The 2025-26 NWSL offseason brought chaos and movement like never before. There were 199 player signings across the four months including 19 trades, $5,668,000 transferred between teams (not including international transfer fees), $240,000 in conditional money, four 2026 international spots, and two 2027 international spots

(Not including the Yazmeen Ryan/Delanie Sheehan trade from Houston to Denver which had over $1,000,000 trading hands but occurred after the regular season started)

Team Breakdown

Following each teams’ season ending, there were offseason previews written for each team. Here’s the high-level predictions and what actually happened. 

Angel City FC

Offseason Priority Predictions - Backline depth. Additional midfielder. Third GK

What happened (high-level) - 

  • Defender Savy King returned from the 2025 SEI list 

  • Acquired defender Emily Sams from Orlando

  • Signed free agent midfielder Ary Borges

  • Signed five rookie free agents out of college

Bay FC 

Offseason Priority Predictions - Experience centerback. Additional attacking depth. Re-sign Kiki Pickett

What happened (high-level) - 

  • Hired Emma Coates as new head coach

  • Signed midfielder Alex Pfeiffer (released by KC)

  • European transfers - forward Keira Barry, defender Anouk Denton, defender Aldana Comeeti, forward Cristiana Girella (loan - August)

  • Traded forward Penelope Hocking to KC. Acquired midfielder Claire Hutton from KC. 

  • Defender Caprice Dydasco joined maternity leave, defender Alyssa Malonson tears ACL

Chicago Stars

Offseason Priority Predictions - Needs to spend $$$ on top talent

What happened (high-level) - 

  • Acquired forward Michelle Alozie (HOU) and forward Jordyn Huitema (CHI)

  • Signed three rookie free agents out of college

  • Signed four free agents: midfielder Brianna Pinto, forward Ryan Gareis, goalkeeper Katie Atkinson (nee Lund), and re-signed goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher

  • Natalia Kuikka ACL tear

Gotham FC 

Offseason Priority Predictions - Signing Midge Purce and Ella Stevens. Extensions for key upcoming free agents (Ann-Katrin Berger, Jess Carter, Rose Lavelle, Emily Sonnett). Depth in the defense. 

What happened (high-level) -  

  • Acquired midfielder Savannah McCaskill (SD)

  • Midfielder Guro Reiten loaned from Chelsea thru July, then signed thru 2029

  • Re-signed three free agents: forward Midge Purce, midfielder Kayla Duran, forward Katie Lampson (nee Stengel)

  • Signed three rookie free agents out of college

  • Defender Tierna Davidson returned to the active roster from the 2025 SEI list. 

Houston Dash

Offseason Priority Predictions - Three to Four players across the lines. Third GK. Short-term injury replacement contracts to cover 2025 SEI’s

What happened (high-level) - 

  • Signed four free agents: forward Makenzy Robbe, midfielder Evelina Duljan, and goalkeepers Caroline DeLisle and Hillary Beall

  • Signed five rookie free agents out of college

  • Avery Patterson 3-year extension

  • Loaned out forward Amanda West, midfielder Zoe Matthews, goalkeeper Liz Beardsley, and defender Jyllissa Harris

  • Maggie Graham returns to active roster from 2025 SEI list

KC Current

Offseason Priority Predictions - New head coach. Re-signing free agent Bia Zaneratto. Additional depth in the midfield

What happened (high-level) - 

  • Forwards Temwa Chawinga and Michelle Cooper retroactively added to 2025 SEI; Cooper has returned to active roster, Chawinga has not yet

  • Acquired midfielder Croix Bethune (WAS), forward Penelope Hocking (BAY), and goalkeeper Marisa Jorgan (NC)

  • Hired Chris Armas as new head coach

  • Signed five rookie free agents out of college; one U18 player - Meila Brewer

  • Re-signed five free agents: Katie Scott, Mary Long, Rocky Rodriguez, Clare Gagne, Bayley Feist

NC Courage

Offseason Priority Predictions - Starting goalkeeper. Shoring up the defense. Re-sign free agent Kaleigh Kurtz. 

What happened (high-level) - 

  • Signed six free agents: forward Olivia Wingate, forward Ally Schlegel, midfielder Dani Weatherholt, midfielder Lauryn Thompson, goalkeeper Madison White, and goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan. 

  • Four international transfers - defender Uno Shiragaki, defender Cameron Brooks, midfielder Carly Wickenheiser, and forward Evelyn Ijeh

  • Signed two rookie free agents out of college

  • Hired Mak Lind as the new head coach

Orlando Pride

Offseason Priority Predictions - Building out attacking threats. Depth in the backline (and especially at centerback)

What happened (high-level) - 

  • Signed two free agents: defender Nicole Payne, defender Hailie Mace

  • Forward Barbra Banda returns to active roster from the 2025 SEI List, defender Kylie Nadaner placed on maternity leave

  • Signed three rookie free agents out of college

  • Acquired defender Hannah Anderson (CHI)

Portland Thorns 

Offseason Priority Predictions - Re-signing/player option for Sophia Wilson. Invest in centerback depth. Additional depth in the midfield. 

What happened (high-level) - 

  • Released head coach Rob Gale, hired Robert Vilahamn as new head coach (10 days before season start, only arrived in US MD-2)

  • Forward Sophia Wilson exercised player option for 2026

  • Goalkeeper Bella Bixby tears ACL, defender Marie Muller returns to active roster from the 2025 SEI list. 

  • International Transfer - Midfielder Cassandra Bogere

  • Signed five rookie free agents out of college (two thru May)

Racing Louisville

Offseason Priority Predictions - Re-sign free agent Ary Borges. Extra depth in the backline and midfield. Key extensions for Janine Sonis and Sav DeMelo. 

What happened (high-level) - 

  • Acquired goalkeeper Maddie Prohaska (SEA), midfielder Macey Hodge (ACFC), and defender Quincy McMahon (SD)

  • Midfielder Marisa DiGrande placed on maternity leave

  • Loaned out goalkeeper Cristina Roque (thru May) and midfielder Maddie Pokorny (thru June)

  • Signed five rookie free agents out of college (plus one U18 player)

San Diego Wave

Offseason Priority Predictions - Depth in the midfield. Key extensions to avoid free agency bidding war. 

What happened (high-level) - 

  • Defender Trinity Armstrong retroactively added to 2025 SEI list; was helped off the pitch following the Wave’s quarterfinal loss

  • Traded Sav McCaskill to Gotham, released Kailen Sheridan, forward Delphine Cascarino used her release clause to return to Europe 

  • Acquired forward Ludmila (CHI), forward Gabi Portilho (GFC), and international transfer goalkeeper Luisa Agudelo 

  • Signed two rookie free agents out of college

  • Signed six free agents: goalkeeper DiDi Haracic, goalkeeper Leah Freeman, defender Kiki Pickett, defender Nya Harrison, midfielder Jordan Fusco, and forward Melanie Barcenas

Seattle Reign

Offseason Priority Predictions - Re-sign free agent Jess Fishlock. Midfield depth (incl. w/ experience). Well-proven finisher. 

What happened (high-level) - 

  • Signed four free agents: midfielder Jess Fishlock, midfielder Sofia Cedeno, forward Brittany Ratcliffe, and goalkeeper Neeku Purcell

  • Head coach Laura Harvey signed a multi-year extension

  • International Transfer: forward Holly Ward

  • Traded forward Jordyn Huitema to Chicago

  • Signed one rookie free agent out of college (short-term) and one U18 player

Utah Royals

Offseason Priority Predictions - Add depth in the midfield. Sign a young goalkeeper

What happened (high-level) - 

  • Acquired midfielder Narumi Miura from Washington; international transfer midfielder Dayana Pierre-Louis

  • Defender Tatumn Milazzo returned to active roster from the 2025 SEI list

  • Signed four free agents: midfielder Aria Nagia (salary cap-exempt), defender Madison Hammond, defender Miyabi Moriya (salary cap-exempt), and goalkeeper DeAira Jackson (salary-cap exempt)

  • Signed one rookie free agent out of college

Washington Spirit

Offseason Priority Predictions - Re-signing of free agent Trinity Rodman. International spot compliance

What happened (high-level) - 

  • Signed forward Trinity Rodman to a 3-year contract

  • Midfielder Andi Sullivan returns to active roster from maternity leave, goalkeeper Aubrey Kingsbury joins maternity leave

  • Extensions for defender Gabby Carle and defender Tara Rudd (nee McKeown)

  • Three international transfers - forward Claudia Martinez, defender Elisabeth Tse, and Lucia Di Guglielmo

  • Traded midfielder Croix Bethune to KC and midfielder Narumi Niura to UTA