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NWSL: 2025 Preseason Rosters, Part 4 — Racing Louisville

The San Diego Wave and the Washington Spirit were not the only teams to release their initial preseason rosters on Tuesday. Racing Louisville also published their preseason squad list.

Racing has invited six non-rostered players, including Texas forward Holly Ward, who played for Canada at the 2022 FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup (Canada Soccer profile).

The club’s list of non-roster invitees also includes the younger sisters of two current NWSL players: Long Beach State’s Makayla DeMelo, who is the sister of Racing midfielder Savannah DeMelo, and UCLA’s Meg Boade, who is the sister of Bay FC’s Tess Boade. Makayla DeMelo played for Racing’s USL W League team in 2024 (press release) and 2023 (press release).

The other three invitees are a pair of goalkeepers, Mississippi State’s Maddy Anderson and Michigan State’s Kaitlyn Parks, plus a forward, Utah’s Katie O’Kane.

Of the six non-rostered players, all but Makayla DeMelo have played at least four seasons of NCAA soccer. The younger DeMelo redshirted her true freshman year, 2021.

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.

NWSL: 2025 Preseason Rosters, Part 3 — San Diego Wave and Washington Spirit

The number of clubs that have now released their initial preseason rosters for 2025 is now six with the addition of the San Diego Wave and the Washington Spirit, which both published their rosters on Tuesday.

Neither the Wave nor the Spirit has invited any non-rostered players.

The only player news from Tuesday’s roster releases is that San Diego Wave forward Kyra Carusa has exercised her player option for 2025, and thus will remain with the Wave for this upcoming season.

Additionally, United States Women’s National Team defender Naomi Girma officially remains on the Wave’s books, although she is expected to sign with Chelsea in the very near future.

NWSL News of Note: Wave sign three, including DiDi Haračić; Spirit acquire Sandy MacIver; Racing inks Virginia Tech’s Allie George

Leading the notables for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, is the San Diego Wave, which announced a trio of signings, although only two are expected to be available for the upcoming season:

Free agent goalkeeper DiDi Haračić, who was last with Angel City
Nigerian midfielder Favour Emmanuel, who most recently played for ZhFK Lokomotiv Moskva in Russia.
U-20 Colombian defender Sintia Cabezas, who will be loaned to USL Super League club Lexington SC for the 2025 season.

Haračić was only signed to a one-season contract, while Emmanuel and Cabezas were signed via two-year contracts. Emmanuel’s deal also includes a 2027 mutual option.

In other player news, the Washington Spirit used their freshly acquired international roster spot for Scotland goalkeeper Sandy MacIver, and Racing Louisville added another rookie: Virginia Tech defender Allie George.

NWSL: 2025 Preseason Rosters, Part 2 — Orlando Pride

On Monday, January 20th, the Orlando Pride published their preseason roster, joining the Kansas City Current, Seattle Reign, and Utah Royals, which all released their initial preseason rosters last Wednesday.

In addition to its signed players, the Pride have also invited three non-rostered players, who have all played at least four seasons of collegiate soccer:

DeAira Jackson, a goalkeeper who played for Grand Canyon University and Cal State Fullerton
Simone Jackson, a forward who played for the USC Trojans and was on the USA’s squad for the 2022 FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup
Aryssa Mahrt, a midfielder who played for Wisconsin and San Diego State

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.

NWSL News of Note: Wave signs UNC’s Trinity Armstrong, Racing adds Duke’s Ella Hase, Pride loans out Mariana Larroquette, Gotham revamps website

Leading the notables for Thursday is the signing of 17-year-old center-back Trinity Armstrong by the San Diego Wave. Armstrong was a stalwart defender in her one season for the University of North Carolina and for the USA’s squad at 2024 FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup.

Also on Thursday, Racing Louisville announced the signing of another rookie: Outside-back Ella Hase, who had a breakout season at Duke after four years at Northwestern, where she also played forward.

In other player news, the Orlando Pride have loaned Argentine midfielder Mariana Larroquette to Newell’s Old Boys in Argentina.

Additionally, Gotham FC has updated its website, which has greatly improved access to its news archive.

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.

NWSL: 2025 Preseason Rosters, Part 1 — Kansas City Current, Seattle Reign, and Utah Royals

With the 2025 preseason window now underway, three National Women’s Soccer League clubs published their initial preseason rosters: The Kansas City Current, the Seattle Reign, and the Utah Royals.

Each of the three clubs has invited at least a few non-rostered players. Among the Currents invitees is goalkeeper Evan O’Steen, who won the Golden Glove at the 2024 FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup and is an official 2025 commit for Florida State.

The below rosters are presented in a similar format to December’s end-of-season roster lists.

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.