San Diego Wave sign former Chelsea striker Catarina Macario

The 26-year-old U.S. Women's National Team veteran is signed through the 2030 NWSL campaign.

Mar. 27, 2026 at 9:10pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The San Diego Wave announced the signing of former Chelsea striker Catarina Macario on Friday. The 26-year-old U.S. Women's National Team veteran, who was born in Brazil and starred at Stanford, is signed through the 2030 NWSL campaign.

Why it matters

Macario is a highly decorated player, having won back-to-back MAC Hermann trophies as the national player of the year and leading Stanford to two NCAA championships. Her signing with the Wave is a major coup for the NWSL club and a homecoming for the player, who grew up in the San Diego area.

The details

Macario played professionally in France (Lyon, 2021-23) and England (Chelsea, 2023-26) before signing with the Wave. Internationally, she has tallied 16 goals and five assists in 29 appearances with the USWNT since becoming an American citizen in 2020, and she won a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics.

  • Macario signed with the San Diego Wave on March 27, 2026.
  • She is signed through the 2030 NWSL campaign.

The players

Catarina Macario

A 26-year-old U.S. Women's National Team veteran who was born in Brazil and starred at Stanford University, where she won back-to-back MAC Hermann trophies as the national player of the year and led the team to two NCAA championships.

San Diego Wave

The NWSL club that announced the signing of Catarina Macario on Friday.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“It's amazing to see all of (my family's) sacrifices paying off. San Diego means so much to me. It's where I grew up. It's where I became a young woman, where I learned to speak English and made lifelong friends. To be back here and actually represent the city and play for San Diego, it means a lot to me.”

— Catarina Macario

The takeaway

Macario's signing with the San Diego Wave represents a homecoming for the talented striker, who grew up in the area and is now returning to play for her hometown club after successful stints in Europe. Her addition bolsters the Wave's roster and is a significant move for the NWSL club.