U.S. Star Catarina Macario Joins San Diego Wave

The 24-year-old forward returns home on a record-breaking contract after stints in Europe.

Mar. 27, 2026 at 2:11pm

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The San Diego Wave have acquired U.S. women's national team forward Catarina Macario from English club Chelsea. Macario, who was born in Brazil but moved to San Diego as a child, signed a deal through the 2030 season worth a reported $8 million, one of the biggest contracts in NWSL history. The Wave utilized the league's High Impact Player rule to exceed the salary cap and bring Macario back to her hometown.

Why it matters

Macario is considered one of the top young talents in women's soccer, having won two NCAA championships at Stanford and earning the MAC Hermann Trophy as the nation's best player twice. Her return to San Diego is a major coup for the Wave as they look to build a championship contender and raise the profile of the NWSL.

The details

Macario played two seasons with French club Lyon and one with Chelsea before deciding to come back to the United States and join the Wave. She has 16 goals in 29 appearances for the U.S. women's national team and scored 8 goals in 10 matches for the USWNT last year.

  • Macario signed a deal through the 2030 season.
  • The Wave announced Macario's signing on March 27, 2026.

The players

Catarina Macario

A 24-year-old forward who was born in Brazil but moved to San Diego as a child, and is considered one of the top young talents in women's soccer.

Camille Ashton

The sporting director and general manager of the San Diego Wave.

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What they’re saying

“This city has played such an important role in my journey, and the opportunity to come back and represent it means a lot to me.”

— Catarina Macario

“Cat is a world-class player who has consistently performed at the highest levels of the game. She is an intelligent, technical and creative attacker with exceptional vision and composure in the final third. Her ability to unlock defenses and influence matches in multiple ways will further strengthen an already strong foundation as we continue building toward championship success.”

— Camille Ashton, Sporting Director and General Manager, San Diego Wave

What’s next

The Wave will hold a news conference on Friday morning to formally introduce Macario to the local media and fans.

The takeaway

Macario's homecoming to San Diego represents a major investment by the Wave in building a championship-caliber team and raising the profile of the NWSL. Her signing is a significant coup for the league as it continues to attract top global talent.