The NWSL saw another major move on Tuesday, as the San Diego Wave acquired Brazil international Ludmila from the Chicago Stars in a trade worth up to $1 million, signing the standout attacker through the 2028 season.
The Stars received $800,000 in transfer funds for the 31-year-old striker, plus an estimated $200,000 in conditional incentives — making Ludmila's trade one of the most lucrative intraleague deals in NWSL history.
"I scored my first NWSL goal against San Diego and [it] always was a team I admired. I loved the supporters, the energy of the team, and the vibes of the city when I visited. I'm very happy to be part of this Club's history," Ludmila said in the Wave's Thursday statement. "I'm very excited to show my football in front of all the supporters and score many goals in these colors."
Second only to Jaedyn Shaw's $1.25 million transfer from the North Carolina Courage to Gotham FC last September, this week's Ludmila transaction underlines the soaring price tags to roster — and retain — top talent.
"[Ludmila's] versatility allows her to operate in multiple attacking roles, giving our coaches more tactical options in different game situations," said Wave GM Camille Ashton. "We're confident she will be a valuable asset to the Club's success moving forward."
The signing of Ludmila comes as news emerges that San Diego Wave star Delphine Cascarino is on the brink of exiting the league entirely, with L'Équipe reporting on Tuesday that the French forward is closing in on a deal to join WSL debutants, the London City Lionesses.
The soccer season's biggest showdown has finally arrived, as the No. 2 Washington Spirit and No. 8 Gotham FC take the pitch for Saturday's 2025 NWSL Championship match in San Jose.
Both teams enter the final steeped in postseason experience, with the Spirit winning their first title in 2021 before falling just short of a second in 2024, while Gotham lifted their first trophy in 2023.
"It feels like another NWSL game — we have competitive people on both sides," Gotham forward Midge Purce told JWS this week. "And it's fun. Stakes are high."
Despite entering as the postseason's No. 8 seed, Gotham insists they're far from underdogs, while the Spirit also view Saturday's matchup as a heavyweight bout.
"Both teams, we have different players but a similar idea — we all want to be protagonists," said Washington manager Adrián González. "Both teams want to win the ball as quick as possible. We love pressing high. I think it's going to be a good game for the fans."
"It's two teams that are very good tactically, two teams that are going to study how to counterpart each other," agreed Gotham head coach Juan Carlos Amorós. "Then it's going to be those moments of brilliance — it could be set pieces — certain moments where players take responsibility."
How to watch the 2025 NWSL Championship
The 2025 NWSL season comes down to Saturday's final between No. 8 Gotham FC and the No. 2 Washington Spirit.
This year's championship match kicks off from San Jose at 8 PM ET, with live coverage airing on CBS.