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 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: 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 News of Note: Wave acquire Kenza Dali, Thorns sign UCLA’s Jayden Perry, Chicago adds U-17 international Micayla Johnson, Michelle Betos retires

Leading the player notables is the San Diego Wave’s acquisition of 33-year-old French midfielder Kenza Dali from Aston Villa. Dali joins the Wave via a two-year contract.

Two rookies signs were also announced:

  • UCLA center-back Jayden Perry was signed by the Portland Thorns for the 2025 season.
  • The Chicago Stars have signed 17-year-old forward Micayla Johnson through the 2027 NWSL season. Johnson played in the 2024 FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup for the United States.

Covered in a separate post is the news that Deyna Castellanos has been released by Bay FC and has signed with the Portland Thorns.

Additionally, goalkeeper Michelle Betos has announced her retirement from professional soccer.

Continue reading “NWSL News of Note: Wave acquire Kenza Dali, Thorns sign UCLA’s Jayden Perry, Chicago adds U-17 international Micayla Johnson, Michelle Betos retires”

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: 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.

Continue reading “NWSL: 2025 Preseason Rosters, Part 3 — San Diego Wave and Washington Spirit”

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.

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

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: 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”