2025 is the first year without a college draft in women’s professional soccer. The process was thrown off from the established norm with mild chaos following. USL SL began their league fresh, allowing college players to sign directly with a team, but many with history in professional soccer in America only know the draft. Which teams figured out how to sign players? Who secured top talents? Who is still working it out?

Many players coming out of college could have chosen to play professionally anywhere: Mexico, England, Europe, China, Australia abound in top division leagues desiring American players. MAC Herman trophy finalists and semifinalist are usually top picks in the previous draft system. The MAC Hermann trophy in soccer is the equivalent of the Heisman trophy in football. Players in this category are usually courted in their youth to play overseas. It is noteworthy these top collegiate players are preferring USL SL over anywhere else in the world. SL is making a mark in their first season, setting the standard as a destination to play.

Lexi Missimo a USYNT top player, with senior team call ups, was committed in 7th grade to play in college and had English clubs begging her to play with their youth academy. She chose to play in Texas for college. She chose to play in Texas for professional soccer. She chose to be a trailblazer. In the first year of the league this is a significant statement to the professionalism and offerings of the teams. "It [the contract] is certainly significant, and it's a significant signing. I mean, her list of accolades is so long, I think it's safe to say she's the most decorated player [in the USL-SL]," said Petrucelli as reported by Theo Llyod-Hughes. Other players will start to ask why and inquire more closely on options in the league.

Young players are evaluating where they can get significant minutes and quality playing time while being nurtured and guided in acclimating to a professional training environment. Other leagues can offer elite competition in iconic stadiums but lack consistent starting minutes for fledgling players. The SL is committed to integrating young players into the starting lineup. Look at any SL game and you can see teenage academy players on the field from kickoff playing alongside NWSL and international veterans. You can be one player hoping for minutes or a starter that a team is built around.

Teams were able to shore up their squads in the in the SL midseason break. Each GM and coach approached this time with different strategies. Players on loan had been recalled to their teams while others were permanently signed. Trinity lost their midfield maestro in Sam Meza when her loan was recalled but secured a top college player. Lexington started the season discovering the league used this time to acquire speed, youth and international experience. Fort Lauderdale was laser focused to shore up weak areas, adding the 22-23 A-league (Australia) player of the year to the defense. For all that is holy, I just don’t want to see more goalkeepers added to any squads.

Below I give each team a grade based on the publicly available data and at the end list the trades as of writing this article.

Brooklyn: B-, Number one team shouldn’t need change of players, but firm up their tactics. Only one acquisition and two people departing.

Riley Parker in action for Carolina. *Photo courtesy of USL Super League*

Carolina: B, good addition in Riley Parker, were at the top of the league at the break will it be enough?

Dallas: A-, They secured a key player in Lexi Missimo and picked up a few internationals but would have liked them to have acquired another defender to add depth in the backfield.

DC Power: D, they lost their hardest working attacking player to FTL and haven’t added much of anything. Hovering at the bottom a strong experienced signing is needed to help dictate play on the field.

Fort Lauderdale: A+, they knew where their gaps were and targeted them, strengthening the backline with experience and youth.

Lexington: B, they added quite a bit of youth with international experience. They still need an experienced leader in the mix to guide the young players.

Spokane: C, put players under contract who were on loan and added one player with NWSL experience. Left wondering if they have fixed weak areas on the field.

Tampa Bay Sun: A, talented signings that have already made an impact in the first two games of the season. Depth in all areas now complete for international callups and injuries.

See below for full additions, retirements, and trades that we are aware of at the time of this article.

Brooklyn

Parted with Taylor Smith

Added Goalkeeper Alexa Goldberg from U of FL

Grace Phillpotts (DEF) - DePaul University and the University of Kentucky, All SEC First Team with 4 assists her final season

Isabel Cox announced her retirement on Jan 22nd. Played in all 14 games, scored 3 goals

Carolina

Jenna Butler from NC State played in USL W with them and Washington Spirit for 2 years

Riley Parker from Tampa Bay

Samantha Leshnak Murphy, GK, UNC (2015-2018) goalkeeper, played (backup) for the Courage in 2019 when they won the Shield, played in Sweden 2022-now before coming back to US.

Dallas

Sam Meza will not return and her loan is complete. Back to Seattle Reign.

Waniya Hudson's loan is complete

Kiara Gilmore, Jordyn Hardeman, Kamdyn Fuller, and Olivia Belcher were released from academy contracts to start college or return to high school teams.

Camryn Lancaster - Forward, TCU, 2021 and 2024 Big 12 Champ, Texas is her hometown, played with Solar Soccer Club

Lexi Missimo!!! (MID) UT Austin player, While at Texas, Missimo logged 89 total appearances and finished as the program’s career leader in points (176), goals (56) and assists (64), in addition to becoming the first Big 12 Conference and Texas athlete to record a 20-goal, 20-assist season in 2023.

Her collegiate accolades include:

· SEC All-Tournament Team (2024)

· All-SEC First Team (2024)

· MAC Hermann Trophy Semifinalist (2024, 2023)

· United Soccer Coaches All-American (2024, 2023)

· Top Drawer Soccer National Player of the Year (2023)

· Big 12 Midfielder of the Year (2023)

· All-Big 12 First Team (2023, 2022, 2021)

· Big 12 All-Tournament Team (2023, 2022, 2021)

· Big 12 Freshman of the Year (2021)

Julia Dorsey has re-signed - was on loan from NC Courage but they waived her in December

Deborah Abiodun, Nigerian player on loan from Washington Spirit. 7 appearances for the Nigerian international team, including 2023 WWC starter and Paris Olympics.

Tamara Bolt, forward, Brazilian player, on loan from Washington Spirit

DC Power

Jorian Baucom leaves for FTL

Emily Colton (MID) signed for a 2-yr contract - former USWNT u-20 player. Started at UNC then to Wake Forest, where she played in the College Cup.

Gianna Gourley, came from FTL

Two Academy signings: Valentina Perrotta and Leia Galliani

Fort Lauderdale

Julia Grosso added to backline. 22-23 A-league (Australia) player of the year. 2024 Utah Royals.

Jorian Baucom from DC to FTL

Laurel Ansbrow (DEF) - Wake Forest making their first NCAA National Championship appearance. The defender helped Wake Forest post the best goals-against average in the conference, conceding only seven goals during ACC play and 11 during the entire regular season, the fewest in program history.

Lexington

Midfielder Nicole Vernis - college player from U of GA and U of FL

Sintia Cabezas - loaned from SD Wave, an 18-year-old Colombian defender.

Forward Hannah White - U of GA and USC, known for speed and endurance.

Yunaira Lopez (C DEF) - just 20 y/o, joins Lexington SC with an impressive resume, having been a key starter for the Colombia national team at both the 2022 and 2024 U20 World Cups

Elizabeth (Libby) Moore (MID) - UNC; played overseas in Denmark and Ireland in 2023

Kate Doyle (FWD) - joins the club following a standout collegiate career at the University of Arkansas and Gonzaga University. Prior to her time in the SEC, Doyle spent four seasons at Gonzaga, where she ranked in the program’s top 10 for career goals (16), assists (12), points (44), and game-winning goals (6). Her senior season was cut short due to injury, but she still managed seven goals and two assists in just six matches. She was named All-WCC Honorable Mention as a junior and earned WCC Player of the Week honors as a sophomore.

another Colombian on loan from Angel City, Maithe Lopez, 28 year old who played for Real Santander. This will be some of the leadership that the team needs.

Lexington has a new coach

Spokane

Forward Ally Cook, from Chicago Stars, won the National Championship with UCLA

McKenzie Weinert, graduated from “on loan” to “under contract.” Loaned from Seattle Reign

Sophia Braun, formerly of NWSL’s Kansas City Current, graduated from “on loan” to “under contract.”

Both players born in Oregon

both started in 9 of 11 matches in the first half of Zephyr’s season.

Reese Tappan (DEF) – played for Washington State Cougars

Tampa Bay

Parker Goins from Racing Louisville

Defender Jordan Zade from Nebraska

Kristen Edmonds leaving club (announced today); started all 13 games - (from Metuchen! Rutgers grad - upstream Red Team!)

Victoria Haugen signed on 2/6; came from NC Courage (NWSL) - Played on Norway U19 in 2019-20; VA Tech

Ava Tankersley, forward, from University of Arkansas, a number of honors including SEC forward of the year, first team and 4x offensive player of the week, MAC Herman semi-finalist

Sydney Schneider - Goalkeeper, previous club Chicago red stars

- Danielle Gawronski

Danielle is the co-host of the The Super Show, a weekly Protagonist Podcast focused on USL Super League.