The 2024 Olympics offered a riveting display of the beautiful game, featuring 12 elite national teams from across FIFA’s six Confederations. A star-studded U.S. side brimming with young talent claimed the program’s fifth gold medal, and players representing nations across the Games dazzled spectators with their talent. Good news for NWSL fans: many of them play in the States.
That includes NWSL players on 11 of 12 Olympic teams (Spain the only exception) and a record 56 players overall before the Games began - a number that’s grown as more players head stateside during the summer transfer window. As the NWSL regular season picks back up this weekend, here’s a few names to keep an eye on:
Ludmila (Chicago Red Stars/Brazil)
U.S. fans, and anyone else who watched a gripping USWNT vs Brazil gold medal match, will remember Ludmila. The 29-year-old Brazilian forward fired off the first big chance of the game and pressured the US defense in a formidable first half. After forcing multiple saves from US keeper Alyssa Naeher in the Olympic final, Ludmila now joins her as a teammate. The former Atlético Madrid star signed July 29 could be quite the boost to the Chicago Red Stars, as she joins the likes of Mallory Swanson in the attack on a seventh-placed team eyeing the playoffs.
Leicy Santos (Colombia/Washington Spirit)
It’s hard to wrap your head around the Spirit getting even more fun to watch, but their recent signing of 28-year-old Colombian midfielder Leicy Santos could do just that. Santos joins the club from Liga F club Atlético Madrid and finds a familiar face in new coach Jonatan Giráldez, who departed Spanish giants Barcelona for the Spirit sideline this summer. A technically gifted player, Santos starred for Las Cafeteras in the ‘23 World Cup, scored two goals for them in the Paris Olympics, and made her debut for the Spirit last weekend in the club’s friendly against Arsenal.
Ann-Katrin Berger (Germany/Gotham)
Paris ‘24 featured goalkeeper heroics from multiple teams, with Germany’s Ann-Katrin Berger high among them. In Germany’s quarterfinal test with Canada, Berger made multiple saves and then made her own penalty to send her squad to the semifinal. In the bronze medal match, Berger came up big throughout and stopped two-time Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas from the penalty spot to clinch Germany’s medal. Interested in seeing more of those heroics? The 33-year-old former Chelsea keeper joined NWSL’s reigning Champions this past April and has helped lock down the team’s defense, as they’ve allowed the second fewest goals in the league (in part as they’ve allowed the second fewest shots on target) with Berger notching the second highest save percentage (83%) in the league.
Barbra Banda (Zambia/Orlando Pride)
If you watch NWSL, you already know that Barbra Banda is remarkable talent on a tear through the league since debuting in April. But anyone previously unfamiliar will likely have noticed the Copper Queens forward during the Paris Games. Banda’s four goals for Zambia (who only played three games and failed to escape Group B) tied Mallory Swanson for second-most behind France’s Marie-Antoninette Katoto, who scored five. She keeps that same pace in NWSL. Banda’s formidable goal scoring ability has her tied with Temwa Chawina (Kansas City Current) atop the golden boot race with twelve goals, as she plays a key role in Orlando Pride’s first place position in an undefeated season.
Mallory Swanson (USA/Chicago Red Stars)
Mal Swanson’s journey back after tearing her patella tendon last April was an emotional challenge. The USWNT's top-scorer at the Olympics (with two assists, too) shared an emotional moment with Chicago Red Stars teammate Alyssa Naeher at the final whistle in Paris, after Swanson scored the game-winning goal and Naeher’s heroics helped secure the gold. Naeher described the emotion of that moment, saying, “I've obviously been fortunate to be with her every step of the way the last few years. And just to see her come into this tournament, to score that goal in this game… it's just I love her to death.” The Red Stars have their eyes on the playoffs after finishing last season in last place. Swanson and Naeher will both be key to that, and Swanson’s post-Olympics form is must watch TV.
Sophia Smith (USA/Portland Thorns)
The USWNT striker of the summer has been a name to watch in NWSL since she entered the scene. The 24-year-old Stanford grad was the 2022 NWSL MVP and 2022 Championship Game MVP and the 2023 Golden Boot Winner. Heading into the final stretch of the season, Smith’s 10 goals for Portland have her second-place in the golden boot race behind Banda and Malawian forward Temwa Chawinga (tied for first). Now with a gold medal to her name after scoring three goals in Paris, including the match-winner against Germany, Smith’s form for the fifth-place Thorns will be fun to track.
Trinity Rodman (USA/Washington Spirit)
We’d be remiss if we didn’t include all three members of the “Triple Espresso” forward force that helped propel the U.S. to glory. Rodman had an incredible performance at the Olympics - notching three goals and an assist, including the essential extra-time match winner against Japan - and heads back to Washington D.C., where she has five goals and four assists for the third-ranked Spirit. With a few new faces in town, including former Barcelona boss Jonatan Giráldez, Rodman might be about to find an even higher level with the Spirit to close out the year.
Cloé Lacasse (Canada/Utah Royals)
The Utah Royals are currently in last place as they work through a challenging year in their return to the league. But a few summer signings could make an impact as they look to end their season on a high note. That includes 31-year-old Canadian forward Cloé Lacasse, who joins the Royals from Arsenal, where she notched three goals and two assists in the WSL last season. Lacasse was one of four goalscorers for Canada in Paris, after starting twice in three appearances. With just eight goals scored all season across the squad, Lacasse heads to Utah with a clear opportunity to make a mark.
Mina Tanaka (Japan/Utah Royals)
Another exceptional talent that could bolster the end of Utah’s season is 30-year-old Japanese forward Mina Tanaka. Tanaka is one of just four players to start all four games for Japan at the Games, including a hard fought loss in extra time to the U.S. in the quarterfinals. She joins the Utah expansion team as a free agent from Kobe Leonessa in Japan, where she scored an incredible 37 goals in 58 matches.
Croix Bethune (USA/Washington Spirit)
The 23-year-old Bethune received her first senior team call-up in June when U.S. coach Emma Hayes took over. A month later, she was named an Olympic alternate. As injuries took their toll in Paris, Bethune became an Olympian as part of multiple matchday squads, and debuted against Australia, clocking 11 minutes. Bethune didn’t play a big role in this Olympics, but gained key experience, and could be essential to the USWNT's future. Before heading to Paris, Bethune collected three consecutive Rookie of the Month accolades for the third-ranked Spirit, and is on track to be top contender for Rookie of the Year. Definitely a name to watch as the new generation takes over.