2024 San Diego Wave FC season

The 2024 San Diego Wave FC season is the team's third as a professional women's soccer team. The Wave compete in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), the top tier of women's soccer in the United States.

Background

In the prior season, the Wave finished the season in 1st place, winning the NWSL Shield with an 11–7–4 record. In the NWSL Playoffs, the Wave sat out the quarterfinals with a first-round bye before facing a 1–0 defeat at the hands of the OL Reign in their semifinal match. It was the club's second semifinal playoff defeat in two years.

Staff changes

On January 23, 2024, the Wave extended head coach Casey Stoney's contract through the 2027 season, with a mutual option for 2028.

Club general manager Molly Downtain announced her resignation during the offseason, setting a departure date for April 15, 2024. Downtain was named the Wave's general manager in July 2021 and had managed the club in both previous seasons.

Offseason transactions

On November 21, 2023, the Wave waived defender Mia Gyau as part of the club's end-of-season roster decisions. Over the following months, the Wave worked to re-sign players, committing forwards Amirah Ali and Kyra Carusa to one-year contracts with options. The club also signed three of their four free agents to new deals, agreeing to two-year contracts with Makenzy Doniak, Christen Westphal, and Emily van Egmond. The Wave's fourth free agent, Madison Pogarch, did not re-sign with the club and instead joined 2024 expansion club Utah Royals.

With the 2024 NWSL expansion draft drawing nearer, the Wave also traded defender Kaleigh Riehl to the Utah Royals in exchange for $60,000 in Allocation Money and draft protection from the expansion club. The Wave did not trade for draft protection from Bay FC, resulting in the loss of forward Rachel Hill and midfielder Sierra Enge during the draft at the hands of the fellow Californian club. The Wave later reacquired Enge in a trade with Bay FC and the Houston Dash, sending the Wave's 2024 third-round NWSL Draft pick, $60,000 in allocation money, and midfielder Belle Briede to Houston in exchange for Enge.

Leading up to the 2024 NWSL Draft, the Wave signed free agent midfielder Savannah McCaskill from Angel City FC on December 20, 2023. In January 2024, the club transferred goalkeeper Shae Yanez to English club Bristol City and brought in Hillary Beall from Racing Louisville FC. Later, the Wave's goalkeeper corps would meet its final change of the offseason, with 2023 draftee Lauren Brzykcy and the club agreeing to a mutual contract termination.

During the NWSL Draft, the Wave selected Stanford defender Kennedy Wesley as the 12th overall pick. The club also drafted Canadian forward Mya Jones from Memphis as the 42nd overall pick. Both players later signed 2-year contracts with the Wave. On Draft Day, the club also traded Meggie Dougherty Howard to Angel City in exchange for $40,000 in allocation money. Ten days later, the Wave sent Taylor Kornieck to Racing Louisville FC for $150,000 in allocation money.

The Wave wrapped up their offseason transactions by bringing in two international players. In February, the club signed Swedish defender Hanna Lundkvist from Atlético Madrid and Australian defender Kaitlyn Torpey from Melbourne City. The transfer fee paid for Torpey was heavily rumored to be a new outbound Australian women's soccer record.

Kit changes

As part of a league-wide refresh, the Wave revealed their 2024 primary and secondary kits on February 27, 2024. The club's primary kit, titled 'Del Sol,' sports orange, pink, and turquoise patterns reminiscent of waves and the San Diego sunset. Bright pink colors are used for the team's secondary kit, named 'Poderosa'.

Stadium and facilities

The Wave continued to play in Snapdragon Stadium in their second full season of residency. However, during the NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup, the Wave returned to former home venue Torero Stadium for their first game of the tournament against Bay FC.

In the Wave's home opener at Snapdragon Stadium, the club set an NWSL home opener attendance record with 32,066 individuals attending the game.

Poor pitch conditions at Snapdragon Stadium were a source of criticism throughout the 2024 season. Two days before the Wave's season finale, a planned home fixture against Racing Louisville FC, the club announced that the match would be relocated to Lynn Family Stadium in Louisville. Field and player safety concerns were cited as key reasons for the move.

Broadcasting

On May 8, 2024, the Wave renewed their partnership with San Diego broadcasters Fox 5 San Diego and KUSI to locally air all eight of the team's non-nationally broadcast matches over the course of the season.

Team

Current squad

As of November 23, 2024.

Coaching staff

As of August 17, 2024.

Competitions

Friendlies

Wave FC opened the 2024 preseason at the Coachella Valley Invitational.

NWSL Challenge Cup

Challenge Cup has been reformatted to open each season as a single contest with the prior campaign’s winner of the NWSL Shield, presented by CarMax, against the reigning NWSL Champion.

Regular season

NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup

2024–25 CONCACAF W Champions Cup

San Diego Wave FC qualified as the 2023 National Women's Soccer League Shield winners.

Squad statistics

As of match played November 3, 2024

Appearances

As of match played November 3, 2024; only players who have made appearances are listed.

Starting appearances are listed first, followed by substitute appearances after the symbol where applicable.

Goals

Assists

Shutouts

Disciplinary record

Transactions

2024 NWSL Draft

Draft picks are not automatically signed to the team roster.

Contract operations

Transfers in

Transfers out

Retirements

Preseason trialists

Trialists are non-rostered invitees during preseason and are not automatically signed. The Wave released their preseason roster on January 29, 2024.