Link: https://defector.com/the-nwsl-offseason-put-important-new-faces-in-new-places

In less than two weeks, a new season of the NWSL kicks off. If that causes you to do a double take—Didn’t Rose Lavelle just score the championship game-winner, like, last week?—you’re not alone. The championship match was followed immediately by a December full of the NWSL’s favorite pastime: controversy. In this case, it was a very public battle over the fate of Washington Spirit superstar Trinity Rodman. The free agent’s choice to remain with the Spirit, announced on Jan. 22, was no doubt the most followed storyline of the offseason and has enormous consequences for the league’s future roster-building and labor relations, but a player staying with her team doesn’t exactly shake up the league. Good thing general managers across the country were hard at work, wheeling and dealing to improve their clubs’ chances in the new season.

Below, I’ve chosen one newcomer to highlight for each team in the league. These are all players who I think can make a real difference for their new clubs. For expansion sides Boston Legacy and Denver Summit, I limited myself to choosing from players who will be playing in the NWSL for the first time. Allez!

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A pretty familiar refrain for Reign fans:

Seattle Reign FC: Sofia Cedeño

Seattle took a similar passive tact in the offseason as their rivals to the south, but considering that the Reign extended the contract of their coach instead of firing her, and that they’re in the midst of an hopeful-looking rebuild, I can give them a pass. This leaves me a bit in the lurch for this blog, however, considering that they’ve only signed two new outfield players: 32-year-old Brittany Ratcliffe and 19-year-old Sofia Cedeño. Since Ratcliffe is a known quantity, let’s focus on the teenager. Cedeño joins a whole bunch of young players who coach Laura Harvey is developing with a steady, patient hand. She actually signed with Seattle after playing with the team as a preseason trialist in 2025, but ultimately they terminated that contract and she ended up signing with the Halifax Tides of the Northern Super League in August. She ended up appearing in 11 games for Halifax, and was called up to U-20 USWNT camp in October (although she’s also indicated interest in playing for Panama, for which she’s also eligible). Cedeño will likely play as an attacking midfielder, and that the club extended her contract through 2028 indicates high expectations. The 10 is a weak spot for the Reign—club original Jess Fishlock’s legs likely won’t let her play 90 minutes all the time—so Cedeño’s got a golden opportunity to play a vital role this year.