Exclusive: Jenna Nighswonger Talks Bay FC Move, Arsenal Exit and USWNT Hopes
Professional soccer player Jenna Nighswonger has signed with Bay FC through 2028 after a stint with Arsenal in the WSL. The move marks a return to the NWSL for the former Rookie of the Year.
Why it matters
High-profile player transfers reflect the increasing investment and growth of the NWSL as a competitive global league.
Jenna Nighswonger was a revelation in her rookie year. The 2023 season saw the Florida State midfielder drafted fourth overall by Gotham FC. There, she would not only help her team to its first NWSL championship , but win Rookie of the Year—all while converting to fullback, a position she had never played.
But that wasn’t challenging enough for the Huntington Beach, Calif. native. At the conclusion of the 2024 season, Nighswonger was looking to push herself even more, so she signed with WSL side Arsenal in 2025 .
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