The offseason before the 2026 NWSL season, and the first few weeks of the season itself, were defined by some splashy, surprising player movement. Now, seven weeks in, we’re checking back in on some of these marquee trades. Which ones are already paying dividends? And which still need to demonstrate they were worth it?
Great moves:
Claire Hutton: Kansas City Current → Bay FC
Bay may actually be the winner of the three-way trade between the Kansas City Current and the Washington Spirit, which also saw Bethune change clubs. With Hutton, Bay found a long term midfielder who brings both composure and leadership — it’s easy to forget she is only 20 years old.
Bay currently sits in 10th place; Hutton is not able to transform this team overnight, nor is she expected to. But in terms of playing the long game, Bay made a smart move here, strengthening their midfield for seasons to come.
Delanie Sheehan and Yazmeen Ryan: Houston Dash → Denver Summit
Expansion teams often struggle in two specific ways — they pick players who are past their prime, or they solely focus on building for the future, dismissing their chances at even decency in their first season. Denver avoided both of those mistakes by securing Sheehan and Ryan a week into the season. Sheehan’s midfield stability combined with Ryan’s threatening offense have helped make Denver feel like a real, full team in their inaugural season. This was smart roster-building if we’ve ever seen it.
Narumi Miura: Washington Spirit → Utah Royals
Narumi’s move to the Mountain West might be the most underrated trade of the season. Her control, rhythm and composure have been a huge part of why Utah is having what could well be a true breakout season. Washington may have overlooked this one; losing both Bethune and Narumi felt like an oversight as the Spirit got off to a slow 2026 start. Utah is suddenly a seriously formidable opponent — like Hutton, this one is very likely to age well.
Good moves:
Croix Bethune: Washington Spirit → Kansas City Current
This was probably the most unexpected trade of the offseason. The Current’s vision was apparent enough, as they swapped a pure holding midfielder in Claire Hutton for a higher attacker in Bethune, who could break a game open when Temwa Chawinga was occupied by defenses. What was more unclear was what Washington was gaining in the trade — Bethune was a Spirit fan favorite and generated boatloads of offense for the side. But Bethune wanted a new opportunity, and the Current met the moment.
It’s been a bit of a slow start for Bethune in Kansas City, but she (alongside the rest of her team) seems to have found a rhythm and is playing with more composure these days. The trade, however, still feels… weird. Bethune fit so well in Washington, and Kansas City looks oceans away from their 2025 form. But if she can help turn around the Current’s lackluster start to the season and, ideally, guide them to a championship, the payoff will have been more than worth it.
Gabi Portilho: NJ/NY Gotham FC → San Diego Wave
Gotham, honestly, had too much attacking depth — someone had to go. That one was Portilho, and San Diego has been an okay landing spot for her so far. She’s a creative player known for her improvisational style and her skills in 1-1 moments. But, she can also become invisible in games. Portilho fits in well in San Diego, but we’re still awaiting a “wow” moment that really demonstrates her impact.
Nichelle Prince: Kansas City Current → Boston Legacy
Prince was a capital-G good acquisition for Boston. She brings experience and professionalism to the NWSL, having seen her fair share of club and international competitions, and she’s been able to put that wisdom to use in her role as captain. But, she’s not quite the dynamic, dashing player she once was with Houston. She’s a good asset, but she can’t carry the attack. Useful? Yes. Franchise-changing? Perhaps not.
Too early to tell:
Jordyn Huitema: Seattle Reign → Chicago Stars
The best way to describe Huitema’s move halfway across the country so far is: high risk, uncertain reward. For years, she has had flashes of greatness, but she has never been a consistent player. In Chicago, she’s played in six matches and scored two goals — somewhat hopeful numbers, but too small sample size to know for sure.
It’s possible that Seattle became an environment where she plateaued, and she thought the new environment of Chicago would be a better fit. But, if what she needs is an infrastructure of players and coaches who can really unlock her and help her find consistency, second-to-last-place Chicago might not be that club.
Listen now to The IX Sports Podcast and Women’s Sports Daily
We are excited to announce the launch of TWO new podcasts for all the women’s sports fans out there looking for a daily dose of women’s sports news and analysis. Stream on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or anywhere you listen to podcasts, and make sure to subscribe!