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San Diego Wave Fútbol Club is an American professional
On December 15, 2021, the team revealed its crest for its upcoming 2022 season in a press release, stating "the crest, encased in a shield, is a symbol of strength, for the city and team, to proudly stand behind. A powerful wave, cresting in the rich blues of the Pacific Ocean, sits front and center as the iconic mark of the Wave. And under the proud banner of the city’s name, are the vivid colors of the horizon, celebrating the beauty, fun, and vibrant culture of the city and its people".
soccer
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a team sport played between two teams of 11 Football player, players who almost exclusively use their feet to propel a Ball (association football), ball around a rectangular f ...
team based in San Diego
San Diego ( , ) is a city on the Pacific coast of Southern California, adjacent to the Mexico–United States border. With a population of over 1.4 million, it is the List of United States cities by population, eighth-most populous city in t ...
, California, that competes in the National Women's Soccer League
The National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) is a women's professional Association football, soccer league and the highest level of the United States soccer league system#Women's leagues, United States soccer league system (alongside the USL Supe ...
(NWSL). The team plays its home games at Snapdragon Stadium
Snapdragon Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in San Diego, California, located on the campus of San Diego State University (SDSU). It is the home of the San Diego State Aztecs football team of the Mountain West Conference (MW), San Diego FC o ...
. Founded on June 8, 2021, the Wave began play in the 2022 season as an expansion team
An expansion team is a new team in a sports league, usually from a city that has not hosted a team in that league before, formed with the intention of satisfying the demand for a local team from a population in a new area. Sporting leagues also ...
. The Wave won the NWSL Shield
The NWSL Shield is an annual award given to the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) team with the best regular season record as determined by the NWSL points system. The NWSL Shield has been awarded annually since 2013 and is recognized as a ...
with the league's best record in the 2023 season, the club's first trophy. The club won the NWSL Challenge Cup
The NWSL Challenge Cup is an annual supercup competition organized by the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), a division 1 women's league in the United States soccer league system. The current (2025) cup holder is the Washington Spirit, who ...
in its 2024 edition.
History
The team is San Diego's first women's professional soccer team since 2003, when theWomen's United Soccer Association
The Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA) was the world's first women's soccer league in which all the players were paid as professionals. Founded in February 2000, the league began its first season in April 2001 with eight teams in the Uni ...
folded and forced the San Diego Spirit
The San Diego Spirit were a professional soccer team based in San Diego, California, that competed in the Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA). The team played its home games at Torero Stadium on the campus of the University of San Diego. Th ...
to disband.
In January 2021, Lisa Baird
Lisa Baird is an American businesswoman.
Career
Baird has worked for IBM and the National Football League (NFL). She was described as "helped secure broadcast, sponsorship, and licensing deals during her decade with the United States Olympic and ...
, the commissioner of the National Women's Soccer League
The National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) is a women's professional Association football, soccer league and the highest level of the United States soccer league system#Women's leagues, United States soccer league system (alongside the USL Supe ...
(NWSL), announced that an expansion team in Sacramento
Sacramento ( or ; ; ) is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the seat of Sacramento County. Located at the confluence of the Sacramento and American Rivers in Northern California's Sacramento Valley, Sacramento's 2020 p ...
, led by Ron Burkle and in conjunction with Sacramento Republic FC
Sacramento Republic FC is an American professional soccer team based in Sacramento, California, that competes in the Western Conference of the USL Championship, the second level in US soccer. Co-founded by Warren Smith and Joe Wagoner in 2012, t ...
's expansion bid into Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer (MLS) is a professional Association football, soccer league in North America and the highest level of the United States soccer league system. It comprises 30 teams, with 27 in the United States and 3 in Canada, and is sanc ...
, would join the NWSL in 2022. However, Burkle never confirmed the news publicly before exiting the Sacramento Republic's ownership group. Instead, on June 8, 2021, the NWSL announced San Diego as the location for an expansion team owned by Burkle to begin play in 2022. On November 9, it was announced the team would be called Wave Fútbol Club.
2022: Inaugural season
San Diego Wave FC officially began play on March 19, 2022, in theNWSL Challenge Cup
The NWSL Challenge Cup is an annual supercup competition organized by the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), a division 1 women's league in the United States soccer league system. The current (2025) cup holder is the Washington Spirit, who ...
against fellow expansion team Angel City FC
Angel City Football Club is an American professional Association football, soccer team based in Los Angeles, California, that competes in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). The formation of the team was announced on July 21, 2020; it beg ...
on the road, where they drew 1-1. They were eliminated from the Challenge Cup after finishing third in their group. The team began their inaugural season on May 1 and opened with three straight wins, sitting on the top of the table for over half the season before finally falling to the KC Current 2–1. Although briefly gaining the top spot twice late in the season, the Wave finished 3rd and qualified for the quarter-finals of the playoffs
The playoffs, play-offs, postseason or finals of a sports league are a competition played after the regular season by the top competitors to determine the league champion or a similar accolade. Depending on the league, the playoffs may be eithe ...
. After defeating the Chicago Red Stars
Chicago Stars Football Club is an American professional soccer team based in the Chicago metropolitan area that competes in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). A founding member of the Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) league as the Chic ...
2–1, the team traveled to Providence Park
Providence Park (formerly Jeld-Wen Field; PGE Park; Civic Stadium; originally Multnomah Stadium; and from 1893 until the stadium was built, Multnomah Field) is an outdoor soccer venue located in the Goose Hollow neighborhood of Portland, Oregon ...
to play against the Portland Thorns
Portland Thorns FC is an American professional soccer team based in Portland, Oregon, that competes in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). Established in 2012, the team began play in 2013 in the then-eight-team NWSL, which received supp ...
in the semi-finals, losing 2-1 following a Crystal Dunn
Crystal Alyssia Soubrier (; born July 3, 1992) is an American professional soccer player for Première Ligue club Paris Saint-Germain and the United States national team. A versatile player, she primarily plays as an attacking midfielder or ...
goal in the final minutes of the game. Wave members were heavily represented in the end-of-season awards, with Alex Morgan
Alexandra Morgan Carrasco (born Alexandra Patricia Morgan; July 2, 1989) is an American former professional association football, soccer player.She co-captained the United States women's national soccer team, United States national team with ...
winning the Golden Boot, Kailen Sheridan
Kailen Mary Iacovoni Sheridan (born July 16, 1995) is a Canadian professional Association football, soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper (association football), goalkeeper for San Diego Wave FC of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) and ...
winning Goalkeeper of the Year, Casey Stoney
Casey Jean Stoney (born 13 May 1982) is an English professional Manager (association football), football manager and former Football player, player who currently serves as the head coach of the Canada women's national soccer team.
A versatile ...
named as Coach of the Year Many sports leagues, sportswriting associations, and other organizations confer "Coach of the Year" awards. In some sports — including baseball and association football — the award is called the "Manager of the Year" award.
Some of the ...
, Naomi Girma
Naomi Haile Girma (born June 14, 2000) is an American professional association football, soccer player who plays as a Defender (association football)#Centre-back, center back for Women's Super League club Chelsea W.F.C., Chelsea and the United ...
being crowned as both the Defender of the Year and Rookie of the Year.
2023
In the 2023 season, the Wave continued their winning ways, slightly improving upon their record in 2022 and securing theNWSL Shield
The NWSL Shield is an annual award given to the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) team with the best regular season record as determined by the NWSL points system. The NWSL Shield has been awarded annually since 2013 and is recognized as a ...
with two games to spare after beating the Portland Thorns on September 30 and guaranteeing a bye for the playoffs. The Wave faced OL Reign
Seattle Reign FC is an American professional Association football, soccer team based in Seattle, Washington, that competes in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). Founded in 2012, it is one of eight inaugural members of the NWSL. Since J ...
in the semi-finals, losing 1–0 after Veronica Latsko scored in the 47th minute, marking the second year in a row the Wave were eliminated in the semis. Defender Naomi Girma
Naomi Haile Girma (born June 14, 2000) is an American professional association football, soccer player who plays as a Defender (association football)#Centre-back, center back for Women's Super League club Chelsea W.F.C., Chelsea and the United ...
was named U.S. Soccer's Female Player of the Year, recognizing her excellence for the Wave and for the U.S. women's national team.
2024
The Wave kicked off 2024 by winning theChallenge Cup
The Rugby Football League Challenge Cup, commonly known just as the Challenge Cup is a Single-elimination tournament, knockout rugby league cup competition organised by the Rugby Football League, held annually since 1896, it is the world's old ...
1–0 over 2023 champion NJ/NY Gotham FC
Gotham Football Club is an American professional Association football, soccer team based in the New York metropolitan area that competes in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). Founded in 2006 as Jersey Sky Blue, the team was known as Sk ...
with an 88th-minute goal from Alex Morgan
Alexandra Morgan Carrasco (born Alexandra Patricia Morgan; July 2, 1989) is an American former professional association football, soccer player.She co-captained the United States women's national soccer team, United States national team with ...
. However, during the season, the Wave failed to replicate their successes from prior years. The team finished 10th in the regular season standings and did not qualify for the playoffs for the first time in club history. The Wave also competed in the NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup
The NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup () is a women's soccer competition between clubs from the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) of the United States and Liga MX Femenil of Mexico.
The first edition took place in 2024, at venues in the Uni ...
and the CONCACAF W Champions Cup
The CONCACAF W Champions Cup is an annual continental women's football club competition organized by CONCACAF that determines the club champion for the region encompassing North America, Central America and the Caribbean. It is comparable to ...
, but they failed to make it out of the group stage in both competitions. Amid a 7-game winless streak, the club fired head coach Casey Stoney
Casey Jean Stoney (born 13 May 1982) is an English professional Manager (association football), football manager and former Football player, player who currently serves as the head coach of the Canada women's national soccer team.
A versatile ...
, who had been part of the Wave since 2022. Stoney was replaced by interim coach Paul Buckle
Paul John Buckle (born 16 December 1970) is an English football manager and former player. He has previously been the interim head coach of San Diego Wave FC of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), the manager of Torquay United, Bristol ...
, who led the team through the summer of 2024. After Buckle's departure, Landon Donovan
Landon Timothy Donovan (born March 4, 1982) is an American former professional association football, soccer player and coach who was most recently the interim head coach of San Diego Wave FC of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). Often co ...
managed the team to the end of the season.
2024 also featured notable off-the-field events in the Wave's history. On March 14, owner Ron Burkle announced the sale of San Diego Wave FC to Lauren Leichtman and Arthur Levine, managers of the Levine Leichtman Capital Partners investment firm, for $113 million and a total (and, at the time, league record) team valuation of $120 million. The new owners immediately paid $35 million for 35% of the team, and paid $78 million for the remaining 65% of the team at the end of the 2024 NWSL season. This represents a large increase in team value from the $2 million Burkle paid just two years previously as an NWSL expansion fee. The Wave also hired Camille Ashton as sporting manager and general manager to replace Molly Downtain, who left in the offseason. Finally, the club hired former USWNT
The United States women's national soccer team (USWNT) represents the United States in international women's soccer. The team is governed by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF (the Confederation of North, Central Ameri ...
player Shannon MacMillan
Shannon Ann MacMillan (born October 7, 1974) is an American retired football (soccer), soccer player, coach, FIFA Women's World Cup champion, Olympic gold and silver medalist. Named U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year for 2002, MacMillan played fo ...
as Chief Impact Officer on July 1, 2024.
In July, several former Wave employees spoke out on social media
Social media are interactive technologies that facilitate the Content creation, creation, information exchange, sharing and news aggregator, aggregation of Content (media), content (such as ideas, interests, and other forms of expression) amongs ...
, alleging that the club and president Jill Ellis
Jillian Anne Ellis (born 6 September 1966) is an English-American football manager and executive who is the Chief Football Officer of FIFA and will serve as part of the world governing body's executive management team, driving the development an ...
created an unhealthy and abusive work environment. The Wave denied all allegations and threatened legal action against those who spoke out. In mid-October, five former employees filed a lawsuit against the Wave and the NWSL
The National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) is a women's professional Association football, soccer league and the highest level of the United States soccer league system#Women's leagues, United States soccer league system (alongside the USL Supe ...
, alleging discrimination
Discrimination is the process of making unfair or prejudicial distinctions between people based on the groups, classes, or other categories to which they belong or are perceived to belong, such as race, gender, age, class, religion, or sex ...
, sexual harassment
Sexual harassment is a type of harassment based on the sex or gender of a victim. It can involve offensive sexist or sexual behavior, verbal or physical actions, up to bribery, coercion, and assault. Harassment may be explicit or implicit, wit ...
, wrongful termination
In law, wrongful dismissal, also called wrongful termination or wrongful discharge, is a situation in which an employee's contract of employment has been termination of employment, terminated by the employer, where the termination breaches one o ...
, and retaliation
Revenge is defined as committing a harmful action against a person or group in response to a grievance, be it real or perceived. Vengeful forms of justice, such as primitive justice or retributive justice, are often differentiated from more form ...
. In December, the Wave announced Jill Ellis's immediate departure to become Chief of Football at FIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (), more commonly known by its acronym FIFA ( ), is the international self-regulatory governing body of association football, beach soccer, and futsal. It was founded on 21 May 1904 to o ...
.
2025
Leading up to the 2025 season, the Wave announced that interim coachLandon Donovan
Landon Timothy Donovan (born March 4, 1982) is an American former professional association football, soccer player and coach who was most recently the interim head coach of San Diego Wave FC of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). Often co ...
would not be returning to his position. On January 7, 2025, Swedish manager Jonas Eidevall was announced to be filling the role, becoming the Wave's second-ever full-time head coach in club history.
Colors and crest
On December 15, 2021, the team revealed its crest for its upcoming 2022 season in a press release, stating "the crest, encased in a shield, is a symbol of strength, for the city and team, to proudly stand behind. A powerful wave, cresting in the rich blues of the Pacific Ocean, sits front and center as the iconic mark of the Wave. And under the proud banner of the city’s name, are the vivid colors of the horizon, celebrating the beauty, fun, and vibrant culture of the city and its people".
Sponsorship
Kit history
Stadium
The club began play atTorero Stadium
Torero Stadium is an outdoor stadium in San Diego, California, located on the campus of the University of San Diego (USD). Opened in 1961, it is the home of the San Diego Toreros football and men's and women's soccer teams. The Toreros compete i ...
on the campus of the University of San Diego
The University of San Diego (USD) is a Private university, private Catholic Church, Catholic research university in San Diego, California, United States. Chartered in 1949 as the independent San Diego College for Women and San Diego University ...
for its inaugural season. It moved to Snapdragon Stadium
Snapdragon Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in San Diego, California, located on the campus of San Diego State University (SDSU). It is the home of the San Diego State Aztecs football team of the Mountain West Conference (MW), San Diego FC o ...
, located in the Mission Valley campus expansion of San Diego State University
San Diego State University (SDSU) is a Public university, public research university in San Diego, California, United States. Founded in 1897, it is the third-oldest university and southernmost in the 23-member California State University (CS ...
(SDSU), for its last two home games of the 2022 season. The Wave's opener at the new stadium against regional rival and fellow 2022 NWSL entry Angel City FC
Angel City Football Club is an American professional Association football, soccer team based in Los Angeles, California, that competes in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). The formation of the team was announced on July 21, 2020; it beg ...
on September 17 drew a sellout crowd of 32,000, setting a new NWSL single-game attendance record. On March 23, 2024, the Wave set the current record for NWSL season home opener attendance with 32,066 fans attending their 2–1 loss to the Kansas City Current
The Kansas City Current are an American professional Association football, soccer team based in Kansas City, Missouri, that competes in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). It was founded as an NWSL expansion, expansion team in 2021 NWSL ...
.
Players and staff
Current squad
''As of May 29, 2025''.Out on loan
Former players
''For details of former players, see :San Diego Wave FC players and List of San Diego Wave FC players.''Coaching staff
Records
Year-by-year
Head coaching record
Only competitive matches are counted. Includes NWSL regular season, playoffs, and Challenge Cup matches.Team records
''Current players in bold. Statistics are updated once a year after the conclusion of the NWSL season.''Honors
*NWSL Shield
The NWSL Shield is an annual award given to the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) team with the best regular season record as determined by the NWSL points system. The NWSL Shield has been awarded annually since 2013 and is recognized as a ...
** Winners (1): 2023
Catastrophic natural disasters in 2023 included the Lists of 21st-century earthquakes, 5th-deadliest earthquake of the 21st century 2023 Turkey–Syria earthquakes, striking Turkey and Syria, leaving up to 62,000 people dead; Cyclone Freddy ...
* NWSL Challenge Cup
The NWSL Challenge Cup is an annual supercup competition organized by the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), a division 1 women's league in the United States soccer league system. The current (2025) cup holder is the Washington Spirit, who ...
** Winners (1): 2024
The year saw the list of ongoing armed conflicts, continuation of major armed conflicts, including the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Myanmar civil war (2021–present), Myanmar civil war, the Sudanese civil war (2023–present), Sudane ...
Award winners
Golden Boot
*Alex Morgan
Alexandra Morgan Carrasco (born Alexandra Patricia Morgan; July 2, 1989) is an American former professional association football, soccer player.She co-captained the United States women's national soccer team, United States national team with ...
: 2022
The year began with another wave in the COVID-19 pandemic, with SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant, Omicron spreading rapidly and becoming the dominant variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus worldwide. Tracking a decrease in cases and deaths, 2022 saw ...
Defender of the Year
*Naomi Girma
Naomi Haile Girma (born June 14, 2000) is an American professional association football, soccer player who plays as a Defender (association football)#Centre-back, center back for Women's Super League club Chelsea W.F.C., Chelsea and the United ...
: 2022
The year began with another wave in the COVID-19 pandemic, with SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant, Omicron spreading rapidly and becoming the dominant variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus worldwide. Tracking a decrease in cases and deaths, 2022 saw ...
, 2023
Catastrophic natural disasters in 2023 included the Lists of 21st-century earthquakes, 5th-deadliest earthquake of the 21st century 2023 Turkey–Syria earthquakes, striking Turkey and Syria, leaving up to 62,000 people dead; Cyclone Freddy ...
Goalkeeper of the Year
*Kailen Sheridan
Kailen Mary Iacovoni Sheridan (born July 16, 1995) is a Canadian professional Association football, soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper (association football), goalkeeper for San Diego Wave FC of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) and ...
: 2022
The year began with another wave in the COVID-19 pandemic, with SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant, Omicron spreading rapidly and becoming the dominant variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus worldwide. Tracking a decrease in cases and deaths, 2022 saw ...
Rookie of the Year
*Naomi Girma
Naomi Haile Girma (born June 14, 2000) is an American professional association football, soccer player who plays as a Defender (association football)#Centre-back, center back for Women's Super League club Chelsea W.F.C., Chelsea and the United ...
: 2022
The year began with another wave in the COVID-19 pandemic, with SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant, Omicron spreading rapidly and becoming the dominant variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus worldwide. Tracking a decrease in cases and deaths, 2022 saw ...
Coach of the Year
*Casey Stoney
Casey Jean Stoney (born 13 May 1982) is an English professional Manager (association football), football manager and former Football player, player who currently serves as the head coach of the Canada women's national soccer team.
A versatile ...
: 2022
The year began with another wave in the COVID-19 pandemic, with SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant, Omicron spreading rapidly and becoming the dominant variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus worldwide. Tracking a decrease in cases and deaths, 2022 saw ...
Best XI First Team
*Jaedyn Shaw
Jaedyn Reese Shaw, OLY (born November 20, 2004) is an American professional association football, soccer player who plays as a forward (association football), forward or attacking midfielder for the North Carolina Courage of the National Women's ...
: 2023
Catastrophic natural disasters in 2023 included the Lists of 21st-century earthquakes, 5th-deadliest earthquake of the 21st century 2023 Turkey–Syria earthquakes, striking Turkey and Syria, leaving up to 62,000 people dead; Cyclone Freddy ...
* Naomi Girma
Naomi Haile Girma (born June 14, 2000) is an American professional association football, soccer player who plays as a Defender (association football)#Centre-back, center back for Women's Super League club Chelsea W.F.C., Chelsea and the United ...
: 2022
The year began with another wave in the COVID-19 pandemic, with SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant, Omicron spreading rapidly and becoming the dominant variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus worldwide. Tracking a decrease in cases and deaths, 2022 saw ...
, 2023
Catastrophic natural disasters in 2023 included the Lists of 21st-century earthquakes, 5th-deadliest earthquake of the 21st century 2023 Turkey–Syria earthquakes, striking Turkey and Syria, leaving up to 62,000 people dead; Cyclone Freddy ...
* Alex Morgan
Alexandra Morgan Carrasco (born Alexandra Patricia Morgan; July 2, 1989) is an American former professional association football, soccer player.She co-captained the United States women's national soccer team, United States national team with ...
: 2022
The year began with another wave in the COVID-19 pandemic, with SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant, Omicron spreading rapidly and becoming the dominant variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus worldwide. Tracking a decrease in cases and deaths, 2022 saw ...
* Kailen Sheridan
Kailen Mary Iacovoni Sheridan (born July 16, 1995) is a Canadian professional Association football, soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper (association football), goalkeeper for San Diego Wave FC of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) and ...
: 2022
The year began with another wave in the COVID-19 pandemic, with SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant, Omicron spreading rapidly and becoming the dominant variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus worldwide. Tracking a decrease in cases and deaths, 2022 saw ...
Best XI Second Team
*Naomi Girma
Naomi Haile Girma (born June 14, 2000) is an American professional association football, soccer player who plays as a Defender (association football)#Centre-back, center back for Women's Super League club Chelsea W.F.C., Chelsea and the United ...
: 2024
The year saw the list of ongoing armed conflicts, continuation of major armed conflicts, including the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Myanmar civil war (2021–present), Myanmar civil war, the Sudanese civil war (2023–present), Sudane ...
* Alex Morgan
Alexandra Morgan Carrasco (born Alexandra Patricia Morgan; July 2, 1989) is an American former professional association football, soccer player.She co-captained the United States women's national soccer team, United States national team with ...
: 2023
Catastrophic natural disasters in 2023 included the Lists of 21st-century earthquakes, 5th-deadliest earthquake of the 21st century 2023 Turkey–Syria earthquakes, striking Turkey and Syria, leaving up to 62,000 people dead; Cyclone Freddy ...
* Kailen Sheridan
Kailen Mary Iacovoni Sheridan (born July 16, 1995) is a Canadian professional Association football, soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper (association football), goalkeeper for San Diego Wave FC of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) and ...
: 2023
Catastrophic natural disasters in 2023 included the Lists of 21st-century earthquakes, 5th-deadliest earthquake of the 21st century 2023 Turkey–Syria earthquakes, striking Turkey and Syria, leaving up to 62,000 people dead; Cyclone Freddy ...
References
External links
* {{USSoccer 2021 establishments in California Association football clubs established in 2021 National Women's Soccer League teams Women's soccer clubs in the United States Women's sports in California San Diego Wave FC