San Diego Wave 2026 Season Preview: Position-by-Position Roster Breakdown

With the NWSL season just days away, the San Diego Wave are putting the finishing touches on a roster that looks a little different from the one that took the field last year.

The core identity of the team still feels familiar. Head coach Jonas Eidevall's possession-heavy system remains intact after San Diego led the league in possession last season. But several key departures, including longtime goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan and attacker Delphine Cascarino, mean this year's squad will have to find its footing quickly.

A mix of returning players, promising young talent, and a handful of new signings will define how the Wave approach 2026. Here's how the roster stacks up heading into opening weekend.

Goalkeepers

Lost: Kailen Sheridan

Current: DiDi Haracic

Gained: Luisa Agudelo, Leah Freeman

There may not be a bigger storyline surrounding the Wave this season than the goalkeeper situation.

For years, Kailen Sheridan was the backbone of the club. Her departure leaves a massive gap, both in leadership and in pure shot-stopping ability.

The Early Favorite in Goal

Right now, DiDi Haracic appears to be the early frontrunner to start in goal. She got the nod in both preseason matches at the Coachella Valley Invitational, which suggests the coaching staff trusts her experience to begin the season. That said, her preseason performances were a little shaky, particularly in the second match, and the position still feels far from settled.

Behind her, two new arrivals will be pushing for minutes.

New Faces in the Goalkeeper Room

Luisa Agudelo is perhaps the most intriguing of the group. The young Colombian goalkeeper just arrived in San Diego and will wear the No. 1 jersey. She also arrives with an impressive international résumé at the youth level. At the 2026 CONMEBOL Sub-20 Femenina tournament, Agudelo was the only goalkeeper who did not concede a goal across four rounds. For a player this young, that's a remarkable stat line.

Leah Freeman is the other new addition. While she is largely untested at the professional level, her college career suggests serious potential. Freeman won both ACC Goalkeeper of the Year and Pac-12 Goalkeeper of the Year during her collegiate career, and was the only player to win that award in two conferences.

For now, the expectation is that Haracic will start the season between the posts. But this feels like a position battle that could evolve as the year progresses. If Agudelo adapts quickly to the professional game, she could challenge for the starting role sooner rather than later.

Defenders

Lost: Quincy McMahon, Sintia Cabezas

Current: Kennedy Wesley, Trinity Armstrong (injured), Kristen McNabb, Daniela Arias, Nya Harrison, Perle Morroni, Hanna Lundkvist

Gained: Mimi Van Zanten, Kiki Pickett

The defensive group might be the most concerning area of the roster right now.

At the moment, the Wave only have six healthy defenders available: Wesley, McNabb, Arias, Pickett, Morroni, and Harrison. That is a very thin rotation for a team about to embark on a 30-game regular season, especially with Trinity Armstrong currently sidelined after knee surgery.

A Thin Center Back Group

Looking specifically at the center backs, there are only three available options: Wesley, McNabb, and Arias. Wesley and McNabb are expected to anchor the starting pairing to begin the year, with Arias serving as the primary backup.

Options on the Outside

On the outside, Pickett, Morroni, and Harrison round out the fullback group. Pickett has already seen time at right back in preseason, filling the role vacated this offseason. Morroni remains a key part of the attack on the left side, often pushing high up the pitch to support the offense.

The Wave also brought in Mimi Van Zanten from Florida State, but she did not see time during the preseason tournament. That could mean the coaching staff is managing her fitness or allowing her time to get fully back to form before adding her to the rotation. If that's the case, it makes sense long term, but it also underscores how thin the defensive depth looks right now.

With the NWSL expanding to a 30-game regular season, depth on defense becomes even more critical. Even if Armstrong and Van Zanten are expected to contribute soon, the Wave may still need reinforcements before the transfer window closes on March 24. Six defenders simply is not enough to comfortably make it through a full season.

Midfielders

Lost: Savannah McCaskill

Current: Kimmi Ascanio, Kenza Dali, Gia Corley, Laurina Fazer

Gained: Lia Godfrey, Tatum Wynalda (short-term contract)

Despite losing Savannah McCaskill, the midfield still looks like one of the most stable areas of the roster.

Kenza Dali remains the engine of the team, orchestrating possession and controlling the tempo of matches. Alongside her, Gia Corley continues to provide creativity and forward movement in the attack.

New Faces in the Midfield

Two new faces could also make an impact this season.

Lia Godfrey looked comfortable during the Coachella Valley Invitational, starting both preseason matches. Her style of play fits naturally into the Wave's possession-heavy system, which mirrors the approach she played in at the University of Virginia. Her energy and ability to move the ball quickly could make her a valuable rotational option throughout the season, and she could even earn starts depending on the formation.

Tatum Wynalda also impressed in limited preseason minutes. Subbed in during both matches, she showed strong defensive awareness while also making creative runs and passes in transition. Because she is on a short-term contract and still early in her professional career, she will likely serve as a depth option off the bench for now.

Replacing McCaskill at Defensive Midfield

One of the bigger tactical questions revolves around the defensive midfield role that McCaskill filled last season.

Laurina Fazer stepped into that role late last year after McCaskill's injury, and she appears to be the primary candidate to take over the position full time. However, her style differs slightly from McCaskill's.

McCaskill was more involved in ball progression and attacking buildup, frequently drawing fouls and pushing forward into shooting positions. Fazer, on the other hand, plays more as a disruptor. She thrives in physical duels and focuses on breaking up opposing attacks, though she tends to commit more fouls and contributes less in buildup play.

That difference could subtly change the way the Wave's midfield operates this season. Fazer may provide stronger defensive coverage, but the team may rely more heavily on Dali and Corley to carry the ball forward.

Forwards

Lost: Kyra Carusa, Mya Jones, Chiamaka Okwuchukwu, Makenzy Robbe, Delphine Cascarino

Current: Melanie Barcenas, Adriana Leon, Trinity Byars, Dudinha

Gained: Ludmila, Gabi Portilho

If there is one area where the Wave clearly tried to improve this offseason, it's the attack.

Last year, San Diego controlled possession better than almost anyone in the league, but struggled to convert that control into goals. The front line created plenty of opportunities but lacked a consistent finishing presence in the final third.

Brazilian Firepower Up Front

Enter Ludmila.

The Brazilian forward arrived after a high-profile move from Chicago and immediately looked dangerous during preseason. She and Dudinha showed natural chemistry during the Coachella Valley Invitational, linking up well with aggressive runs and quick passing combinations. Both players thrive in a high-pressure attacking system, and their physical style of play could give defenses plenty of problems this season.

Gabi Portilho is another exciting addition, though she only recently arrived in San Diego. Because of that, she may not feature in the season opener, but fans should expect some experimentation with the attacking setup as she integrates into the squad. If she slots into the starting lineup, the Wave could roll out an all-Brazilian front three of Portilho, Dudinha, and Ludmila. The chemistry and attacking flair that trio could bring would be incredibly fun to watch, and it has the potential to become one of the most dynamic forward lines the club has fielded in years.

Questions Around the Rest of the Attack

There is also plenty of curiosity surrounding Trinity Byars. After spending most of last season rehabbing her ACL, she finally has the opportunity to show what she can do at the professional level. Her scoring record in college suggests she could develop into the kind of striker the Wave have been missing.

Then there is the Adriana Leon question.

Leon has yet to appear during preseason and was not called up for Canada's SheBelieves Cup roster, which raises some uncertainty about her role with the team this year. If she returns to the lineup, she could still provide valuable depth on the wing, but for now her place in the attacking rotation remains unclear.

Final Thoughts

The 2026 Wave roster feels like a team still in transition.

The midfield remains strong, and the attack has the potential to be significantly more dangerous than it was last year. If the chemistry between Dudinha, Ludmila, and the rest of the forward group develops quickly, San Diego could finally solve the finishing issues that plagued them in 2025.

At the same time, there are legitimate concerns on the defensive side of the ball. The goalkeeper situation is unsettled, and the back line is dangerously thin heading into a longer season.

Still, if Eidevall's possession system continues to dominate the midfield and the new attackers deliver in the final third, the Wave should remain firmly in the playoff conversation.

The real question is whether this version of the roster can take the next step forward, or whether the growing pains of a transitioning squad will hold them back.

With kickoff just around the corner, we are about to find out.