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, Outgoing Moves: Jenna Nighswonger acquired by Arsenal, Crystal Dunn signs with PSG, Tarciane traded to Lyon, Adriana transfers to Saudi Arabia, Elexa Bahr returns to América de Cali, Victoria Pickett loaned to Toronto

The last days of January and the first days of February saw a pair of major transfers out of the NWSL:

  • Brazilian center-back Tarciane leaves the Houston Dash for Olympique Lyonnais after just nine months in the NWSL.
  • Another Brazilian, Adriana, has been traded from the Orlando Pride to Al Qadsiah FC of the Saudi Women’s Premier League.

According to news reports, Lyon paid over $825,000 to the Dash for Tarciane, while Orlando received $500,000 for Adriana.

In United States Women’s National Team player news:

  • Jenna Nighswonger is officially no longer a Gotham FC player and now wears the red and white of Arsenal.
  • Another now-former Gotham player, Crystal Dunn, who was released by the club last week, has signed with Paris Saint-Germain, joining two other USWNT players.

Additionally, two clubs sent players on loan for the calendar year:

  • Forward Elexa Bahr returns to her previous club, Colombia’s América de Cali, for the remainder of her Racing Louisville contract.
  • The North Carolina Courage have loaned Canadian midfielder Victoria Pickett to AFC Toronto of the Northern Super League.

Continue reading “NWSL News of Note, Outgoing Moves: Jenna Nighswonger acquired by Arsenal, Crystal Dunn signs with PSG, Tarciane traded to Lyon, Adriana transfers to Saudi Arabia, Elexa Bahr returns to América de Cali, Victoria Pickett loaned to Toronto”

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: 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
Continue reading “NWSL: 2025 Preseason Rosters, Part 2 — Orlando Pride”

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: 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.

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

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: Orlando signs Wake Forest’s Zara Chavoshi, Spirit acquire Brazilian Tamara Bolt, Wave acquire Nigerian Chiamaka Okwuchukwu, Reign re-sign Maddie Mercado

With the Utah Royals getting their own NWSL News of Note special edition, here are the other notables from elsewhere in the league:

  • Wake Forest defender Zara Chavoshi, who appeared in the 2022 FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup for Canada, has been signed to a one-year deal by the Orlando Pride.
  • The Washington Spirit have acquired relative unknown Tamara Bolt via a transfer from Brazilian club SC Internacional.
  • 19-year-old Nigerian striker Chiamaka Okwuchukwu was signed by the San Diego Wave via a transfer.
  • The Seattle Reign have retained midfielder Maddie Mercado, who was a free agent after her 2024 rookie season.
Continue reading “NWSL News of Note: Orlando signs Wake Forest’s Zara Chavoshi, Spirit acquire Brazilian Tamara Bolt, Wave acquire Nigerian Chiamaka Okwuchukwu, Reign re-sign Maddie Mercado”

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: 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)”