmeen Ryan inks new deal with Dash, Kelli Hubly joins Bay FC”

NWSL: 2025 Preseason Rosters, Part 6 — Bay FC, Chicago Stars, Houston Dash, North Carolina Courage, and Portland Thorns

Five additional clubs — Bay FC, the Chicago Stars, the Houston Dash, the North Carolina Courage, and the Portland Thorns — have released their initial preseason roster for the 2025 National Women’s Soccer League season, leaving just Gotham FC as the only team to not officially publish their roster list.

The most curious nugget from those five clubs’ press releases is a note that Chicago Stars and United States Women’s National Team forward Mallory Swanson will not be with the Stars “for the start of training camp” due to unspecified “personal reasons”. Chicago’s roster release also included a quote from Swanson. At this point in time, this situation is just something to note and is only a slightly significant story.

All five clubs have at least one non-roster invitee:

  • Bay FC has just one unsigned player, forward Catherine Paulson, who signed a short-term contract with the club in October 2024 after previously being a National Team Replacement Player.
  • The Chicago Stars have seven invitees, including two Jamaican internationals: goalkeeper Sydney Schneider, who was with the Stars in 2024, and Ohio State midfielder Peyton McNamara.
  • The Houston Dash have five non-roster players, including UVA midfielder Alexis Theoret, who was called into a U-23 USWYNT camp back in February 2023.
  • The North Carolina Courage have invited six recent collegiate players. Among them is defender Emerson Elgin, who won a 2024 NCAA Division I title with the North Carolina Tar Heels last December.
  • Of the six non-roster players invited by the Portland Thorns, two are goalkeepers: Morgan Messner, who was with the San Diego Wave during the 2024 NWSL season, and Stanford’s Haley Craig.
Continue reading “NWSL: 2025 Preseason Rosters, Part 6 — Bay FC, Chicago Stars, Houston Dash, North Carolina Courage, and Portland Thorns”

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: Jaedyn Shaw traded to Courage; Lauren Barnes re-signs with Reign; Chicago drops “Red”, keeps Sarah Griffith; Pride sends Sofia Manner to Toronto

Leading Tuesday’s notables is a big one: United States Women’s National Team attacker Jaedyn Shaw has been traded from the San Diego Wave to the North Carolina Courage.

In other player news…

  • With the re-signing of defender Lauren Barnes, the Seattle Reign have retained a second NWSL original for the 2025 season.
  • Forward Sarah Griffith has signed a half-season contract with the Chicago Stars.
  • The Orlando Pride have traded backup goalkeeper Sofia Manner to AFC Toronto of the Northern Super League.

Also, the Chicago Stars transitioned to its new name on Tuesday, with updates to its social media branding and its website, which is now at chicagostars.com.

Continue reading “NWSL News of Note: Jaedyn Shaw traded to Courage; Lauren Barnes re-signs with Reign; Chicago drops “Red”, keeps Sarah Griffith; Pride sends Sofia Manner to Toronto”

NWSL News of Note, Extensions Edition: Marta, Tara McKeown, Mandy McGlynn, Paige Monaghan, Manaka Matsukubo, Marisa Bova, and Jordyn Bloomer all extend

During the first full week of 2025, several NWSL players signed new contracts with their respective clubs.

Leading the signings is Brazilian legend Marta, who inked a new two-year deal that should keep her with the Orlando Pride through the 2026 season.

The Washington Spirit’s converted center-back Tara McKeown has been mutually optioned for the 2028 season. Meanwhile, Utah Royals goalkeeper Mandy McGlynn is now under contract through the 2029 NWSL season.

McGlynn’s Royals teammate, forward Paige Monaghan, re-signed through the 2027 season.

Japanese forward/midfielder Manaka Matsukubo signed a new contract with the North Carolina Courage that should keeper in the NWSL through the 2026 season.

Additionally, backup goalkeepers Marisa Bova of the North Carolina Courage and Jordyn Bloomer of Racing Louisville signed extensions through 2027 and 2026, respectively.

Continue reading “NWSL News of Note, Extensions Edition: Marta, Tara McKeown, Mandy McGlynn, Paige Monaghan, Manaka Matsukubo, Marisa Bova, and Jordyn Bloomer all extend”

NWSL News of Note: Loera traded from Bay to Utah;  USC’s Courtnall signs with Courage; Ivory moves to KC; Dash announce Briede contract; Westphal updates Dash contract; Freeman re-ups at Gotham

Leading this edition of the notables is the news that Bay’s FC first player, Alex Loera, has been traded to the Utah Royals, and that a team other than the San Diego Wave have signed a collegiate player: On Thursday, the North Carolina Courage announced the signing of Southern California defender Brooklyn Courtnall.

In other player news, the Kansas City Current officially have a goalkeeper on their books with the free agent signing of Laurel Ivory.

Additionally, the Houston Dash announced that recently acquired defender Christen Westphal has been signed a new contract that adds another year to her planned stay in Houston. The Dash also confirmed that midfielder Belle Briede, who was included in the club’s end-of-season roster, has a one-year contract for 2025. Meanwhile, Gotham FC have retained veteran defender Mandy Freeman.

In front office news, Matt Potter is officially Bay FC’s Sporting Director after holding an “interim” title since June.

Continue reading “NWSL News of Note: Loera traded from Bay to Utah;  USC’s Courtnall signs with Courage; Ivory moves to KC; Dash announce Briede contract; Westphal updates Dash contract; Freeman re-ups at Gotham”

NWSL News of Note: Denver takes the lead; Becky Sauerbrunn retires; Narumi Miura moves to Spirit; Angel City signs Julie Dufour and retains M.A. Vignola; Coachella teams

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.

Continue reading “NWSL News of Note: Denver takes the lead; Becky Sauerbrunn retires; Narumi Miura moves to Spirit; Angel City signs Julie Dufour and retains M.A. Vignola; Coachella teams”