Wave end tumultuous season with 3-1 win against Racing Louisville
San Diego Wave players celebrate a goal by Jaedyn Shaw in the third minute of the match in the team’s 3-1 win against Racing Louisville. (Photo credit: San Diego Wave FC)
San Diego Wave ended their 2024 season on somewhat of a positive note earning their strongest road performance of the season in a 3-1 win against Racing Louisville.
The match was originally scheduled to be a home game for the Wave, but was relocated to Louisville because of poor field conditions at Snapdragon Stadium.
“There are a lot of things you can’t control, and so the beauty of playing in Concacaf for all these years is you get used to these situations and you just don’t bat an eye…,” Donovan said. “Ultimately, it makes you more resilient and it’s good for you. So the next time something like this happens, they can all look at each other and say, hey, remember when we had to go to Louisville on 36 hours notice and we still won the game?”
In total the Wave ended with six wins, seven draws and 13 losses leaving them at 10th place out of 14 teams in the standings only a year after they won the NWSL Shield for the best regular season record.
The Wave got the scoring started early in the third minute with a great goal by Jaedyn Shaw who was away with the United States Women’s National Team for two weeks, and played on Wednesday in Louisville, Kentucky.
Shaw’s goal came from what seemed to be an intended cross into the goal box, but found the back post after the goalkeeper was forced to cover her nearside with Kyra Carusa making a run to attempt a header.
The 19-year-old star played in three matches in three different states in one week with the national team, traveled to San Diego where she stayed for less than 48 hours before going back to Kentucky to play for the Wave.
San Diego also managed to get goals from two of their forwards who contributed greatly to the team, but had not yet scored in the regular season.
The first came from María Sánchez in the 22nd minute as she stood to take a free kick from outside the penalty area. Sánchez has the most goal contributions for the Wave all season and has been great in set piece opportunities. She sent a perfect ball around the opponent’s wall that curved into the goal to make it 2-0.
The Wave’s third goal came in the 76th minute for Savannah McCaskill who subbed on for Sánchez less than 10 minutes prior. French international forward Delphine Cascarino sent a cross high to the center of the goal box that McCaskill jumped to head in easily to make it 3-1.
On the defensive end, the Wave conceded a goal in the second half after a header by Bethany Balcer, and were beneficiaries of a seemingly incorrect offside call by the referee that could have been deemed a penalty kick for Louisville.
“I am so incredibly proud of them, what we’ve started building here is really special, given the circumstances,” interim head coach Landon Donovan said. “It’s a group that had to become really resilient given everything that’s gone on, and I’m just really proud of their effort and how they handled everything and just got themselves going. They were in a great place before the game, and then they performed really well.”
It is unclear whether Donovan will stay with the Wave as permanent head coach, and he said after the match to reporters in Spanish that he will have a conversation with the new ownership, Wave President Jill Ellis and General Manager Cammile Ashton about the future.
San Diego Wave relocates final home match to Louisville citing field safety concerns
San Diego Wave FC are having their worst year to date.
The club decided to relocate their final home match on Sunday, November 2, to Louisville due to “ongoing player and field safety concerns at Snapdragon Stadium,” according to a statement released by the team.
“The safety and well-being of all players is our top priority, and the current field conditions at Snapdragon Stadium, which are the responsibility of a third party, have not met the standards required for a safe playing environment. A thorough review of the field was conducted and all alternative options within Southern California were exhausted; however, the league ultimately determined that moving the game to Louisville was the best solution.”
Snapdragon Stadium released a statement in response to the decision by the NWSL.
“We are disappointed with the (NWSL) decision to move Sunday’s Match from Snapdragon Stadium. Although we recognize the aesthetics of the field do not meet our desired expectations, we are confident in our readiness to play a match on Sunday in safe conditions,” the statement said. “Several factors, including high demand for field use and weather have affected the turf, but we are dedicated to investing resources, specialized expertise and advanced technology to address these challenges going forward.
“We are actively evaluating its condition and our maintenance program to make necessary improvements. Our commitment includes integrating grow lights, exploring additional sod farm opportunities, evaluating different grass types, and adopting diverse installation methods.”
The field conditions have been an issue from even before the NWSL season during the Concacaf W Gold Cup when the pitch was waterlogged barely allowing the ball to roll on the pitch because of puddles of water in a semi-final match between USA and Canada.
A multitude of issues have surrounded the Wave in 2024.
The club fired its award-winning head coach, Casey Stoney, during a seven-match winless streak. They didn’t advance out of the group stage in the Concacaf W Champion’s Cup. They failed to qualify for the NWSL playoffs, and are in second-to-last place in the NWSL standings.
The club also faces off the field issues as the Wave are being sued by five former employees for discrimination and sexual harassment among other disturbing allegations. Wave president Jill Ellis also filed a defamation lawsuit against one of those employees, and that employee filed an anti-SLAPP motion in response.
Ironically, Stoney, was fined by the NWSL in 2023 for comments in a post-match press conference about the field conditions in Louisville in which now retired Wave star, Alex Morgan, was left off the roster.
Stoney said “we didn’t know what the surface was going to be like either, notoriously we come here and it’s been a poor surface.”
The match may have playoff implications for the final spot in the NWSL playoffs for Racing Louisville and last place in the league for the Wave if the Houston Dash beat Bay FC the day prior and Louisville win against San Diego. The match will be broadcasted nationally on ESPN at 2:30 p.m. PST
Wave re-sign Kristen McNabb to 2-year deal through 2026
Photo courtesy: San Diego Wave FC
San Diego Wave FC has re-signed defender, Kristen McNabb, to a new two-year contract with the club that extends through the 2026 season.
“I’ve loved being part of the Wave since the inaugural season and am excited to stay in San Diego and continue to grow both personally and professionally,” said McNabb. “I love the community and the fans and feel very lucky that I get to be a part of this team for another two years.”
McNabb leads all Wave field-players in minutes played at 1,852 for the 2024 season, and has logged 5,145 minutes across all three NWSL regular season’s with the club. McNabb primarily played as an outside back and center back during her time with the Wave.
“McNabb has been an integral part of this team and we are thrilled to have her continue with us in San Diego,” said San Diego Wave FC Sporting Director and General Manager Camille Ashton. “Her versatility across the back line and experience in the league are invaluable as we build for 2025 and beyond.”
McNabb joined the team in 2022 through the NWSL Expansion Draft after five seasons with the Seattle Reign. Across all competitions, McNabb has logged 36 shots and scored five goals. On defense, McNabb has a total of 81 total tackles and 58 interceptions across her three seasons with the Wave.
San Diego Wave FC has been eliminated from playoff contention, but plays their final match on Sunday, November 2, against Racing Louisville FC. The match will be broadcasted nationally on ESPN at 2:30 p.m. PST.
Wave crushed in 4-1 defeat against KC; Eliminated from playoff contention
It’s almost over.
San Diego Wave FC lost 4-1 in an away match against the Kansas City Current effectively eliminating them from NWSL playoff contention.
“It’s been a difficult year. It’s been a disappointing year for everyone, but they get up every time and go again and that’s all I can really judge them on right now,” said Donovan. “It’s been really hard on them, but they’ve never quit and I give them a lot of credit for that.”
The Wave were outclassed in their match against the Current who have scored more goals than any other team this season with 54 led by the golden-boot leader, and likely NWSL MVP, Temwa Chawinga.
The Current scored their first goal in the 22nd minute after taking advantage of a quick counter attack. A cross went into the box just after Wave defenders tracked back, and Kaitlyn Torpey managed to stop the ball, but the deflection landed perfectly in Michelle Coopers path to shoot it in to make it 1-0.
The second goal came in the next 10 minutes as Kansas City kept their press forward creating many opportunities before forcing a huge error by the Wave’s goalkeeper, Kailen Sheridan. The Current had another counter attack and a ball that was headed out of play near the endline. Cooper sent in a cross toward the back post, and Sheridan tried to jump and catch it, but the ball bounced off her hands into the goal to make it 2-0.
Kansas City saw two more goals, one from Chawinga and another from her substitute, Brazilian standout, Debinha.
The Wave did manage to avoid a shutout as Delphine Cascarino sent in a wonderful goal from just barely inside the final third of the pitch that curved into the net to make a final score of 4-1.
“It’s been hard to just find continuity,” Donovan said. “While there’s been moments that have been great, ultimately the kind of lack of cohesion and lack of consistent lineup, (and) players playing together has an impact on scoring goals. That’s the hardest part.”
As it stands The Wave lie in second-to-last place before their final match on Sunday, November 3, against Racing Louisville, who could be fighting for the final playoff spot depending on other results that weekend.
Levine Leichtman Family Office Complete Purchase of San Diego Wave FC
The Levine Leichtman Family Office has officially completed the purchase of San Diego Wave FC from its previous owner Ron Burkle. Lauren Leichtman will serve as the club’s new NWSL Governor, and her son, Zachary Leichtman-Levine, will be the new NWSL Alternate Governor.
“We are incredibly proud to take ownership of the San Diego Wave FC,” said Lauren Leichtman. “This team has made a significant impact on women’s soccer and has become an integral part of the San Diego community. We are thrilled to join this extraordinary journey and build upon the incredible foundation laid by Ron Burkle. Our commitment to the club will extend beyond the field as we pursue the construction of a new state-of-the-art training facility while also supporting local youth development and community programs. Our mission is to create an unparalleled experience for fans, players, and staff, further cementing the Wave’s position as the premier women’s soccer club.”
The Levine Leichtman family led by Lauren Leichtman and Arthur Levine founded a private equity firm in 1984 that has managed approximately 15 billion dollars since their inception according to a press release.
Along with the family office they have added other strategic partners as investors who are “established business and philanthropic leaders in San Diego.”
The news of the sale was first reported in March of 2024 by Sportico. According to Sportico The Levine Leichtman family originally bought 35% of the club in the Spring and completed the other 65% in October for a final valuation at $120 million.
“What we have accomplished with the Wave has been remarkable, not only for the club but for the league and the entire community” said Burkle. “I’m incredibly proud of how far the club has come and want to thank Jill (Ellis), her staff and the players for their hard work and passion. As the club moves forward, I know that Arthur, Lauren, Zac and Sabrina will continue its growth with the same standard San Diego has come to expect. I look forward to supporting its ongoing success alongside the passionate fans.”
Club América Feminil knock Wave out of Concacaf W Champions Cup
Wave Forward Delphine Cascarino dribbles the ball in the Wave’s 1-0 defeat against Club América Femenil in the Concacaf W Champions Cup. (Photo credit: San Diego Wave FC)
San Diego Wave FC lost their final match of the Concacaf W Champions Cup against Club América Femenil after winning their first three effectively eliminating them from the tournament.
“I’m disappointed. There’s a lot going through my head, I’m just processing everything,” interim head coach Landon Donovan said. “Nights like tonight really hurt me, I’ve only been here a few months, but they hurt me for the club. I’ve achieved a lot in my life, and I don’t need any personal gain out of this, it’s just, I wanted this for the club and so it’s sad when you can’t deliver that and I feel bad about that.”
The Aguilas came on strong with their offensive counter attacking style that made the pace very fast before quickly forcing an error by the Wave’s defense.
It came in the 22nd minute following a set-piece opportunity for the Wave in the opposition’s half. The ball was cleared by América giving Sarah Luebbert an opportunity with lots of open space. Luebbert had just beaten Girma running down the pitch and Wave goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan was outside the penalty area. Sheridan committed an obvious foul to avoid a potential open shot on goal and was shown a red card leaving the Wave with 10 players.
Hillary Beall took Sheridan’s spot in goal and forced the team to substitute Mya Jones off the pitch.
The Wave nearly saw a similar moment near the end of the first half as Perle Morroni fell to the ground in a run against the final defender. It appeared that Morroni was kicked in the ankle just outside the penalty area. The referee did not call the play a foul, and the tournament was not using VAR for any matches in the group stage.
Still, the Wave managed to stay alive despite an exciting game with chances for both sides who play an offensive-minded style of soccer, with many set-piece opportunities for the Wave.
In the 58th minute, Aguilas left back Nicolette Hernández sent in the cross that Kiana Palacios headed to the ground, but took an odd bounce because of the pitch conditions. Wave goalkeeper Hillary Beall seemed to have been surprised by the bounce, but she still managed to save the shot. However the deflection landed inside the 6-yard box for Sarah Luebbert to tap in easily making it 1-0.
“The goal is a tough one to take and the field’s been in really bad shape, especially in the goal now,” Donovan said. I feel bad for Hillary (Beall), the ball bounces and moves like four feet, so she’s probably devastated by it, but there’s nothing we can do about that.”
The Portland Thorns, and Club América Femenil advanced out of group B and will face Tigres Femenil and Gotham FC respectively in the semifinals of the tournament on May 22, in a to be announced centralized location.
The Wave play their next match on Saturday, October 19, in an away match against the Kansas City Current.
Zepeda: Not disgusting, disappointing
Midfielder Savannah McCaskill made her first start since August 1, in the Wave's 2-0 loss against the last-place Houston Dash. (Photo Credit: San Diego Wave FC)
That was about as disappointing a loss as you can have.
With only two regular season matches left, San Diego Wave FC lost 2-0 against the last-place Houston Dash.
Interim Head Coach for San Diego Wave FC Landon Donovan shook his head and took a long pause after answering the first question of his post-match press conference.
“It feels disgusting to lose that game,” Donovan said. “It was kind of a classic when the conditions are a little tough to play on and one team really wants to play it kind of equalizes it, and (if) the other team doesn’t want to play, it makes it more favorable to them.”
Disgusting is fair to say, but I wouldn’t say that. Disgust should come with a bit of surprise, and I, nor many who have watched this team were surprised by that result, merely disappointment that it came against the last-place team in the NWSL.
All season the Wave have struggled to take advantage of their many chances in the final third, despite dominating in possession and shots attempted.
The Wave had 68% possession, 19 shots and 13 corner kicks, but still couldn’t find the back of the net. It was the first time that Jaedyn Shaw and Savannah McCaskill started an NWSL regular season match since July 5.
It wasn’t enough.
The Wave had a golden opportunity on Sunday. There were two teams ahead in the standings that lost over the weekend, Bay FC and Racing Louisville. The task was simple: beat the worst team in the league at home.
The first Dash goal came in the 30th minute via a penalty after a rare error by Naomi Girma inside the box. Girma earned a yellow card for fouling Yuki Nagasato while she attempted to shoot the ball.
Bárbara Olivieri took the penalty and shot the ball in the opposite direction of Kailen Sheridan to make it 1-0.
The second goal came with an assist by the playing surface at Snapdragon Stadium.
In the 72nd minute Kristen McNabb got pressure from Houston’s Olivieri and tried to stay on her feet and maintain possession of the ball, but she slipped and fell on the sandy surface in an attempt to recover the ball.
Olivieri moved into the box with ease and drew the defense toward her before making a final pass to allow Ramona Bachmann to score with ease and make it 2-0.
Technically, San Diego still has a chance to make the playoffs if they win out and the four teams ahead of them in the standings fall in line.
I wouldn’t count on it.
The only true hope remains in the Concacaf W Champions Cup against Club América Femenil on Wednesday night. A win or draw would clinch the top spot in their group to send them to the semifinals of the tournament. The winner of the tournament will represent the Concacaf region in the first edition of the Women’s Club World Cup.
That won’t take place until 2026.
Five former employees sue San Diego Wave FC
Photo by Abraham Zepeda March 23, 2024
On Monday, October 7, 2024 five former Wave employees filed a civil case against San Diego Wave FC and the National Women’s Soccer League alleging disability discrimination, racial discrimination, sexual harassment and other failures in the workplace.
“(Jill) Ellis’s cultural and legal failings, and the abusive and hostile work environment in San Diego had become so large that multiple employees reported her conduct to the NWSL and asked for help from the NWSL,” the legal complaint states.
“Ellis, as San Diego Wave’s President, not only set the tone for an abusive and toxic workplace culture, but failed to install any qualified safeguards or checks on her own conduct. Instead of hiring individuals with experience, she mainly hired friends of friends that lacked qualifications for the job.
The lawsuit was first reported on by Defector which includes a lengthy description of the allegations made by the five plaintiffs and includes a link to the official legal complaint itself.
Wave FC gave a statement to Defector saying, “This lawsuit concerns allegations initially raised on July 3, 2024. As this matter is an ongoing legal proceeding, we are unable to comment further at this time."
The NWSL also gave a statement to the Associated Press saying, “The safety, health, and well-being of everyone associated with our league is our highest priority. We take serious any and every report of potential misconduct, hire qualified independent investigators to review those allegations thoroughly, and act when allegations are supported by the facts uncovered. We will not comment specifically about an active legal matter.”
The ongoing legal proceeding refers to a defamation case against former Wave employee, Brittany Alvarado, who posted a statement on social media alleging discrimination by Wave leadership and called for Wave president Jill Ellis to be removed. Following the statement the Wave called the claims false.
On July 29, Ellis filed a defamation lawsuit against Alvarado for her statements. The complaint said Alvarado was a disgruntled employee with claims that were “outrageous and completely false.”
The Wave will play their next match on Sunday, October 13, against the Houston Dash.
Wave lose 2-1 against North Carolina Courage
Hanna Lundkvist scored the Wave's lone goal in their 2-1 defeat against the North Carolina Courage. The Courage clinched a playoff position with the victory. (Photo courtesy of San Diego Wave FC)
The time to make the playoffs is running out.
San Diego Wave FC lost on the road against the North Carolina Courage 2-1 at WakeMed Soccer Park.
The Courage scored their first goal in the 32nd minute after a counter attacking opportunity. The courage crossed the ball into the box that a player attempted to shoot, but it deflected off Wave defender Kristen McNabb and voided the offside position Aline Gomes was in. Gomes shot the ball off the top post before it bounced behind the line to make it 1-0.
The second goal came during the first half’s stoppage time after another cross from the right side by North Carolina. Again, the ball bounced off Kristen McNabb trying to clear the pass, but this time it stayed in the air for Manaka Matsukobo to head in strongly to make it 2-0.
“The frustrating thing was going down two goals right before half, because I think at 1-0 with some adjustments with good subs coming, we could've gotten the goal then that would have tied the game,” interim head coach Landon Donovan said.
The Wave managed to get back on the board after a corner kick set piece, which has been the chief source of goals for the Wave this season. María Sánchez sent in a cross that Courage goalkeeper Caseey Murphy tipped away, but it landed inside the six yard box right in front of Hanna Lundkvist who tapped it in to make it 2-1.
The Wave earned one more chance in the dying minutes of the match with another corner kick. The goalkeeper cleared the initial service, before it bounced out to María Sánchez who sent in a great shot that Murphy dove to save. That deflection landed in front of Mya Jones who sent a strong shot of her own that was blocked and cleared by the defender Kaliegh Kurtz on the goal line.
Donovan said after the match that in the final sequence “it felt like they had 11 goalkeepers back there just making saves.”
The loss keeps them in 10th place in the NWSL standings, six points away from the final playoff spot with only three matches to play in the regular season.
The Wave play their next match at home against the last-place Houston Dash on Sunday, October 13 at 5:00 p.m. PST.
Wave cruise in 2-0 win over Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Defender Hanna Lundkvist moves the ball forward in the San Diego Wave's 2-0 victory against Vancouver Whitecaps FC. Lundkvist played a great match on the right side creating many chances and shots throughout the match. (Photo Credit: Wave FC)
Dominant, but it took a while.
San Diego Wave FC won their third match in the Concacaf W Champions Cup with a 2-0 result in B.C. Place against the Vancouver Whitecaps FC.
The Wave featured a rotated starting lineup without many of their traditional starters like Kailen Sheridan, Naomi Girma, María Sánchez and Delphine Cascarino, but dominated in possession throughout the match holding the ball more than 70% of the time.
San Diego controlled the ball throughout the pitch and outshot Vancouver 32-2, but they still struggled to score their many opportunities in front of goal.
The first goal didn’t come until the 59th minute when defender Kaitlyn Torpey forced an opportunity inside the opposition’s penalty area after a pass from 16-year-old Kimi Ascanio. Torpey got the ball and rushed passed a defender before sending it low toward the far post. The goalkeeper managed to hit the ball with her leg, but it bounced over and into the net to make it 1-0.
The second goal came a minute after the Wave’s first substitutions in the 66th minute by Amirah Ali.
Ali subbed on for Melanie Barcenas and immediately made her presence felt after being left open in the center of the box by Vancouver. Hanna Lundkvist brought the ball in and sent an easy pass to Ali that she shot easily past the goalkeeper to make it 2-0.
The Wave have nine points and will play against Club America Femenil for their final match of the Concacaf W Champions Cup group. The match could have major implications on who will advance out of the group stage should the Portland Thorns win their match against Vancouver the day prior.
Should Club America Femenil beat the Wave, three teams could be tied with nine points and it will come down to goal differential to determine who advances on to the semifinals in 2025.
San Diego will play their third match of the week, again on the road against the North Carolina Courage on Saturday, October 5 for the NWSL regular season. The last time the Wave faced North Carolina was on September 8, the emotional Alex Morgan retirement match that the Wave lost 3-1.
Wave subs solid in 2-0 victory over Portland
San Diego Wave players celebrate 16-year-old Melanie Barcenas' first professional goal to put the Wave up 2-0 over the Portland Thorns. (San Diego Wave FC)
San Diego Wave FC beat the Portland Thorns 2-0 at Snapdragon Stadium in front of an announced crowd of 15,271 fans to put the club only three points away from a playoff position with four matches left to play in the regular season.
The Wave’s offensive system worked well with a 4-3-3 formation once again against the Thorns as they controlled possession and wore them down with a constant pressure up top that didn’t let up throughout the match. They saw fewer shots than usual to begin a first half, but still managed to create issues thanks to the footwork of forwards like Delphine Cascarino.
The first substitutions came in the 59th minute to put on Mya Jones, Melanie Barcenas and Kaitlyn Torpey.
Wave interim head coach Landon Donovan said after the match he knew at the 60 minute mark that Portland would “struggle physically,” because of their travel and tough schedule.
His prediction turned out to be correct as the Wave substitutes poured on the pressure and kept the pace fast before eventually scoring in the 69th minute. During a set piece Kristen McNabb received a ball from María Sánchez that went high in the air just in front of the goal inside the 6-yard box. Forward Mya Jones stood tall over Portland’s defender Sam Coffey on the line and pushed the ball in with her chest to make it 1-0.
The momentum was at that point undeniable as the Wave offense kept the pressure on Portland to score only minutes later in the 74th minute. Following another set piece opportunity, 16-year-old Melanie Barcenas took the ball in from the top corner of the box before sending in a strong shot aimed toward the far post. Though the ball was deflected off Portland defender Isabella Bryld Obaze directly into the net to make it 2-0 for her first professional goal ever.
“It’s amazing to score a goal anywhere, but especially to score a first goal here is a different special thing, and I’m just so happy to be supported by our amazing team and family here tonight, and the fans,” Barcenas said. “It’s just really a surreal moment to know I was just a little girl watching games here, so now just putting the ball in the back of the net is a great feeling.”
Barcenas has been getting more minutes under Donovan, primarily because of injury, but has been solid in her role as a forward. However, Barcenas is expected to play in the Under-17 Women’s World Cup for the United States in October and likely be away from the Wave for the rest of the regular season.
“It’s the same with Loyal, these are like my children now, and so you’re proud of them to excel and succeed,” Donovan said. “I am very happy for her to go off with the national team, especially in the form she’s in, but it’s going to hurt us. She’s become a really impactful player for this team.”
The Wave play their next match on Tuesday, October 1, in the Concacaf W Champion’s Cup in Canada against the Vancouver Whitecaps FC Women. Their next NWSL match will happen in the same week on October 5, against the North Carolina Courage away from home.
Wave fail to finish; Fall 1-0 against Chicago Red stars
San Diego Wave FC played their third match in seven days against the Chicago Red Stars to a 1-0 defeat, despite creating many chances and shooting more than any other match this season.
“Sometimes you do everything right, and it doesn’t go your way,” said interim head coach Landon Donovan after the match.
The Wave outshot Chicago 28 to 9, 21 from inside the penalty box, and dominated the possession battle with 63%, but continued their struggles with finishing their chances.
“They’ve not been used to being in the box with that many chances, so when you do, I have to create training sessions that have them in the box, so they just get more comfortable hitting the target, and scoring goals,” Donovan said. “Now tonight they did everything right.”
The front line started with María Sánchez on the left, Mya Jones in the middle and Delphine Cascarino on the right coupled with Melanie Barcenas in the attacking midfielder role. Jones had one of the best opportunities of the night from just outside the goalkeeper’s box, but she shot it into the woodwork.
Chicago’s goal came early in the match off the head of Brazilian international, Ludmila, in the 12th minute after a long cross from outside the box. Perle Morroni playing in the left back position could not maintain her defense allowing Ludmila to move into the ball’s path easily to make it 1-0.
The poor finishing continued in the second half, despite the many chances created with substitutes like Amirah Ali, Elyse Bennett and Jaedyn Shaw joined the attack, but the same issues persisted. No one could find the back of the net.
The loss keeps the Wave in 12th place in the NWSL and six points away from the final playoff spot. with five matches to play. They will return to San Diego to play the Portland Thorns on Saturday, September, 21 at Snapdragon Stadium.
Sánchez shines in 3-2 comeback against Portland
María Sánchez celebrates one of her three goals in San Diego Wave's 3-2 comeback victory over the Portland Thorns. (Photo credit: San Diego Wave FC)
San Diego Wave FC came from behind, down by two goals in the 60th minute against the Portland Thorns to win 3-2 with a hat trick by forward María Sánchez.
The win marked the team’s second victory in a row and second of the Concacaf W Champions Cup. They are now in prime position in that tournament atop their group with six points and only two matches left in the group stage.
“I think it’s important to have things going our way. Just having the feeling of a win is important, we had gone months without having that,” Sánchez said. “It’s important to feel that and know we’re a good team, and have good quality players and that we can keep winning.”
The team led in most major statistical categories as they held the possession advantage for long stretches of time, and outshot the Thorns 20-8. Still, their counter attacking style left large areas of the field open that allowed the Thorns to score twice before the Wave converted one of their many chances.
“We were awesome tonight, it would have been really, really cruel to lose that game. We deserved to win, and win by a lot, so I’m proud of the turnaround, quick turnaround from Saturday for a team that’s lost a lot of games this year,” interim head coach Landon Donovan said. “To go down two goals and just continue to believe, keep playing and putting them under pressure was awesome.”
Both goals by Portlans came in breakout opportunities, first by USWNT star forward Sophia Smith whose unmatched speed put her in a dangerous position in the Wave’s final third. Smith rifled a shot to the goalkeeper, Kailen Sheridan’s nearside post to make it 1-0 in the 26th minute.
In the 54th minute Reilyn Turner took advantage of open space after a quick throw-in that caught the Wave on the back foot. Turner had a clear look at the goal after she received her pass and shot the ball with ease past Sheridan to make it 2-0.
The Wave still maintained confidence in their game plan and continued controlling the pace before the goals eventually broke through the floodgates.
The first goal came in the 67th minute when Makenzy Doniak, who subbed on in the 59th minute, drew a foul just inside the box that was deemed a penalty by the referees. María Sánchez took the penalty and sent it past the goalkeeper who did manage to guess correctly, but the shot was strong enough to make it 2-1.
Portland attempted to start fast in response, but the Wave kept the pressure on to score in the next two minutes.
French international forward Delphine Cascarino had another great match that gave defenders trouble on the wings of the pitch where she showed off her wonderful footwork before sending well placed crosses throughout the match. The attempts finally worked as she sent a great cross toward the back post that Sánchez headed in to equalize at 2-2.
The pressure did not stop there as the Thorns had no answer for the Wave’s strong attack. The final goal came in the 85th minute after more strong play by Cascarino brought the ball into a dangerous position in the Thorns’ final third. Amirah Ali got a pass and attempted to shoot the ball, but hit the hand of Portland’s Becky Sauerbraun that was immediately called a penalty.
Sánchez stood at the spot again and sent the ball into the exact same spot as last time to cement her hat trick and make it 3-2.
The win is a much needed step in the right direction for the Wave who just broke a 12-match winless streak in the NWSL regular season with a win over the second to last-place Utah Royals last Saturday.
The Wave’s star center back Naomi Girma said after the match the win is helping to build momentum that can propel the team moving forward.
“I think confidence on the ball is a big thing. I think we’re playing a lot more, we're getting the ball in good spots and we’re making teams defend for long stretches of time,” Girma said. “That just helps us build confidence, helps to build momentum in a game and you know you always want to have the ball, so I think when we can be dangerous and create a lot of chances it helps us build it.”
The Concacaf W Champions Cup is a club tournament with teams around the Concacaf region that will qualify its winner for the first ever Women’s Club World Cup in 2026. The Wave qualified for the tournament by winning the NWSL Shield for the best record in the league.
The Wave play their next NWSL regular season match on Saturday, against the Chicago Red Stars in Chicago. Their next Concacaf W Champions Cup will take place on Tuesday, October 1, away from home against the Vancouver Whitecaps.
Zepeda: San Diego waves goodbye to Alex Morgan
Alex Morgan waves goodbye for the final time as a professional soccer player. Morgan is retiring from professional soccer and is pregnant with her second child. (Photo Courtesy of San Diego Wave FC)
What a day in San Diego. Wave fans got to say goodbye to one of the greats.
Soccer icon, Alex Morgan, retired from professional soccer on Sunday following a match against the North Carolina Courage in the 14th minute to the screams of 26,516 fans at Snapdragon Stadium chanting her name.
At her best, Morgan played with speed, grace and an unrivaled final touch on the ball in some of the biggest moments winning two world cups, an olympic gold medal and much more.
Off the field she was a face and voice for women’s sports advocating for equal pay, investment in women’s sports and fair policies that treated her fellow players like human beings.
It was emotional as she walked out with her daughter Charlie to listen to the national anthem for the final time as a player. Morgan closed her eyes and cried.
“I feel like I did everything I could have. I left everything on the field. I did everything I ever wanted to and more and with this decision I feel so at peace, because I am ready to start a family,” Morgan said. “I’m ready to hang up the boots and allow the next generation to flourish and just relish in the spotlight.”
Morgan had inspired generations of young girls to play including 16-year-old Wave forward Melanie Barcenas who said after the match, “It’s amazing to be able to share the field with someone you idolize growing up and just knowing she played a big part in the reason why I’m able to step on this field with all these amazing women.”
Morgan said she would play limited minutes, which can mean anything, but she definitely had a bit more motivation to score. Fans erupted anytime she would touch the ball and she took a shot on target from just inside the penalty area that was deflected early on.
Though North Carolina came on early and took advantage of the Wave’s poor set-piece defending. Haley Hopkins made a great run to the top of the box and headed the corner kick in to make it 1-0 in the fourth minute.
Then it seemed like the story would become Morgan’s fairy tale ending. The Wave earned a penalty after a handball inside the box by North Carolina Courage. Who else but the club’s all-time scoring leader to take the penalty.
It seemed destined to be part of a ‘heartwarming moment in sports compilation’ video. Morgan was the greatest at penalty kicks when she started with the Wave in 2022, winning the golden boot and scoring more penalties than anyone in the NWSL that season.
It is not 2022.
This season she has not scored in the NWSL and missed her last penalty opportunity. With all fans in Snapdragon Stadium on their feet Morgan missed with a weak shot to her right that Courage goalkeeper Casey Murphy saved with ease.
Wave kept the foot on the pedal and pressed high and eventually earned a corner kick after Morgan kicked a ball off an opposing player. María Sánchez took the corner and sent it to the near post where defender Kennedy Wesley jumped and headed it in to make it 1-1.
Of course it came in the 13th minute. The team celebrated and went back to the half-line.
Then it was time.
The referee blew the whistle for substitutions and the entire crowd began to chant for Alex Morgan. She was visibly overcome with emotion and hugged her teammates and waved goodbye to fans. She took the captain’s armband off and gave it to goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan who motioned for the crowd to give one final cheer.
Morgan took off her boots to hang them up and walk off the pitch for one final time.
Now, the future. Morgan says she's looking to continue her work with her foundation and investment in women’s sports, not coaching.
Where do the Wave stand?
The Wave went on to lose 1-4 as North Carolina scored three more times, once in another set piece opportunity, another after poor defending and a goal in the fourth minute of stoppage time.
Also, Kailen Sheridan earned a red card for a denial of an obvious goal scoring opportunity and will be suspended for San Diego’s next match against Utah.
The Wave are seven points away from the final playoff spot with seven matches left to play. Interim head coach Landon Donovan said they’ll probably need five wins to make it. That’s more than they have all season.
Two of the team’s captain’s have left the team in the past month and three crucial attacking players remain on the injured list in Jaedyn Shaw, Savannah McCaskill and Kyra Carusa.
They need a lot of favorable results from the teams ahead of them, but there is still hope with the Concacaf W Champion’s Cup on their schedule. Escaping the group stage can potentially propel them to an eventual club world cup.
It’s time for San Diego to wave goodbye to their playoff hopes along with Morgan.
Alex Morgan announces retirement from professional soccer
San Diego Wave FC captain and star, Alex Morgan celebrates her 2024 NWSL Challenge Cup winning goal. (Photo courtesy of San Diego Wave FC)
San Diego Wave FC captain, all-time scorer, and United States Women’s National Team legend, Alex Morgan officially announced her retirement in a social media post on Thursday, September 5.
“It has been a long time coming and this decision wasn’t easy, but at the beginning of 2024 I felt in my heart and soul that this was the last season that I would play soccer,” said Morgan. “Soccer has been a part of me for 30 years and it was one of the first things that I ever loved. I gave everything to this sport and what I got in return is more than I could have ever dreamed of.”
Morgan also announced that her final match will take place on Sunday, September 8, against the North Carolina Courage and is pregnant with her second child.
Morgan began her time in San Diego in 2022 as the second player to join the NWSL’s expansion franchise. That season she led the NWSL in goals scored, was among the league's best XI, a finalist for MVP and led the team to the semifinals of playoffs.
In 2023 Morgan led the Wave in scoring with seven goals, and drove them to a NWSL Shield for holding the best record in the league.
In 2024 Morgan began her Wave season by scoring the game-winning goal in the NWSL Challenge Cup against Gotham FC, but has not scored since.
With the USWNT, Morgan won the 2015 and 2019 Women’s World Cup including a silver boot in 2019. She is ninth in appearances all-time at 223, fifth in goals at 123 and ninth in assists at 53 with the senior USWNT.
The Wave will host a full press conference with Morgan at 10 a.m. on Friday, September 6, at Snapdragon Stadium.
Wave draw 1-1 against Washington Spirit
San Diego Wave FC defender Kristen McNabb celebrates her equalizing goal against Washington Spirit. (Photo courtesy of San Diego Wave FC)
San Diego Wave FC played the Washington Spirit, the second ranked team in the NWSL, to a 1-1 draw at Snapdragon Stadium on Sunday in front of an announced crowd of 23,541 fans.
The draw marked the first time they didn’t lose at Snapdragon Stadium since June 7, and extended their NWSL winless streak to 11.
The Wave dominated in possession for the first half, but the Spirit benefited from a defensive miscue by the Wave in the 30th minute.
Washington’s Ouleymata Sarr received a through ball behind the Wave backline sending them all rushing back to defend. Naomi Girma kept Sarr from shooting, but allowed her to send in a dangerous cross into the penalty area. By then the rest of the backline stood ready to defend and Wave center back Kennedy Wesley attempted to clear the ball, but Kristen McNabb had also dropped back to defend and accidentally blocked Wesley’s clearance. The ball deflected right into the goal making it 1-0.
McNabb made up for it not too long after.
In a very similar play to the Wave’s best chances in their last match, Delphine Cascarino displayed excellent individual skill to bring the ball into the final third. Cascarino sent a pass to the outside for Christen Westphal that she attempted to cross, but was blocked for a corner kick.
María Sánchez took the set piece, and much like last match sent in a well placed ball toward the center of the goal box, only this time it found the foot of Kristen McNabb who took one touch then sent it in with her left foot to make it 1-1.
“An own goal is never ideal, so the best way to counteract that is by scoring, so I was pretty pumped,” said McNabb.
The rest of the half saw chances on both sides with all the makings of a late game-winner for either side as is usual in the NWSL, but neither scored in the eight minutes of stoppage time leaving both teams with a point at the end.
“I am unbelievably proud of how far they’ve come. That’s a really good group of players they played against,” Donovan said. “Our buildout was excellent, our pressing was much better than last week, we created a lot of solid opportunities, so the progress has been phenomenal. I really wanted them to win the game, because they deserve it now and it’s unfortunate the way we conceded the goal, but I’m really happy with where the group’s at.”
The Wave remain near the bottom of the table in 12th place out of 14 teams with only eight matches left in the regular season. Four of the matches will be away and four will be at home including their next match on Sunday, September 8, against the fifth-ranked North Carolina Courage.
Wave lose 2-1 against Angel City; extend winless streak to 10
New Wave signing, French forward Delphine Cascarino moves into the final third. Cascarino was one of few bright spots for the Wave attack in their 2-1 loss. (Photo courtesy of San Diego Wave FC)
San Diego Wave FC returned to NWSL action on Saturday, August 24, with a 2-1 loss against their Southern California rivals, Angel City FC.
The result extended the Wave’s NWSL regular season winless streak to 10 matches and helped Angel City jump to one point away from the final playoff position, while the Wave are left in 11th place out of 14 teams in the NWSL.
“Judge the performance, not the result. The problem is we need results now, because we’re at the point of the season for it,” interim head coach Landon Donovan said. “It hurts to not get anything out of the game, but there’s so much that they’re going to learn from feeling this, things they did well, things they didn’t do well and were going to grow a lot from a game like this. Now ideally you do it when you win, but we kind of gave away two sloppy goals and that ended up hurting us.”
The Wave had seven players on their injury report ahead of the match including Wave mainstays like Naomi Girma, Jaedyn Shaw, Danielle Colaprico and Savannah McCaskill. The depleted defense and midfield was noted as Angel City moved with ease into dangerous scoring positions.
Angel City’s first goal came in the 20th minute with the help of former Wave midfielder Meggie Dougherty Howard. Dougherty Howard moved up the midfield and sent a through ball for Angel City behind the Wave backline.
Hanna Lundkvist stood in the path of the pass, and attempted to control it with a touch but ended up passing it forward. 19-year-old Alyssa Thompson jumped on the opportunity and ran the ball down the pitch with no defenders in front of her. Thompson was patient and waited for Wave goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan to commit to a tackle, which allowed Thompson to pass the ball easily into the back of the net to make it 1-0.
The Wave didn’t manage a shot on goal the entire first half, and less than 10 minutes after the first goal Thompson scored again.
Thompson, seemingly with more speed than anyone on the pitch, ran the ball into the box with ease from the halfway line. She was given space by Wave defenders to cut to her right with ease and make a strong shot on target. Sheridan just managed to hit the shot, but the shot was too strong and found the back of the net to make it 2-0
The Wave continued their offensive struggles through the second half struggling to manage Angel City’s pressure.
Then one of the Wave’s newest signings, French national team forward Delphine Cascarino substituted on for Melanie Barcenas in the 62nd minute as an individual firecracker to the offenses that Angel City struggled to contain. She managed to create multiple great chances and strong shots on target, but none found the back of the net.
“You look a lot better as a coach when you have players like her on the field,” said Donovan of Cascarino.
Her pressure in the final third did eventually help lead to a goal for the Wave. In the seventh minute of stoppage time Cascarino drew a foul at the top of the box for a free kick. María Sánchez took the free kick and sent it to the center of the box for a running Abby Dahlkemper who headed it in with ease to make it 2-1.
The Wave play their next match at home on September 1, in another tough NWSL matchup against the Washington Spirit who are currently third in the NWSL standings with 37 points, while the Wave have 15.
San Diego Wave sign French interNational Perle Morroni
San Diego Wave FC announced on Thursday morning the signing of French international defender Perle Morroni to a contract that extends through the 2026 season.
"Perle (Morroni) is a dynamic, exciting fullback who brings a wealth of experience as well as a winning mentality to San Diego," said San Diego Wave FC Sporting Director and General Manager Camille Ashton in a statement. "We are excited to welcome (Morroni) to San Diego and look forward to her contributions to this team as we look to achieve our goals this season and beyond.”
The 26-year-old began her senior career with Paris Saint-Germain where she made 48 appearances and won one domestic championship, before transferring to Olympique Lyonnais.
At OL across three seasons she won three domestic D1 Arkema championships and the UEFA champions league in 2022.
Morroni has appeared in 11 matches with the senior French national team since 2020 and also represented the French Youth National Team from U-16 to U-23.
Morroni will join four other fullbacks and occupy the final international roster spot on the Wave’s roster and join the team pending the receipt of an international transfer certificate and a P-1 visa.
The Wave play their first NWSL match since the Paris Olympics on Saturday, August 24, against their Southern California rivals Angel City FC.
Landon Donovan to take over as interim head coach of San Diego Wave FC
San Diego Wave FC is set to announce Landon Donovan as the new Interim head coach of San Diego Wave FC.
Sources tell Sandiego.Futbol that former U.S. men’s national team star Landon Donovan will be named interim head coach of San Diego Wave FC Friday, August 16.
Paul Buckle will transition out of the position following his summer commitment to the club. Buckle took over after the club fired its first head coach Casey Stoney on June 24, amid a disappointing start to the 2024 season and a seven-match winless streak.
During Buckle’s five-match stint he implemented a 4-2-4 formation to be more conducive to an attacking style of play, but the Wave still struggled to score: resulting in one win, three losses and one draw.
Donovan was a decorated international star for the U.S. men’s national team as the all-time leader in assists and tied with Clint Dempsey for most goals scored. He also leads Major League Soccer in all-time assists and has the Most Valuable Player award named after him.
Donovan announced his retirement from soccer multiple times, but his professional playing career didn’t end until 2019 with the MASL’s San Diego Sockers.
In 2018 Donovan was part of unsuccessful efforts to build a soccer-specific stadium for an MLS team in Mission Valley where Snapdragon Stadium now stands.
He later joined an ownership group that brought a new USL Championship soccer team to San Diego called San Diego Loyal SC. Donovan was named the team’s first manager in November, 2019, prior to their start in 2020.
Donovan was a first-time manager whose tactics were mostly handled by assistant coach Nate Miller. His record across three seasons was 39W-30L-17D before he transitioned to a role in the front office as the Vice President of Soccer Operations for the 2023 season.
His most notable moment with the club came in 2020 when the Loyal forfeited their last two matches and walked off the field in protest of homophobic and racist remarks directed toward players on the team. First when a player on LA Galaxy II used a racist slur on the field, and second when a Phoenix Rising player directed a homophobic slur at an openly gay player Collin Martin. The two forfeits kept the Loyal out of the playoffs that season, but garnered them national attention for standing against racism and homophobia in sports.
Most recently Donovan worked in broadcasting as an analyst on Fox for the 2024 UEFA European Championship.
Donovan will join the team on the sidelines for their first match in the Concacaf W Champions Cup on August 20, against Santa Fe FC in Panama City, Panama.
The Wave will play their next home match on August 24, in the return to the NWSL regular season against their Southern California rivals, Angel City FC.
Wave knocked out of Summer cup
San Diego Wave FC tie Southern California rivals Angel City 0-0 at CSU Fullerton’s Titan Stadium. (Photo courtesy of San Diego Wave FC)
San Diego Wave FC were officially knocked out of the Summer Cup following a losing penalty shootout and scoreless draw against their Southern California rival Angel City FC.
“That was a top performance and at halftime I was fearful that we couldn’t maintain it, because normally when you have that much dominance it can switch,” Buckle said. “We looked like we were gonna win it, all but for a fabulous save from the keeper when young Mel comes on. We got creative at the corner which I loved. Given our changes, given how many players we have away at the Olympics, still to come here and get a draw is a top performance.”
The Wave employed a much higher press than normal that gave Angel City the possession advantage, but kept them from building great play.
The best offensive opportunities came in the second half with great shots by 16-year-old forward Melanie Barcenas. Barcenas came on in the 60th minute and played the 10 role instead of on the wings, which gave her more chances to facilitate positive offensive chances.
Though neither side managed to put one in the back of the net, sending the game into a penalty shootout because of the tournament style of the Summer Cup that assigns point totals to draws through penalty kicks.
Angel City went first in the shootout and made all five of their chances against Wave goalkeeper Morgan Messner. The players included Claire Emslie, Alyssa Thompson, Raquel Rodriguez, Kennedy Fuller and a returning Christen Press.
The Wave’s second shot-taker Amirah Ali shot was saved as she sent it weakly within reach of the goalkeeper DiDi Haracic. Three other Wave players made their shot including Savannah McCaskill, Makenzy Doniak and Melanie Barcenas.
The Wave will play their next match in the Concacaf W Champions Cup against Santa Fe FC in Panama City, Panama on August 20. Their next home match will be against Angel City FC on Saturday, August 24 in the return to the NWSL regular season.