Jaedyn Shaw, Lynn WilliamsImagn
Megan SwanickJan 21, 2025NWSLUSAL. WilliamsJ. ShawSeattle Reign FCNorth Carolina CourageWOMEN'S FOOTBALL

Jaedyn Shaw to North Carolina Courage, Lynn Williams to Seattle Reign and the five most notable NWSL transfers

It's been a wild offseason across the NWSL, and INDVISA looks at the biggest transfers and signings across the league

The countdown is on until the 2025 NWSL Challenge Cup on March 7, which signals the launch of a new season for the league. The first game of the regular season follows shortly after on March 14.

There’s still plenty of time to secure more signings, make trades and headline transfers. But there’s been a number of eye-catching moves already. INDIVISA takes a quick look at five of the biggest moves so far this NWSL offseason

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    Jaedyn Shaw to North Carolina Courage

    One of the biggest offseason moves was confirmed on Jan. 14. North Carolina Courage, who finished 2024 in fifth place of the regular season and lost to Kansas City in the first round of the playoffs, picked up Jaedyn Shaw from San Diego Wave for allocation money, transfer fees, and a 2025 and 2026 international roster spot.

    The 20-year-old midfielder/forward first came on the scene when she signed for San Diego Wave through a youth-entry process in July 2022. Just 17, the creative player went on to play an impressive role in the Wave’s inaugural season. Shaw was named U.S. Soccer’s Young Female Player of the Year. In 2023, Shaw was key to the Wave’s Shield-winning season, and was named to NWSL’s Best XI while still a teenager.

    She’s recently worked her way into the USWNT, winning the W Gold Cup Golden Ball and Best XI honors last spring, before going on to earn a spot on Emma Hayes’ Olympic roster, though she was sidelined due to injury.

    It’s been a tumultuous year for San Diego Wave, with their inaugural head coach, Casey Stoney, departing before the end of the season and the club missing the playoffs for the first time. Shaw’s new home seems like a timely new start for one of the most promising young talents in NWSL.

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    Lynn Williams to Seattle Reign

    Lynn Williams is an NWSL legend, and holds the record for most goals across all competitions. The 31-year-old forward and gold-medal-winning USWNT player was key to Gotham’s history-making 2023 Championship, and her departure at the close of a third-place finish in 2024 registered as a headline-grabbing surprise for Gotham fans.

    Seattle traded Cassie Miller and Jaelin Howell as part of their deal for the prolific goalscorer, and her addition could be pivotal to what they’ll hope is a rejuvenating year. Williams has had a trophy-winning impact on every team she joins: she’s won four Championships and three Shields throughout her career. That’s a boost Seattle could certainly use, after finishing second-to-last place in 2024 and missing the playoffs last season.

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    Gabi Portilho to Gotham FC

    The Brazil international signed a two-year contract - with an option for 2027- for Gotham FC from Brazilian-based club Corinthians in the Brasileirão Feminino at the end of December. Portilho is the latest in an impressive lineup of Brazilian talents in NWSL, and her addition to Gotham this offseason will be fascinating to track.

    Portilho was key to Brazil’s silver medal at last summer’s Olympics, scoring the game-deciding goal against France in the quarterfinal and collecting a goal and assist against Spain in the semifinal. The 29-year-old forward scored 22 goals in 96 appearances for Corinthians, was named to The Guardian’s Top 100 Footballers of the Year for 2024, and placed 18th in the 2024 Ballon d’Or nominee rankings.

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    Yazmeen Ryan to Houston Dash

    Shortly after an impressive debut for the senior USWNT, 25-year-old midfielder/forward Yazmeen Ryan signed for Houston Dash through free agency. The move is one of Gotham’s biggest departures, and a massive boost for Houston.

    The Dash struggled through 2024 as they were often absent their head coach, Fran Alonso, and finished the year in last place. With Fabrice Gautrat newly installed, they’ve picked up a few key signings, and Ryan could make an immense impact in what they’ll hope is a fresh start in 2025.

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    Julie Dufour to Angel City

    Angel City finished short of the playoffs in 2024, in part due to their points deduction for roster regulation infractions. While they look to return to the postseason in ‘25, Dufour could be bolster their attack.

    The 23-year-old French forward has yet to fully break into the deep bench of attacking talent for the French National Team, but has certainly made her case to do so after scoring 19 goals in 41 games across all competitions for Paris FC.