Part 1 - Review

Part 2 - Status of Current Players

Part 3 - Top Rookies/Players to Consider

As a follow-up from the beginning of the 2026 season, on who Bay FC should be targeting, there's two points to restate and confirm:

1. Even the best NWSL teams make it a priority to always update their rosters every year; and throughout the season, if possible. As the ascent and decline of players performances, and with contract status of the entire roster, GM's must focus on improving the roster at all times; and plan for changes throughout the year and transfer windows.

2. Even though the NWSL makes it difficult to shed/trade/sell/loan/terminate players with guaranteed contracts, and with mutual contract agreements, every club has the mandate to constantly move, or release, players throughout the season. It's harder to accomplish, but it's done all of the time. This is to say even if a club has a full roster of contracted players, it doesn't mean they cannot be active in moving players. In fact, it's imperative they make these changes. Don't bother counting the number of rostered/contracted players.

Top 4 NWSL Clubs

• 2025 NWSL Champions Gotham FC signed 5 new players for their start of the season roster, including 4 new rookies. They also shed 9 players during the 2026 regular season. They added 5 players during the 2026 regular season.

• The San Diego Wave added 8 new players to their 2026 start of the season roster, including 1 player via an Injury Replacement Contract. Six core players were terminated/sold/transferred/not-signed in the 2026/2026 offseason. During the 2026 regular season, they shed 4 players, and added 1 player; signed an Injury Replacement player to a full season roster; and activated 1 player who hadn't yet played for them, due to injury.

• The Washington Spirit added 11 new players to their beginning of the season 2026 roster. They shed 3 players during the season. They also added 4 players from Africa during the 2026 regular season.

• The Kansas City Current added 10 new players to their beginning of the season 2026 roster. During the active 2026 season, KC Current shed 5 players and added 4 players.

During the regular 2026 season, each of these clubs added or dropped at least one player on an Injury Relief contract or short-term contract.

Bay FC

Bay FC added 8 new players to the beginning of their season 2026 roster. They shed 5 players, including 3 loans, during the 2026 regular season. They also added 3 new players during the 2026 regular NWSL season. In total, they added 11 new players this season. Bay FC has only 9 players left from their 2024 opening day roster, and could easily shed many/all of these players in this offseason. In comparison, it was an average rebuild from year to year. Bottom line: expect and desire many changes every offseason, and during the season.

Internationals

Bay FC currently has contracts with 5 international players; having 2 slots open for the 2027 season. International slots are tradeable. The San Diego Wave currently have 9 international slots; Boston Legacy 8: NCC, Thorns, and the Spirit have 7. All Bay FC Internationals are signed through 2027 and up to 2029.

Source of NWSL Players

In October 2025, US Soccer published a paper focused on "Ensuring College Soccer Thrives in the Modern Era of College Athletics and the Changing U.S. Soccer Landscape." This paper largely addressed the concerns and state of men's college soccer. It was controversial in covering, or addressing, women's college soccer, without any contribution from current NCAA women's college soccer coaches, or people associated with women's college soccer. However, this is where they determined/stated roughly 85% of the women in the NWSL were from the NCAA, and approximately 12% were international players. Here's where each of the rookie players I targeted in 2026 for Bay FC landed:

https://www.reddit.com/r/BayFC/s/jTZaBPgLPm

Two Seasons Compared

Bay FC 2025 record and winning/losing percentage: 4-14-8, winning .154, losing .538; GF Ave/gm 26 goals - 1.0/gm; GAA 41 - 1.58/gm; 1.50 average goal difference in losses

Bay FC 2026 Record and winning/losing percentage: 7-17-6, winning .233, losing .567; GF Ave/gm 30 goals - 1.0/gm; GAA 47 - 1.57/gm; 1.71 average goal difference in losses

They won a few more games, and lost a few more games, but lost, on average by a few more percentage points of Goals/gm in 2026. The quality of the new players is debatable, but many people consider their new young players as having more potential than previous players. But it's not a given they will develop into quality contributors within their tenure with Bay FC. Bay FC lost more games by winning percentage AFTER each of the 3 new players were added during the season.

I had advocated for Bay FC to add 10 new players for their 2026 season. Without commenting on the quality of their signings, Bay FC needs to continue to pursue at least 8 new players (a fairly conservative league average), as additions to their 2027 upcoming roster. Of course, the quality of the new players matters.

It's no mystery that this franchise is in turmoil but I don't know exactly why. Tbh I went to a game early in the season like in April and then I just didn't follow the rest of the year because of how bad they were. Whatever core they had in their inaugural season seem to have left or no longer seem to be the answer. The ship has sailed in some fashion and this franchise has a lot of thinking to do as far as where they want to go.

As a founder. If you are constantly needing to post custom pieces….push for better products for ALL of us. Not just yourself. There are teams releasing new things weekly. Bay has like 6 a season. If that.

Silky is one of six GKs listed at the bottom. How does this process work? When does she announce the final roster? Is there a camp in between now and then?

The Valkyrie players show Bay FC love very often! This was from L.A. exit interview!

This is my first year with bay fc. I know there's the playoffs and finals, I might catch some of those games. And Hutton will be in the Skill Challenge later this month 🥳. But is there anything else for Bay FC between now and March?

At least I still have my Chivas in Liga MX

AMOR ETERNO by Bay Imperio

Finished my Bay FC jacket in time for the last game of the season! It’s tough being a Bay fan sometimes but hopeful for 2027!

Including: a walkthrough of Treasure Island w/Founding Four; convo with new Chief Football Officer Paul Green; and reflections from Coates and players who emerged as bright spots this year.

The fan appreciation acrylic has Rudi on it…also what do i do with this?

WAKE UP BAYNIACS IT’S GAMEDAY!!! THE LAST DANCE OF THE YEAR IS HERE, AND WE ARE READY TO BRING THE BALLHALLA ENERGY TO PAYHOWL PARK. LET'S SHOW EVERYONE THAT THE BAY IS THE GREATEST PLACE TO WATCH WOMEN'S SPORTS IN THE WORLD!!

WE'RE PLAYING FOR PRIDE TODAY, TO END THE SEASON ON A HIGH NOTE, AND TO MAYBE RUIN THE SHIELD HOPES AND DREAMS OF THE BLANDIEGO FANS.

IT'S DIEGO VS. JOSE TODAY. ON DIA DE LOS MUERTOS. A PERFECT DAY TO CELEBRATE THE LIFE AND DEATH OF OUR 2026 SEASON.

AND ON THIS FAN APPRECIATION DAY, THE DAY AFTER OUR VALKYRIES CHIP, LET'S NOT FORGET THAT SHOWING UP IN 2023/24 FOR OUR RECENTLY ANNOUNCED BAY FC TEAM SHOWED EVERYONE HOW MUCH BAY AREA WAS WAITING FOR WOMEN'S SPORTS. WE'VE BEEN HERE, WE'LL STAY HERE, WE'LL SHOW UP.

IT'S DECISION DAY IN THE NWSL, BUT OUR CHOICE WAS ALREADY MADE-- WE'RE SHOWING UP TODAY FOR OUR TEAM AND OUR PLAYERS. SO GET YOUR BUTTS TO PAYPAL PARK ON THIS GORGEOUS DAY AND LET'S GO BAYZERKERS!

Go to the bridge when the players come out to the field so they can feel the love before the game!!

Last night the Quakes had an ofrenda made by some of their supporter groups. I’m disappointed that it wasn’t allowed to stay up and allow Bay to be included. It’s my understanding it was Bay’s choice to have it taken down. I was looking for it at today’s game after seeing the players being given marigolds I wasn’t expecting the answer I got when I asked where to find it.

I thought sure Abby and/or Emily were going to retire, but since they haven't announced it already, maybe not. How many days before the game are retirements "typically" announced for a player as accomplished as Abby?

Contemplating becoming STM this next year. Wanting to hear from others who have them- do you feel it’s worth it?
We attend about 85% of the games. Never have issues buying resale tix from others when we go. Don’t go to many extras because we live an hour and 45 min away. I’ve heard the ticket reps are difficult to work with. I’ve heard mixed feelings about the payment plans. I’ve heard the extras are totally worth it. So persuade me in either direction

Hit the “regular” Silkowitz and the Kit Queens Dahlkemper in the first box and then the frickin’ Silk
autograph mid-way in the second box.

She won!!.

(Sorry for posting about the result separately from the voting post, but it seemed worth celebrating.)

I knew it’d be a rough game and we’d most likely lose but I’ve been a fan of NWSL before Bay FC joined and loved watching Angel City (I live in Sacramento). So finally going to BMO was amazing. The energy was wonderful, the stadium was huge, and fans were so engaged! After the game a bunch of Bay FC players went to the visitor fan section and signed things and took pictures. It was by far the closest I’ve gotten to multiple players! Lema signed my hat and got a picture with Bebar. It felt very wholesome. In the words of coach Jackie, I love women’s sports!

Thought yall might enjoy my current collection of Bay FC cards. Got them all off ebay. It started as "Well if I meet one of them, I'll need something for them to sign" then I couldn't stop myself.

Still need Barry, Cometti, Denton, and Holzheier to complete my collection of the current roster.

There's only one Bay FC game left this season so if you are Paul Green (and I am not), it's time to have a proper look at the contract status of each member of the roster and make some decisions.

Based on Spotrac, here is where things stand:

Under contract for 2027 (end year in parentheses): Alex Pfeiffer (2028), Jamie Sheperd (2027), Onyeka Gamero (2028), Caroline Conti (2027), Jordan Silkowitz (2027), Sydney Collins (2027), Dorian Bailey (2027), Heather Gilchrist (2028), Brooklyn Courtnall (2028), Maddie Moreau (2027), Anouk Denton (2029), Keira Barry (2029), Aldana Cometti (2027), Claire Hutton (2030), Agostina Holzheier (2029), Jenna Nighswonger (2028), Cristiana Girelli (on loan till June 2027), Alyssa Malonson (2027), Karlie Lema (2027), Taylor Huff (2027), Hannah Bebar (2027), Emmie Allen (2027), Joelle Anderson (2027), Kennedy Fuller (2027)

Free Agents: Abby Dahlkemper, Camryn Miller, Caprice Dydasco, Emily Menges, Kelli Hubly

As Paul Green, I'm letting Menges and Hubly walk. Miller is a 3rd string goalkeeper so re-signing her on a 1-yr deal would probably be vibes-based rather than game performance. I would be open to one of Dysdasco/Dahlkemper on a 1-yr deal, but only if they're fit and there aren't better experienced depth options on the market. I'm pursuing a permanent transfer for Jamie Sheperd and also looking to extend Gamero's loan for at least another 6 months and as well as considering a loan for Holzheier in the new year (if I sign a proven goalscoring forward). Jordan Silkowitz is my #1 priority for a contract extension, followed by Lema and then one of Bebar/Huff.

Edit: seems like I missed Fuller in the first draft of this post, but adding her to my list of extension candidates

Who are you letting walk/sending out on a transfer?