The 2026 San Diego Wave FC season is the team's fifth season as a professional women's soccer team. Based in San Diego, California, United States, San Diego Wave FC plays in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), the top tier of women's soccer in the United States.
Background
In 2025, the Wave navigated through its first season with new head coach Jonas Eidevall at the helm.[1] The club finished the regular season in sixth place, qualifying for the postseason for the third time in history.[2] In the first round of the 2025 NWSL playoffs, San Diego lost in extra time to Portland Thorns FC after Reilyn Turner scored a goal in the 94th minute.[1] Following the conclusion of the NWSL season, the Wave participated in the World Sevens Football tournament, finishing as champions and winning a prize of two million dollars.[2]
Offseason changes
Multiple players departed from San Diego during the offseason. Leading goalscorer Delphine Cascarino moved to the London City Lionesses in a mission to return closer to her family.[2] Starting goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan left the Wave in December 2025, leaving Kristen McNabb as the only remaining player in San Diego from the club's inaugural roster after Makenzy Robbe also departed.[3][4] Kyra Carusa, Savannah McCaskill, Hanna Lundkvist, and Quincy McMahon also parted ways with the Wave.[5]
In January 2026, the Wave acquired Brazilian forward Ludmila from Chicago Stars FC in exchange for a fee that could reach up to one million dollars.[5] Fellow Brazilian Gabi Portilho, ex-Bay FC player Kiki Pickett,[5] and NCAA national champion Mimi Van Zanten were also among San Diego's incoming transfers.[4]
Kit changes
On February 26, 2026, the Wave unveiled its new community kit. Titled the 'Balboa Park Kit,' the new set of jerseys pays tribute to the historic San Diegan Balboa Park,[6] featuring accents reminiscent of the park's tile work.[7]
Team
Current squad
- As of March 9, 2026.[8]
Coaching staff
- As of October 9, 2025.[9][10]
Competitions
Win
Draw
Loss
Preseason
Regular season
Regular-season standings
Statistics
- As of match played March 14, 2026
Appearances and goals
Starting appearances are listed first, followed by substitute appearances after the + symbol where applicable.
Transactions
Contract operations
Transfers in
| Date
|
Player
|
Pos.
|
Previous club
|
Fee/notes
|
Contract until
|
Ref.
|
| December 29, 2025
|
Mimi Van Zanten
|
DF
|
Florida State Seminoles
|
College signing
|
2027 + 2 options
|
[17]
|
| December 30, 2025
|
Lia Godfrey
|
MF
|
Virginia Cavaliers
|
College signing
|
2027 + 2 options
|
[18]
|
| January 12, 2026
|
Leah Freeman
|
GK
|
Bay FC
|
Free agent signing
|
2026
|
[19]
|
| January 13, 2026
|
Ludmila
|
FW
|
Chicago Stars
|
Acquired in trade for $800,000, with a possible additional $200,000, pending conditions met
|
2028
|
[20]
|
| January 16, 2026
|
Kiki Pickett
|
DF
|
Bay FC
|
Free agent signing
|
2027
|
[21]
|
| January 27, 2026
|
Luisa Agudelo
|
GK
|
Deportivo Cali
|
Acquired in exchange for an undisclosed transfer fee
|
2028
|
[22]
|
| March 2, 2026
|
Gabi Portilho
|
FW
|
Gotham FC
|
Acquired in trade for $175,000
|
2026 + option
|
[23]
|
| March 4, 2026
|
Tatum Wynalda
|
MF
|
Pepperdine Waves
|
College player signed to an injury replacement contract
|
April 2026
|
[24]
|
| March 9, 2026
|
Jordan Fusco
|
MF
|
Tampa Bay Sun
|
Recall from loan
|
2027
|
[25]
|
Transfers out
| Date
|
Player
|
Pos.
|
Destination club
|
Fee/notes
|
Ref.
|
| December 9, 2025
|
Hillary Beall
|
GK
|
Houston Dash
|
Out of contract
|
[26]
|
| Kyra Carusa
|
FW
|
HB Køge
|
| Mya Jones
|
FW
|
Calgary Wild
|
| Hanna Lundkvist
|
DF
|
Manchester United
|
| Chiamaka Okwuchukwu
|
FW
|
|
| Makenzy Robbe
|
FW
|
Houston Dash
|
| December 17, 2024
|
Jordan Fusco
|
MF
|
Tampa Bay Sun
|
Loan through June 8, 2026
|
[27]
|
| December 29, 2025
|
Kailen Sheridan
|
GK
|
North Carolina Courage
|
Mutual contract termination
|
[3]
|
| January 2, 2026
|
Savannah McCaskill
|
MF
|
Gotham FC
|
Traded for $175,000 in intraleague transfer funds
|
[13]
|
| January 12, 2026
|
Quincy McMahon
|
DF
|
Racing Louisville
|
Traded for $50,000 in allocation money and a 2026 + 2027 international roster spot
|
[28]
|
| January 18, 2026
|
Delphine Cascarino
|
FW
|
London City Lionesses
|
Mutual contract termination
|
[29]
|
| January 30, 2026
|
Sintia Cabezas
|
DF
|
Les Marseillaises
|
Transfer for an undisclosed fee
|
[30]
|
Preseason trialists
Trialists are non-rostered invitees during preseason and are not automatically signed. The Wave's preseason roster, which was released on January 16, 2026, listed four non-rostered invitees.[31]
- ^
Signed to first-team contract.
References
- ^ a b Grueskin, Birgen (November 9, 2025). "San Diego Wave FC Eliminated in Extra Time by Portland Thorns in NWSL Quarterfinals". San Diego Wave Fútbol Club. Retrieved March 14, 2026.
- ^ a b c Murphy, Kate (March 12, 2026). "San Diego Wave kicks off 2026 season at Snapdragon Stadium". Axios. Retrieved March 14, 2026.
- ^ a b "San Diego Wave, longtime goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan mutually agree to part ways". San Diego Union-Tribune. December 29, 2025. Retrieved January 26, 2026.
- ^ a b Furrer, Jenny (January 25, 2026). "Five Questions for the Wave Ahead of the 2026 Season". SDFC Nation. Retrieved January 26, 2026.
- ^ a b c Diego, Mark Nero • Times of San (March 12, 2026). "Wave FC added Ludmila and shook up the roster. There might be another big name to come". Times of San Diego. Retrieved March 14, 2026.
- ^ Grueskin, Birgen (February 26, 2026). "San Diego Wave FC Unveils "Balboa Park Kit": New Community Jersey for 2026 Season". San Diego Wave Fútbol Club. Retrieved March 14, 2026.
- ^ NWSL (February 26, 2026). "Fresh threads, new stories: Details you may have missed from 2026 NWSL kit drop | News | NWSLsoccer.com". NWSL. Retrieved March 14, 2026.
- ^ "Roster". San Diego Wave FC.
- ^ "SPORTING Staff". San Diego Wave Fútbol Club. Retrieved March 17, 2025.
- ^ O'Keefe, Megan (January 31, 2025). "San Diego Wave FC Announces Coaching Staff Additions". San Diego Wave Fútbol Club. Retrieved March 17, 2025.
- ^ Grueskin, Birgen (December 17, 2025). "San Diego Wave FC Signs Midfielder Jordan Fusco to New Contract". San Diego Wave Fútbol Club. Retrieved December 29, 2025.
- ^ "Wave re-sign Melanie Barcenas for 2026 season". San Diego Union-Tribune. December 31, 2025. Retrieved January 26, 2026.
- ^ a b "Wave part ways with veteran midfielder, re-sign San Diego native for 2026". San Diego Union-Tribune. January 2, 2026. Retrieved January 26, 2026.
- ^ Nguyen, Phuoc (January 17, 2026). "NWSL News Roundup: DiDi Haračić stays with San Diego Wave, Tessa Dellarose to Chicago Stars, Evan O'Steen to Seattle Reign". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved January 26, 2026.
- ^ Grueskin, Birgen (January 26, 2026). "San Diego Wave FC Signs Midfielder Gia Corley to New Contract". San Diego Wave Fútbol Club. Retrieved March 14, 2026.
- ^ Grueskin, Birgen (March 5, 2026). "San Diego Wave FC Signs Midfielder Kenza Dali to Contract Extension". San Diego Wave Fútbol Club. Retrieved March 14, 2026.
- ^ Furrer, Jenny (December 30, 2025). "San Diego Wave Add Championship Pedigree in Mimi Van Zanten". SDFC Nation. Retrieved January 26, 2026.
- ^ "San Diego Wave sign University of Virginia midfielder Lia Godfrey". Yahoo Sports. December 30, 2025. Retrieved January 26, 2026.
- ^ Grueskin, Birgen (January 12, 2026). "San Diego Wave FC Signs Goalkeeper Leah Freeman". San Diego Wave Fútbol Club. Retrieved January 25, 2026.
- ^ "San Diego Wave signs Brazil star Ludmila from Chicago Stars". ESPN.com. January 13, 2026. Retrieved January 26, 2026.
- ^ Torrey, Senji (January 16, 2026). "Wave sign Kiki Pickett to two-year deal". The Sporting Tribune. Retrieved January 26, 2026.
- ^ Grueskin, Birgen (January 27, 2026). "San Diego Wave FC Acquires Colombian Goalkeeper Luisa Agudelo". San Diego Wave Fútbol Club. Retrieved March 14, 2026.
- ^ Grueskin, Birgen (March 2, 2026). "San Diego Wave FC Acquires Brazilian Forward Gabi Portilho". San Diego Wave Fútbol Club. Retrieved March 14, 2026.
- ^ Grueskin, Birgen (March 4, 2026). "San Diego Wave FC Signs Tatum Wynalda to Injury Replacement Contract". San Diego Wave Fútbol Club. Retrieved March 14, 2026.
- ^ Grueskin, Birgen (March 9, 2026). "San Diego Wave FC Recall Midfielder Jordan Fusco from Tampa Bay Sun FC". San Diego Wave Fútbol Club. Retrieved March 14, 2026.
- ^ Grueskin, Birgen (December 29, 2025). "San Diego Wave FC Signs Mimi Van Zanten". San Diego Wave Fútbol Club. Retrieved December 29, 2025.
- ^ Grueskin, Birgen (December 17, 2025). "San Diego Wave FC Signs Midfielder Jordan Fusco to New Contract". San Diego Wave Fútbol Club. Retrieved December 29, 2025.
- ^ Zepeda, Abe (January 12, 2026). "Racing Louisville acquires defender Quincy McMahon for $50,000 and International Roster Spots". All For XI. Retrieved January 26, 2026.
- ^ "San Diego Wave FC and Delphine Cascarino mutually part ways". Equalizer Soccer. January 19, 2026. Retrieved January 26, 2026.
- ^ Emerick, Tyler (January 30, 2026). "San Diego Wave FC Transfers Defender Sintia Cabezas to Olympique de Marseille Féminin". San Diego Wave Fútbol Club. Retrieved March 14, 2026.
- ^ a b Grueskin, Birgen (January 16, 2026). "San Diego Wave FC Announces 2026 Preseason Roster". San Diego Wave Fútbol Club. Retrieved January 18, 2026.
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