USWNT forward Mia Fishel linked with potential NWSL move away from Chelsea

The 24-year-old is reportedly in talks with multiple NWSL sides about a potential move this summer

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  U.S. women's national team forward Mia Fishel could be leaving English side Chelsea this summer, with multiple NWSL clubs reportedly in talks with the 24-year-old about a summer move, according to ESPN.

  Fishel's potential move to the U.S. could put her as centerpiece of an NWSL team's attack, with a goal getting more opportunities to represent the USWNT while eyeing a roster spot at the 2027 FIFA World Cup.

  She has three senior caps with one goal, dating back to 2023.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Fishel was poised to have a breakout 2024 with the USWNT, but while training for the CONCACAF W Gold Cup in February, tore her ACL, five months before the 2024 Paris Olympics.

  The 24-year-old returned to Chelsea's senior team this past spring and, during the most recent international break, was named an overage player for the USWNT U23 training camp for a pair of games against Germany.

  "Yes, she could come in, sit on the bench for [the senior team], but it's much better for her to go and play in Germany and get the experiences so that these players are tracking to compete in the place that we want them to come 2027," USWNT coach Emma Hayes said.

  The Blues striker core already consists of fellow U.S. international Catarina Macario and club-record signing Mayra Ramirez. Australian forward Sam Kerr is also in the mix, as she is returning from a serious knee injury.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Hayes was the manager of Chelsea when the WSL side signed Fishel from Liga MX Femenil side Tigres in 2023, where they paid a $250,000 transfer fee for her services. Tigres signed Fishel out of college, where in her first year, she won the Apertura Golden Boot with 17 goals while leading them to a league title.

  In the Clausura , she added another 13 before she moved to Chelsea. Upon graduation from UCLA, Fishel was drafted fifth overall in the NWSL draft by the Orlando Pride, but she declined to sign with Orlando, opting for Tigres.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR FISHEL?

  With the WSL season wrapped, and Chelsea crowned domestic champions, the English club and Fishel are in the offseason break. The NWSL, meanwhile, is nearing the halfway point of the season. If Fishel were to move to the U.S. this summer, she would likely debut in August, as the league has a mandatory CBA-break from June 23-29.