The winter transfer window was another blockbuster drama for U.S. women’s national team players.
USWNT defender Naomi Girma was the headline act as the first women’s soccer player to break the $1 million transfer barrier with her move from San Diego Wave FC to Chelsea.
But Girma wasn’t the only major move among U.S. internationals. Rising talents and household names alike changed teams during this window, which is still open for the NWSL through March 24.
Which U.S. players made the best transfers? And which movements brought more questions than answers? Let’s dive in.
Naomi Girma (San Diego Wave to Chelsea)
Grade: A+
Girma’s move to Chelsea was a significant win for arguably the best center-back on the planet and the player who U.S. head coach Emma Hayes called “the best defender I’ve ever seen.”
Girma had asked for a transfer from San Diego in the first half of 2024, sources previously confirmed. The Wave had a disastrous year on and off the field. After all the turnover — Girma’s exit included — they are starting from scratch heading into 2025.
That rebuild could be a long, frustrating process and may not have been the ideal place for an all-world center-back to develop ahead of what is expected to be her second World Cup in 2027.
Instead, Girma landed a long-term deal at…
