Over the years many Americans have made the long trip across the Atlantic to star in the WSL. Those arrivals on UK shores from the "Land of the Free" and the "Home of the Brave" have tended to leave no shortage of memorable moments behind them.
From Alex Morgan to Sam Mewis and Tobin Heath, fans of the WSL have been treated to some of the greats of the women’s game from the USA.
Luckily for us avid WSL fans, we will again be treated to more this season, and to help you keep tabs we have compiled a list of US stars to look out for in the new campaign.
Six Americans set to star in the WSL this season
Emily Fox — Arsenal
The only member of Emma Hayes’ gold-medal winning side playing in the WSL, Fox is embarking on her first full season as an Arsenal player after signing for the Gunners in January.
Fox was exceptionally impressive in her first six months with Arsenal. She ranked in the 99th percentile for progressive passes from full-back in the WSL last season and ranked consistently above the 90th percentile for attacking statistics from full-back. Her consistency, power in defence and attack complimented by her ice-cool delivery have endeared her to the Arsenal faithful.
This season is a vital one for head coach Jonas Eidevall, beginning his fourth campaign at Arsenal. The expectation will be that his side win either the league or the UEFA Women’s Champions League and Fox is a vital cog in the machine that might just help him to reach those heights.
Phallon Tullis-Joyce — Manchester United
With the departure this summer of Manchester United’s long-term number one and FIFA’s best goalkeeper in the world for two years running, Mary Earps, there are some mighty big gloves to fill this season. The onus will be on Phallon Tullis-Joyce to make those gloves fit and her manager has no doubt that she can. Marc Skinner remarked recently that:
"Phallon is the best shot-stopper I have ever worked with in my life.”
High praise for the goalkeeper, originally hailing from New York.
Tullis-Joyce did not get much game time last season but has pedigree from prior spells at Stade de Reims and Seattle Reign, the latter of which she enjoyed a couple of seasons as number one goalkeeper and helped Reign to lift the NWSL Shield in 2022.
In one of the most telling stats about that shield-winning season at Reign, her post shot expected goals minus goals allowed was +6.1, meaning she made a real difference for her side. Given that Earps’ same statistic was -0.3 last season, perhaps Tullis-Joyce can help the Red Devils feel the loss of their talismanic star a little less keenly.
Katie Stengel — Crystal Palace
Where Katie Stengel goes success tends to follow. Stengel helped NJ/NY Gotham to an historic NWSL title last season and scored the winner against Portland Thorns in the playoff semifinal. There was rumored interest in Stengel in the US and beyond this summer, but it was Crystal Palace who secured the permanent transfer on the final day of the transfer window.
The experienced former Liverpool striker has succeeded with a newly promoted side in the WSL before. Her brace against Chelsea on the first day of the season in 2022/23 helped Liverpool to a famous win in their first match back in the top flight after two years away. With Crystal Palace star striker Elise Hughes — top scorer in the WSL Championship last season — ruled out for the foreseeable after tearing her ACL, Stengel is likely to find opportunities aplenty at the South London club.
Catarina Macario — Chelsea
The Chelsea attacker has had rotten luck with injuries and would have joined compatriot Fox in the US Olympic squad if not for a knee problem scuppering her chances .
In just eight league games for Chelsea last term, she registered six goal involvements and the striker ranked in the 99th percentile for shot-creating actions per 90 minutes and for progressive passes received. These stats go some way towards understanding why Macario is such an impressive player, demonstrating as they do her understanding of space, her vision and her ability to use both to expose an opponent’s weaknesses.
Macario is no stranger to performing on the biggest stage. While at Lyon she scored in the Champions League final and her side went on to lift the trophy in 2021.
This season feels like hers to flourish in, reunited with former Lyon head coach Sonia Bompastor at Chelsea, and picked up her first WSL goal of the season against Crystal Palace on Friday night. With a little luck the Brazilian-born USA star will be able to showcase just why she is a joyful player to behold.
Madison Haley — Brighton and Hove Albion
Daughter of NFL Hall of Famer Charles Haley, Madison Haley chose to pursue a career in the other 'football.'
Haley enjoyed a positive if not extraordinary first season on the south coast of England. The Texan arrived with a big reputation having excelled at Sydney FC. She had 15 goal contributions in 15 matches and had just scored twice for Sydney FC in their A-League Grand final victory over Western United, earning the player of the match award in the process.
Haley was gradually introduced into the Brighton side last season and will be hoping for more minutes in this. She will face more competition for her spot this year with high-profile arrivals such as Nikita Parris, Michelle Agyeman and Fran Kirby all joining the Seagulls for the new season.
Haley is likely to relish the competition as someone brought up with sporting success and after having had a year to acclimatise to life in Brighton she can only be in a better position to kick on.
Kirstie Mewis — West Ham United
Sister of Sam Mewis, Kirstie's career in the WSL so far has not quite gone to plan in the same way her sibling's did when she joined Manchester City in 2020 and lifted the FA Cup.
Kirstie Mewis has struggled for a few years through injuries but has shown incredible spirit coming out the other side on more than one occasion: making the USA roster for the 2023 World Cup and winning the NWSL playoffs with NJ/NY Gotham.
In the playoff semifinal, it was Mewis’ pass that set up Katie Stengel to fire Gotham into the final.
After signing for West Ham in January, Mewis was only able to feature three times for the club due to persistent injury issues but anyone who has seen Mewis play in her distinguished career so far will be fully aware of the impact she can have.
If she is able to stay fit for West Ham this season she could prove to be the difference between the Hammers staying in the division or being relegated to the WSL Championship.
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