The NWSL is heading into the home stretch of the regular season, and is looking better than ever. During the summer transfer window, which ran from August 1st to August 30th, a number of exciting new additions joined the league.
Today, I’m profiling the best and most intriguing arrivals of the whole lot – and analyzing what each one will bring to their respective teams.
Jess Carter, DF, NJ/NY Gotham
Carter made her breakthrough at Birmingham City, the same club where Laura Harvey’s coaching career began, before earning a move to Chelsea. Her career stalled in London for a few years, explaining the four-year wait for a second England cap, before taking off again in 2021. She rapidly went from squad member to key player, performing in a multitude of defensive roles.
That versatility will come in handy as she adapts to Gotham’s organized chaos, with all its positional fluidity.
Gotham’s high line requires their defenders to be able to recover or defend in isolation. With a rugby background, Carter is strong and fairly quick, meaning she can handle herself one-on-one physically or in space. The 26-year-old focuses on the ball and isn’t averse to wrestling her opponent, making her tough to beat.
It’s unclear whether she will play in the center or on the right of Gotham’s back four — she’s played one game in each spot for her new club so far. Whatever her long term position, Carter should make one of the league’s best defenses even more solid.
Entering the pitch for the first time in a Gotham Kit!
— NJ/NY Gotham FC (@GothamFC) September 2, 2024
Welcome back to the @NWSL, @jessiicasilva10! 💫 pic.twitter.com/EMFf0FnaLD
Delphine Cascarino, W, San Diego Wave
A serial winner during her time at Lyon, with a trophy cabinet filled with French and Champions League titles, Cascarino is the most distinguished of the NWSL’s latest arrivals. Capped 68 times by France, she has exactly the sort of profile that a Casey Stoney side would want. Of course, Stoney is no longer in charge in San Diego. But assuming their play style isn’t completely overhauled under interim Landon Donovan and beyond, the 27-year-old winger should still make a big contribution.
San Diego have been one of the more direct attacking teams in the NWSL over the last three years, and pacey wide players have been part and parcel of their system.
Cascarino is lightning quick and extremely dangerous one-v-one in space. In the 2022-23 French league season — her last full campaign prior to an ACL injury last year — no player averaged more successful take-ons per 90 minutes. Her typical approach is to draw in the defender, dribbling straight at them with little touches, before accelerating on her right foot.
Watch out, opposing fullbacks. Cascarino made her first start for San Diego over the weekend in a 1-1 draw with Washington and showed flashes of the quality that will make her a consistent threat going forward.
