After an eventful off-season that saw San Diego Wave FC add and lose several key players, along with signing a new head coach, the team looks to start on the right foot this Sunday at Angel City FC.
The Wave tied Angel City in their first regular season meeting of 2024 before falling in the rematch 2-1 on Aug. 24. San Diego finished in 10th place last season, while Angel City, which has dominated the rivalry as of late, ended in 12th.
The Wave was one of six NWSL teams that took part in this year’s Coachella Valley Invitational, where it tied the Houston Dash 0-0 and beat Bay FC 1-0.
Angel City will no longer have goalkeeper DiDi Haračić, who recently signed with San Diego after having played in Los Angeles for three seasons.
The Wave lost some significant players from last year’s roster, such as forwards Jaedyn Shaw and Sofia Jakobsson and defenders Kaitlyn Torpey and Naomi Girma, who now plays in Europe for Chelsea.
Among the players who head coach Jonas Eidevall hopes will make an impact this season are forwards María Sánchez and Delphine Cascarino, along with veteran defender Kristen McNabb.
San Diego will play 26 games this season, split evenly between home and away, including a second meeting versus Angel City at Snapdragon Stadium on Aug. 9.
The Wave reached the playoffs each of its first two seasons, making the semifinal round both times before falling 2-1 to the Portland Thorns in 2022 and 1-0 to OL Reign in 2023 after finishing as the top seed, plus winning the Supporters’ Shield under then-head coach Casey Stoney.
San Diego Wave plays its home opener on Saturday, March 22, against the Utah Royals. The Wave added 10 new active players to the roster ahead of the 2025 season, with 14 players returning from last year, including Trinity Byars, who is currently on the season-ending injury (SEI) list.
2025 San Diego Wave FC Roster (as of March 12)
Goalkeepers (3): Hillary Beall, DiDi Haračić, Kailen Sheridan.
Defenders (7): Trinity Armstrong (U-18), Sintia Cabezas (LOAN), Nya Harrison (STC), Hanna Lundkvist (INTL – SWE), Quincy McMahon, Kristen McNabb, Perle Morroni (INTL – FRA), Kennedy Wesley.
Midfielders (6): Kimmi Ascanio (U-18), Gia Corley, Kenza Dali (INTL – FRA), Favour Emmanuel (INTL – NGA), Jordan Fusco (STC), Savannah McCaskill.
Forwards (7): Melanie Barcenas (U-18), Trinity Byars (SEI), Kyra Carusa, Delphine Cascarino (INTL – FRA), Mya Jones (INTL – CAN, LOAN), Adriana Leon (INTL – CAN), Chiamaka Okwuchukwu (INTL – NGA), Makenzy Robbe (Doniak), María Sánchez.
Key:
INTL: International Player
LOAN: On Loan
SEI: Season Ending Injury
STC: Short Term Contract
