Heaps of grievances, and a good fit in DC | Talkin' NWSL

The NWSL preseason is here, but the league still lands at a very contentious time as players report to training camp.

The NWSL finds itself in an odd position. Still a top league capable of attracting top veteran talents like Lindsey Heaps and top up-and-coming talents like 18-year-old Paraguay international Claudia Martínez.

However, as the NWSLPA filed a second grievance against the league this offseason, there’s an uneasiness that continues to hang over the offseason, and that feeling won’t easily dissipate even if Trinity Rodman’s contract situation is resolved. 

Alright, let’s talk about some of the bigger stories around the league.

Lindsey Heaps in Denver

Big news out of Denver this week as the USWNT captain will be joining her hometown expansion club following the completion of the European season.

The NWSL needed a win with Sam Coffey’s transfer to Manchester City finalized. While a 31-year-old Heaps returning to the league doesn’t have the same juice as some of the players going the other way, it is some much-needed momentum while the NWSL brain trust attempts to find a solution that allows clubs to spend while keeping the less ambitious owners satisfied. 

Heaps has been looking for the right time to return to the US following her four-year stint with OL Lyonnes. During that time, Heaps was crucial in OL’s Champions League title in 2022, and has been an important midfield drive for a club that expects to win Ligue 1 every season. Despite her, at times, frustrating moments with the national team, Heaps has consistently been one of the best midfielders in Europe, and she’ll arrive in Denver during a time when they’ll need a veteran midfield presence to help develop a growing roster of young future stars. 

“I thought to myself, ‘At some point, I have to play for that club,’” Heaps said in the Summit's introductory media call. “I was given so many opportunities when I was young in Colorado – so many training sessions, so much involvement in the game, and in Colorado, I just want to give back to the state, to the community, to the fans there that show up to all of our national team games as well.”

Heaps will be signed through the 2029 season, a deal that takes her through Denver’s expected stadium opener in 2028. The Summit will play its 2026 home opener at Mile High and two matches at the Rapids’ DICK’S Sporting Goods Park before officially moving into its temporary 12,000-seat stadium within its Centennial, Colorado, training complex. 

After a slow start – compared to how quickly Boston’s roster came together – Denver is starting to make some serious moves. Heaps joins MAC Hermann Award winner Jasmine Aikey and USYNT standout Ayo Oke, along with NWSL veterans like Carson Pickett and Janine Sonis. 

It may take time. Heaps won’t arrive in Denver until the 2nd half of the season. There are still holes in the depth chart, and it’s a young roster that might take some time to adjust to the pace of the league, but it’s a club that should be competitive by year two. 

Denver wants to be ambitious. Summit Sporting Director Curt Johnson hinted at more spending on the horizon, or at least an intent to spend to the cap and utilize the newly established HIP mechanism. However… there’s a problem with that plan.

The NWSLPA officially filed its 2nd grievance of the offseason against the league this offseason. This time, the PA is targeting the league’s implementation of the HIP mechanism, alleging that the mechanism violates the CBA and US labor laws. 

The PA’s grievance stems from the league taking action on implementing the rule vs coming back to the bargaining table and negotiating with the PA on how to effectively raise the cap. 

The players would like to see a flat cap raise instead of a convoluted mechanism that allows teams to spend over the cap on certain players as long as they fit certain criteria. However, the league has stood firm in its position, stating that it has the freedom under the CBA to adjust roster rules and mechanisms.

The grievance will rely on an independent arbitrator’s interpretation of the CBA and whether the HIP mechanism is a simple adjustment to current roster rules or if it was the league’s attempt to adjust the cap while controlling what players could benefit from the potential increase in spending. 

It is unlikely that the grievance will be settled before the season kicks off in under two months. The league was granted an extension on the grievance filed on behalf of Trinity Rodman to kick off the offseason, meaning that clubs will need to be careful on how they plan their summer business when the mechanism was originally planned to hit the books. 

Delphine Cascarino leaves for London City… on a free?

Cascarino was a coup for a desperately rebuilding San Diego Wave last offseason. Along with Kanza Dali, the French winger helped the Wave rebuild a competitive roster following the departures of Jayden Shaw and Naomi Girma. 

The NWSL MVP finalist originally signed through 2026 with an option for 2027, but according to the BBC’s Emma Sanders, Cascarino’s contract contained a clause that would allow her to terminate her contract if a European club showed interest this offseason. 

Obviously, the Wave took the trade-off knowing that Cascarino could leave on her own terms at any point over the back half of the season. Given the circumstances of when Cascarino signed with the Wave, amidst a club sale and general unease around the environment cultivated by then team president Jill Ellis – more on that in a moment.

Cascarino signed a three and a half year deal with Michele Kang's London City Lionesses.

So, the French international made the most of her time in San Diego, but now leaves a club that will be looking to replace her output without the additional funds that a transfer could have allowed. 

Cascarino ended 2025 with 11 goal contributions, 0.21 xA per 90, and very strong defensive numbers. Knowing that Cascarino was on her way out, the Wave traded for Chicago Stars striker Ludmilla to help share the load with a returning Trinity Byars. That move could make the Wave better if Byars is the player everyone thought she would be after college.  

Ludmilla can be an upgrade from Cascarino if she can bring the success she found in Chicago last season. The Brazilian finished 2025 in the top five of both goals and goal contributions and 19th in goals added. How that looks in Eidevall’s system remains to be seen, but there’s a reason the Wave were willing to spend at least $800,000 on the 31-year-old. 

However, it’s a bad sign for a San Diego Wave side that saw another mass exodus for the club this offseason in the departures of Kailen Sheriden, Hanna Lundkvist, and Sav McCaskill. 

Away from the pitch, it’s been a long slide for the Wave since their early success, a symptom of the toxic environment cultivated by former President Jill Ellis, and clearly spelled out in a lawsuit filed by six former Wave employees against the Wave and NWSL in 2024. 

The lawsuit alleges that Ellis cultivated a toxic environment throughout the club, appointed employees to leadership roles despite previous allegations, and failed to investigate allegations of harassment, racism, discrimination, and sexual assault within the organization. 

The lawsuit itself is currently scheduled for a jury trial in August – read the full complaint here.

Ellis was never held accountable. She left the club to become a Chief Football Officer at FIFA alongside Arsene Wenger, and the environment she cultivated – and the employees she empowered – weren’t dealt with properly. New owners Lauren Leichtman and Arthur Levine even sued Ellis after she left for FIFA, not because of her actions at the club, mind you, but because she “misrepresented” her intentions to remain with the club following the sale. 

Meanwhile, some of the higher-ups named in the lawsuit are still working at the club, and until a new President is named, it’s hard to see anyone properly addressing the rot. 

The club still attracts talent on the pitch, and can still retain top players – such as Dali – but the handling of Cascarino’s departure has been yet another odd moment for the club. 

GM and Sporting Director Camille Ashton has some work to do as preseason kicks off in earnest. Can they finally fix the culture? Or will that only come after a judicial ruling?

Julie Uhrman is stepping down as CEO of Angel City FC.

According to The Athletic, ACFC CEO Julie Urman is stepping down at the end of March and moving into a role as the club’s principal advisor. 

A change in the Angel City leadership structure has been needed. It’s been clear that the club had to rethink it's organizational structure to be able to be more successful on the field. The startup philosophy may work in business – and not even all businesses – but it certainly doesn’t result in a successful sporting structure. ACFC has only made the playoffs once in four years despite its ambitions and clear willingness to spend. The club simply hasn’t spent wisely to this point. 

That may change with how the club has moved this offseason. 

Ary Borges should be a great fit in LA, the extension to Riley Tiernan looks great, and the additions of rookie Taylor Suarez, along with USWNT defender Emily Sams has the club looking strong heading into preseason. 

It’s a roster that still needs some work, but this shouldn’t be a team that finishes 12th and 11th in subsequent seasons.

ACFC has yet to announce how it will replace Uhrman, but ACFC supporters will be hoping for a name with experience running a successful soccer club. 

What to expect from Claudia Martínez in DC?

The Spirit isn’t letting the Rodman contract holdup stop them from further strengthening the roster in signing young, promising Paraguayan international Claudia Martínez from C.D. Olimpia. Martinez arrives on a $950,000 fee, according to ESPN, with Olimpia retaining a percentage of future transfer fees. 

Martínez was the co-leading scorer as a 17-year-old during last fall’s Copa America, outshining the likes of Kerolin and Linda Caicedo. 

In DC, she’ll join an attack that is brimming with talent even as the Rodman situation looms large. The Spirit ranked second in goals scored last season with both Gift Monday and Rodman ranking in the top five of goals added. Martínez won’t need to contribute immediately, but she has the skillset that should immediately gel with how Adrian Gonzalez wants the spirit to attack. 

It might take time to find consistency within the physicality, speed, and travel demands of the NWSL, but she’ll be crucial depth for a club that has to be tired of watching teams lift the NWSL Championship. 

Who needs a manager anyways?

There are still, officially, two managerial openings as players officially report for preseason this week. The opening in North Carolina was reportedly filled by BK Hacken manager Mak Lind according to Swedish media in December. However, the Courage have yet to announce Lind, even as Hacken have announced his replacement, and players have reported to camp. 

Lind, 37, secured Häcken’s second Damallsvenskan title after four straight runners-up finishes to Rosengard and Hammarby. Lind’s Hacken went undefeated through this fall’s Europa league and dispatched Inter Milan to move into the quarterfinals. 

Meanwhile, the Portland Thorns are carrying their coaching search into the season after firing Rob Gale following last season’s fourth place finish. Former Houston Dash interim manager Sarah Lowdon will serve as interim in Portland during a crucial preseason where they much find a way without Sam Coffey – the return of Sophia Wilson helps. 

Portland were not able to close on a manager over the offseason, telling ESPN’s Jeff Kassouf, “We are taking a thoughtful and intentional approach to our head coach search. This is an important decision for the club and we are committed to conducting a thorough process that aligns with our values and long term vision.”

NWSL clubs have seemingly forgotten how to coduct a normal coaching search.

Thanks for reading this week, heading into the weekend I’ll have a deep dive on the 14 NWSL rookie classes so far, a check in with MLS, and some St. Louis CITY SC analysis breaking down the past week of news. Subscribe to support my work. Thank you.