NWSL Season Begins with 18 UCLA Alumnae on Team Rosters
March 22, 2022 | Women's Soccer
Among the Bruin players in the league are 2021 graduates and OL Reign teammates Olivia Athens and Marley Canales and eight members of UCLA's 2013 NCAA Championship team – Sarah Woldmoe, Sam Mewis, Caprice Dydasco, Katelyn Rowland, Taylor Smith, Darian Jenkins, Megan Montefusco and Abby Dahlkemper.
The Bruins are represented on eight teams, including four on Orlando (Jenkins, Montefusco, Sydney Leroux and Viviana Villacorta), and three each on NJ/NY Gotham FC (Dydasco, Delanie Sheehan and McCall Zerboni) and OL Reign (Athens, Canales and Lu Barnes). UCLA has two players each on Kansas City (Mewis, Hailie Mace), North Carolina (Rowland, Smith), and Washington (Karina Rodriguez and Ashley Sanchez). Dahlkemper is the lone Bruin on either of the two new California teams, signing as San Diego's first player. Woldmoe is on the Chicago Red Stars' roster but on maternity leave.
UCLA is also represented in the league by the Chicago's Mal Pugh, who played one spring season at UCLA, and three former Bruin coaches on the Orlando Pride side – head coach Amanda Cromwell and assistant coaches Sam Greene and Aline Reis. Another former UCLA head coach – Jill Ellis – is the President of San Diego Wave FC, and Angel City FC's ownership includes former UCLA coaches Joy Fawcett, Shannon MacMillan and Saskia Webber and UCLA soccer alumni Lauren Holiday and Cobi Jones.
2022 Opening Day NWSL Rosters
Chicago Red Stars – Sarah Woldmoe (2011-14)
Kansas City Current – Hailie Mace (2015-18), Sam Mewis (2011-14)
NJ/NY Gotham FC – Caprice Dydasco (2011-14), Delanie Sheehan (2017-20), McCall Zerboni (2005-08)
North Carolina Courage – Katelyn Rowland (2011-14), Taylor Smith (2012-15)
OL Reign – Olivia Athens (2007-21), Lu Barnes (2007-10), Marley Canales (2007-21)
Orlando Pride - Darian Jenkins (2013-16), Sydney Leroux (2008-11), Megan Montefusco (2011-14), Viviana Villacorta (2017-20)
San Diego Wave FC – Abby Dahlkemper (2011-14)
Washington Spirit – Karina Rodriguez (2017-20), Ashley Sanchez (2017-19)
To view the NWSL schedule, click here.
