San Diego Wave FC

Last updated

San Diego Wave FC
San Diego Wave FC logo.svg
Full nameSan Diego Wave Fútbol Club
Nickname(s)Wave FC
The Wave
FoundedJune 8, 2021;3 years ago (2021-06-08)
Stadium Snapdragon Stadium
San Diego, California
Capacity35,000
OwnersArthur Levine
Lauren Leichtman
President Jill Ellis
Head coach Landon Donovan
(interim)
League National Women's Soccer League
2023 1st of 12
Website https://sandiegowavefc.com/
Soccerball current event.svg Current season

San Diego Wave FC is an American professional women's soccer team based in San Diego, California, that competes in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). The team plays its home games at Snapdragon Stadium. The Wave began play in the 2022 season as an expansion team.

Contents

The Wave won the NWSL Shield with the league's best record in the 2023 season, the club's first trophy. [1] The club won the NWSL Challenge Cup in its 2024 edition. [2] On March 23, 2024, the club set an NWSL home opener attendance record with 32,066 people in attendance.

History

The team is San Diego's first women's professional soccer team since 2003, when the Women's United Soccer Association folded and forced the San Diego Spirit to disband. [3]

In January 2021, Lisa Baird, the commissioner of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), announced that an expansion team in Sacramento, led by Ron Burkle and in conjunction with Sacramento Republic FC's expansion bid into Major League Soccer, would join the NWSL in 2022. [4] 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. [5] On November 9, it was announced the team would be called Wave Fútbol Club. [6]

2022: Inaugural season

San Diego Wave FC officially began play on March 19, 2022, in the NWSL Challenge Cup against fellow expansion team Angel City FC 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. After defeating the Chicago Red Stars 2–1, the team traveled to Providence Park to play against the Portland Thorns in the semi-finals, losing 2-1 following a Crystal Dunn goal in the final minutes of the game.

2023

In the 2023 season, the Wave continued their winning ways, slightly improving upon their record in 2022 and securing the NWSL Shield 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 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 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. [7]

2024

In the 2024 NWSL Draft, the Wave selected Kennedy Wesley with the 12th pick in the first round and Mya Jones with the 42nd pick in the third round. The Wave had traded away their natural 26th round pick in the second round, 40th pick in the third round, [8] and 54th pick in the fourth round.

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. [9] This represents a large increase in team value from the $2 million Burkle paid just two years previously as an NWSL expansion fee. [10]

On March 15, the Wave won the Challenge Cup 1-0 over 2023 champion NJ/NY Gotham FC with an 88th minute goal from Alex Morgan.

On March 22, one day before their regular season opener, the Wave announced they had signed 16-year-old midfielder Kimmi Ascanio through the NWSL's Under-18 Entry Mechanism. [11]

On March 23, 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. [12]

Colors and crest

Wordmark also used as part of San Diego Wave FC's identity. San Diego Wave FC 2021 wordmark blue.svg
Wordmark also used as part of San Diego Wave FC's identity.

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". [13]

Sponsorship

PeriodKit manufacturerFront sponsorBack sponsorSleeve sponsor
2022 Nike Kaiser Permanente Pechanga Resort Casino Gatorade
2023Think Blue San Diego
Will Perform		 Bud Light
2024 PenFed Credit Union
24 Hour Fitness [14] 		Dexcom

Kit history

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2022 home
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2022-23 away
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2023 home
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2024 home
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2024 away

Stadium

The club began play at Torero Stadium on the campus of the University of San Diego for its inaugural season. It moved to Snapdragon Stadium, located in the Mission Valley campus expansion of San Diego State University, for its last two home games of the 2022 season. [15] The Wave's opener at the new stadium against regional rival and fellow 2022 NWSL entry Angel City FC on September 17 drew a sellout crowd of 32,000, setting a new NWSL single-game attendance record. [16]

Players and staff

Current squad

Last updated on November 7, 2024. [17]

No.Pos.PlayerNation
1 GK Kailen Sheridan (Captain)Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
4 DF Naomi Girma Flag of the United States.svg  United States
5 MF Emily van Egmond Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
6 DF Hanna Lundkvist Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden
7 FW Amirah Ali Flag of the United States.svg  United States
11 FW Jaedyn Shaw Flag of the United States.svg  United States
12 DF Kennedy Wesley Flag of the United States.svg  United States
14 DF Kristen McNabb Flag of the United States.svg  United States
15 FW Makenzy Doniak Flag of the United States.svg  United States
16 DF Kaitlyn Torpey Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
17 MF Kimmi Ascanio Flag of the United States.svg  United States
18 FW Mya Jones Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
19 FW Kyra Carusa Flag of Ireland.svg  Republic of Ireland
20 DF Christen Westphal Flag of the United States.svg  United States
21 MF Savannah McCaskill Flag of the United States.svg  United States
22 GK Hillary Beall Flag of the United States.svg  United States
23 FW Elyse Bennett Flag of the United States.svg  United States
24 MF Danielle Colaprico Flag of the United States.svg  United States
25 FW Melanie Barcenas Flag of the United States.svg  United States
35 GK Morgan Messner Flag of the United States.svg  United States
69 FW Delphine Cascarino Flag of France.svg  France
75 DF Perle Morroni Flag of France.svg  France
77 FW María Sánchez Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico
— FW Trinity Byars Flag of the United States.svg  United States

Coaching staff

As of August 16, 2024. [18] [19]
PositionStaff
Head coachFlag of the United States.svg Landon Donovan (interim)
Development CoachFlag of the United States.svg Jackie Bachteler
Assistant Coach/Head of GoalkeepingFlag of England.svg Louis Hunt
Assistant CoachFlag of England.svg Craig Barclay
Director of Recruitment and AnalyticsFlag of England.svg Chris Loxton

Records

Year-by-year

As of August 29, 2024

SeasonRegular seasonPlayoffs Challenge Cup Avg. attendance
PWDLGFGAPtsPos
2022 2210663221363rd Semi-finals Group stage 8,729
2023 2211473122371st Semi-finals Group stage 20,718
2024 1436512131511th Champions 24,406

Head coaching record

As of August 10th, 2024

Only competitive matches are counted. Includes NWSL regular season, playoffs, and Challenge Cup matches.

All-time San Diego Wave FC coaching stats
NameNationalityFromToWDLGFGAGDWin%
Casey Stoney Flag of England.svg  England July 14, 2021June 24, 2024 6532289482+1264.80
Paul Buckle Flag of England.svg  England June 24, 2024August 15, 202400204-40

Honors

Related Research Articles

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References

  1. ↑ Stone, Chris (October 15, 2023). "San Diego Wave Wins NWSL Shield in Just 2nd Year: No. 1 in Regular Season". Times of San Diego. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Late Morgan header grabs S.D. Challenge Cup win". ESPN.com. March 16, 2024. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
  3. ↑ Zeigler, Mark (June 8, 2021). "Women's pro soccer coming to San Diego in 2022". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Archived from the original on June 8, 2021. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  4. ↑ Kassouf, Jeff (June 8, 2021). "San Diego confirmed as 2022 NWSL expansion market; Ellis to serve as team president". The Equalizer. Archived from the original on November 5, 2021. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  5. ↑ "San Diego To Be Home to NWSL Expansion Team, Led by Jill Ellis as President". NWSL. June 8, 2021. Archived from the original on November 5, 2021. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  6. ↑ "San Diego NWSL new side to be called Wave FC". November 9, 2021. Archived from the original on September 4, 2023. Retrieved September 4, 2023.
  7. ↑ "Girma 1st defender to win U.S. female POTY". ESPN.com. January 11, 2024. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  8. ↑ "NWSL offseason trade tracker: San Diego Wave bring back Sierra Enge, land Elyse Bennett in trades". CBSSports.com. December 20, 2023. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  9. ↑ Linehan, Meg; Staff, The Athletic. "San Diego Wave sold at $120M valuation, an NWSL record". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved May 19, 2024.
  10. ↑ "Source: Wave being sold for NWSL record figure". ESPN.com. March 15, 2024. Retrieved May 19, 2024.
  11. ↑ Emerick, Tyler (March 22, 2024). "San Diego Wave FC Sign U.S. Women's Youth National Team Midfielder Kimmi Ascanio". San Diego Wave Fútbol Club. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
  12. ↑ Emerick, Tyler (March 24, 2024). "San Diego Wave FC Fall to Kansas City Current 2-1 at Snapdragon Stadium". San Diego Wave Fútbol Club. Retrieved March 28, 2024.
  13. ↑ "San Diego Wave FC Unveils Official Team Crest and Colors". www.sandiegowavefc.com (Press release). December 15, 2021. Archived from the original on November 29, 2022. Retrieved April 4, 2022.
  14. ↑ Emerick, Tyler (February 23, 2024). "San Diego Wave FC Announces Extended and Expanded Partnership with 24 Hour Fitness". San Diego Wave Fútbol Club. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
  15. ↑ "NWSL expansion team San Diego Wave FC unveil official crest". CBS Sports. December 15, 2021. Archived from the original on March 11, 2022. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
  16. ↑ "Match Recap: San Diego tops Angel City in front of capacity crowd for first win at Snapdragon Stadium". National Women's Soccer League. September 18, 2022. Archived from the original on May 18, 2023. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
  17. ↑ "Roster". San Diego Wave FC.
  18. ↑ "Coaching Staff". San Diego Wave FC. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
  19. ↑ "San Diego Wave name Landon Donovan interim coach". San Diego Wave FC. August 16, 2024. Retrieved August 16, 2024.
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