When Arsenal announced USWNT defender Jenna Nighswonger as their newest signing on Thursday, she became a symbolic center-point for both an NWSL exodus and an influx of talent to the WSL. A 2023 NWSL champion with Gotham FC, Nighswonger is one of numerous departures from the New Jersey club this offseason as their 2024 superteam experiment resulted in a roster bursting at the seams.
The 24-year-old is also one of many players to move abroad from the American league, following USWNT teammate Naomi Girma — who signed with Chelsea for a record fee — 2023 NWSL MVP Kerolin, and more to England. With so many moving parts, it’s easy for one player to be caught up in a worldwide debate larger than simply one career.
But as Nighswonger tells it, the decision to sign with Arsenal comes from a simpler, more personal place. “Playing in England is just something that I’ve always wanted to do,” she tells Just Women’s Sports. “So sometimes when an opportunity presents itself, even if you’re happy at a club, you just have to take a leap of faith.”
Like many players before her, she’s less interested in comparing the NWSL with the WSL than describing her own personal journey as a footballer. “I have nothing but positive things…
