WHAT'S NEXT: 9 NWSL UFA Extension Candidates To Watch

Taylor Vincent
Taylor Vincent, Resident NWSL ExpertApril 04, 2024
Share
#nwsl #extension
© USA TODAY Sports

Way ahead of the NWSL October deadline to exercise options on upcoming free agents, here’s nine potential unrestricted free agents to keep an eye on in the coming months for extensions or options exercised as teams look at their long term plans. 

Reminder, if an option is not exercised—either mutually or by the club depending on type—before the October deadline, players are free to begin negotiations with other teams.

Here’s nine players to keep an eye on, in alphabetical order:

1. Janine Beckie (Portland Thorns)

Status: Contract through 2024

Beckie signed with the Thorns back in 2022, and was really finding her groove with the squad in their run up toward the 2022 NWSL Championship. The Canadian national team midfielder tore her ACL in preseason play in 2023, causing her to miss the entirety of the 2023 season and the FIFA Women’s World Cup. 366 days post injury, Beckie returned to the pitch, scoring two goals in the season opener against Kansas City. Although she is still building up her minutes toward 90, Beckie has been instrumental in the Thorns build-up thus far this season. 

2. Abby Dahlkemper (San Diego Wave)

Status: Contract through 2024

Coming off a 2022 SEI (Season-Ending Injury), Dahlkemper rejoined the Wave midseason in 2023 and easily fit right back in with the squad, playing a single half in her debut in a 2023 Challenge Cup match before playing 90’s in the remaining six matches for San Diego, and even scored a goal against Orlando. In 2024, she’s already played every minute for the Wave and her pairing with USWNT defender Naomi Girma already aided San Diego in winning the 2024 Challenge Cup. Dahlkemper made her return to the USWNT in December and has gotten consistent call ups since then. 

3. Debinha (Kansas City Current)

Status: Contract through 2024 with a mutual option for 2025

Debinha was the biggest move of the NWSL’s first foray into free agency in the 2022-23 offseason, and with more teams, and a higher salary cap, she’s a prime target for Kansas City to lock down to avoid a bidding war. In her first season with the Current, the Brazilian national team midfielder scored nine goals and had two assists while earning three monthly Best XI selections and a nomination for NWSL MVP in 2023. Debinha injured her hamstring on opening day, but her return to play is expected after the April FIFA window. 

4. Marta (Orlando Pride)

Status: Contract through 2024

The Brazilian national team midfielder might have announced that the 2023 FIFA World Cup was her last World Cup, but her eyes remain firmly on the upcoming Paris Olympics and her season with Orlando. She’s already started the 2024 season off with a bang, getting the 88th minute equalizer against Angel City in their second match of the new season. Marta has been with the Pride since 2017, and last season became the first player to hit over 100 appearances for the club. She’s a six time FIFA World Player of the Year and current captain of the Pride, so it’s very likely that the Pride gives her an extension for as long as she wants to continue playing.  

5. Alex Morgan (San Diego Wave)

Status: Contract through 2024 with a club option for 2025

Easily one of the most recognizable names in women’s soccer across the world, USWNT forward Alex Morgan was one of the first players that San Diego acquired as an expansion side, and won the NWSL Golden Boot in the team’s inaugural season. In 2023, Morgan started 19 matches for the Wave, with seven goals, and five assists. This season Morgan has had the game winner in the 2024 Challenge Cup, as well as the assist for San Diego’s 98th minute game winner against the Reign last weekend. As one of San Diego’s franchise players, it will be important for the Wave to keep Morgan in San Diego for future seasons. 

6. Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars)

Status: Contract through 2024

Naeher has long been the starting USWNT goalkeeper and last season captained Red Stars in her 20 regular season starts, during which she made 80 saves. Additionally, last season she broke the NWSL record for regular season saves when she surpassed the then-record of 519 saves and she additionally became the first goalkeeper in the NWSL to record 150 regular season appearances. Chicago struggled last season, finishing at the bottom of the table, but new ownership, a new general manager, and a new coach have started the Red Stars on a 3 game unbeaten streak to start off 2024. In the three matches, Naeher has already tallied nine saves, and only allowed two goals against—the lowest number of goals against for the teams which have played three regular season matches. 

7. Denise O’Sullivan (North Carolina Courage)

Status: Contract through 2024

The Ireland national team midfielder has been with the Courage since 2017 when she was signed by the club off the waiver wire having been released by the Houston Dash. She was named the captain ahead of the 2023 season where she was also named to the NWSL Best XI Second Team. She had 21 starts for North Carolina in 2023, was an instrumental part of their midfield, creating 17 chances, and only was subbed off twice in the entire regular season. This past offseason, she was linked with interest from several WSL (Women’s Super League - England) clubs. 

8. Christen Press (Angel City)

Status: Contract through 2024

Press was the first player added to the expansion side Angel City FC’s roster ahead of their inaugural 2022 season, and the contract reportedly made her one of the highest-paid players in NWSL history — at the time of signing. She currently holds the record for most results changing 85th minute or later goals in the NWSL at five alongside Sam Kerr. In 2022, she only played in eight games before tearing her ACL, and the injury couldn’t have come at a worse time, as Press’s 2021 form was immaculate, and she was the bright spot of the Angel City attack. Unfortunately the road to recovery for the injury was not easy. Four surgeries later, Press missed the entirety of the 2023 season as well as the chance to join the USWNT at the FIFA World Cup last summer. She is currently back training with the LA-based side full time and has posted herself doing lateral movement on grass in cleats, one of the milestones on her way to being game fit. 

9. Morgan Weaver (Portland Thorns)

Status: Contract through 2024 with a 2025 club option 

Weaver might not be the Thorns leading goalscorer, but she is absolutely pivotal in her role in and her pairing with Sophia Smith in the Portland attack. In 2023 Weaver started all 22 regular season matches as well as the semifinal, scoring seven goals and getting four assists. She was additionally named to the NWSL Best XI of August. The current season seems to be more of the same, with Weaver having scored the 52nd minute goal against Louisville last weekend to start a Thorns comeback. Weaver has played in every single minute of the Thorns’ season thus far. 

 

Note: 

Sophia Smith would’ve been on this list but her contract was extended last week through 2025 with a player option for 2026. The first ever player option in NWSL history. 

 

Related:

NWSL Transactions


#nwsl #extension
Top