The San Diego Wave have parted ways with another one of their original players.
The club traded Christen Westphal to the Houston Dash on Tuesday in exchange for an international roster slot and $14,000 in allocation money. The Wave can receive additional money if Westphal performs well in her first season with Dallas.
“We want to thank Christen for being a part of the Club since the inaugural season,” said San Diego Wave FC Sporting Director and General Manager Camille Ashton. “She was a true competitor during her time here and we wish her the best of luck in her future.”
The Wave acquired Westphal from the Portland Thorns following the 2022 expansion draft. In three seasons with the Wave, Westphal appeared in 80 matches and started 59 of them. She logged 15 matches in her final season with the club.
The Wave’s 2024 season was notable only for its turnover. The Wave went through three coaches — Casey Stoney, Paul Buckle and Landon Donovan — as they missed the National Women’s Soccer League playoffs for the first time in franchise history. Ashton replaced Molly Downtain as general manager, and the Levine-Leichtman family purchased the club from Ron Burkle.
Star striker Alex Morgan retired after announcing she was pregnant with her second child, and the club traded or released three other original of the franchise: Taylor Kornieck (now Flint), Abby Dahlkemper and Sofia Jakobbson. Another original player, Amirah Ali, will not return for 2025. A handful of original Wave players remain, including star defender Naomi Girma and goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan.
The club announced Tuesday that Ali, Elyse Bennett, Danny Colaprico and Morgan Messner are free agents. Kyra Carusa has a 2025 player option that has not yet been triggered. The Wave are “in active discussions” with Hillary Beall about returning in 2025, the club said.
Last week, Wave President Jill Ellis announced she was leaving the franchise for a role with FIFA. San Diego’s new owners expect to announce a new coach in the coming weeks.
