San Diego Wave FC Overview
San Diego Wave Fútbol Club is a professional women’s soccer team based in San Diego, California. The club competes in the National Women’s Soccer League, the top tier of women’s professional soccer in the United States, and plays its home matches at Snapdragon Stadium. Founded on June 8, 2021, the Wave began league play in 2022 as an NWSL expansion team and quickly established itself among the league’s most competitive sides.
Within just a few seasons, the club earned major honors, including the NWSL Shield in 2023 as the league’s top regular-season side and the NWSL Challenge Cup in 2024. The Wave are owned by the Levine Leichtman family office, with Lauren Leichtman and Arthur Levine serving as majority owners, and minority investors that now include two-time FIFA Women’s World Cup champion Alex Morgan and NBA All-Star Jimmy Butler. The club is led by president Jill Ellis, general manager Camille Ashton, and head coach Jonas Eidevall, and is recognized for setting league attendance records.
Founding and Organizational Origins
The Wave is San Diego’s first women’s professional soccer team since the San Diego Spirit folded in 2003 following the collapse of the Women’s United Soccer Association. That long absence made the club’s arrival a major moment for the region’s soccer community. In January 2021, NWSL commissioner Lisa Baird announced expansion plans, and on June 8, 2021, the league confirmed San Diego as the home of a new team owned by Ron Burkle, set to begin play in 2022.
On November 9, 2021, the club’s name, Wave Fútbol Club, was unveiled to the public. The early organization was built rapidly to prepare for a competitive launch. Front-office staff, a coaching group led by Casey Stoney, and a roster headlined by star forward Alex Morgan were assembled to give the expansion side a credible foundation.
On December 15, 2021, the team revealed its crest and visual identity, describing the design as a symbol of strength that combines a powerful wave in the rich blues of the Pacific Ocean with the vivid colors of the San Diego horizon. Those colors and imagery have since become central to the club’s brand identity and match-day atmosphere.
Growth Into NWSL Competition
The Wave’s entry into the NWSL was treated as more than a roster project. The club invested in stadium infrastructure, player recruitment, and front-office depth to compete from day one. Early signings, including Alex Morgan, Kailen Sheridan, and Naomi Girma, gave the team a blend of veteran leadership, top-tier goalkeeping, and emerging defensive talent.
Casey Stoney was named the club’s first head coach, building a culture that quickly translated into results. The Wave’s first competitive match was a 1–1 draw against fellow expansion side Angel City FC in the 2022 NWSL Challenge Cup on March 19, 2022, signaling the team’s arrival on the league stage.
San Diego Wave FC Competitive Journey
Across its first four seasons, the Wave moved quickly from expansion newcomer to trophy winner. The club captured the NWSL Shield in only its second year, added a Challenge Cup title in 2024, and consistently ranked among the league’s best-supported franchises, even as it navigated coaching changes and a major ownership transition.
Early Seasons and Development (2022)
The Wave’s inaugural 2022 NWSL regular season began on May 1 and immediately exceeded expectations. San Diego opened with three consecutive wins and spent more than half the campaign at the top of the league table before finishing third and qualifying for the playoffs. In the postseason, the Wave defeated the Chicago Red Stars 2–1 in the quarter-finals before falling 2–1 to the Portland Thorns in the semi-finals on a late Crystal Dunn goal.
The club’s debut year produced an exceptional haul of individual awards. Alex Morgan won the Golden Boot, Kailen Sheridan earned Goalkeeper of the Year, Casey Stoney was named Coach of the Year, and Naomi Girma was recognized as both Defender of the Year and Rookie of the Year. The Wave also set a new NWSL single-game attendance record of 32,000 when they opened Snapdragon Stadium against Angel City FC on September 17, 2022.
Breakthrough in NWSL (2023)
In 2023, the Wave built on their strong debut by slightly improving their regular-season record and securing the NWSL Shield, awarded to the club with the league’s best regular-season mark, with two matches to spare following a win over the Portland Thorns on September 30. The Shield also guaranteed the Wave a bye into the playoff semi-finals.
The club’s run ended in the semi-finals, where OL Reign defeated San Diego 1–0 on a 47th-minute goal from Veronica Latsko, marking the second straight year the Wave were eliminated at the same stage. Defender Naomi Girma was named U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year for her performances with both the Wave and the U.S. women’s national team, underscoring the club’s growing reputation for developing elite talent.
Modern Program and Current Direction (2024–Present)
The Wave began 2024 by winning the NWSL Challenge Cup 1–0 over NJ/NY Gotham FC on an 88th-minute goal from Alex Morgan, securing the club’s second major trophy. The regular season proved more difficult, as the Wave finished 10th and missed the playoffs for the first time in club history. The team also competed in the NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup and the CONCACAF W Champions Cup but did not advance past the group stage in either competition.
Midway through 2024, the club parted ways with Casey Stoney during a seven-match winless streak. Paul Buckle served as interim coach through the summer before Landon Donovan took over to close the season. On March 14, 2024, owner Ron Burkle announced the sale of the Wave to Lauren Leichtman and Arthur Levine of Levine Leichtman Capital Partners for a reported $113 million, valuing the club at $120 million. In May 2025, Alex Morgan joined the ownership group as a minority investor, followed by Jimmy Butler in October 2025.
Looking ahead to 2025, the Wave confirmed that Landon Donovan would not return and, on January 7, 2025, named Swedish manager Jonas Eidevall as the club’s second full-time head coach. General manager Camille Ashton and the new ownership group are overseeing a reset focused on returning the club to championship contention while continuing to develop young stars at Snapdragon Stadium.
Philosophy and Competitive Strengths
The Wave’s identity is built on attacking quality, defensive organization, and a commitment to player development. Under Casey Stoney, the club became known for high-possession soccer, organized pressing, and a steady pipeline of young talent led by Naomi Girma. With Jonas Eidevall now in charge, the team is expected to emphasize structured buildup play, technical midfielders, and a continued focus on competing for the NWSL Shield and a first league championship.
Key Milestones and Major Moments
The club’s most significant milestones include its June 8, 2021 founding, its inaugural NWSL match on March 19, 2022, the record-setting 32,000 sellout at Snapdragon Stadium on September 17, 2022, the 2023 NWSL Shield title, the 2024 NWSL Challenge Cup victory, and the landmark $120 million ownership transition to Lauren Leichtman and Arthur Levine. Naomi Girma’s 2023 U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year award also stands as a defining individual achievement in the club’s short history.
San Diego Wave FC Achievements and Results
In only a handful of seasons, the Wave have collected major NWSL honors and set league benchmarks for attendance. The club’s verified accomplishments include one NWSL Shield, one NWSL Challenge Cup, and a series of individual awards that have helped establish San Diego as one of the league’s marquee franchises.
NWSL Achievements
The Wave captured their first major trophy, the NWSL Shield, in 2023 after posting the league’s best regular-season record and clinching the title with two matches remaining. In 2024, the club added the NWSL Challenge Cup, defeating NJ/NY Gotham FC 1–0 in the final on an 88th-minute goal from Alex Morgan. The two trophies, won in consecutive years, underscore the club’s rapid rise from 2022 expansion side to league champion.
Conference Achievements
Because the NWSL operates as a single-table league rather than a conference format, the Wave do not compete for a separate conference title. Their conference-level accomplishments are reflected in the NWSL Shield, which they earned in 2023 as the league’s overall regular-season leader, and in their multiple playoff appearances, including semi-final runs in 2022 and 2023.
Divisional Achievements
Like the conference structure, the NWSL does not organize its clubs into formal divisions. The Wave’s divisional-level success is therefore measured by their regular-season standings, highlighted by a third-place finish in 2022 and a league-best record in 2023 that delivered the NWSL Shield. These finishes cemented San Diego’s status among the NWSL’s elite clubs.
Series Achievements
In series play, the Wave have twice reached the NWSL playoff semi-finals, in 2022 and 2023, establishing themselves as regular postseason contenders. The club has also competed in the NWSL Challenge Cup, the NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup, and the CONCACAF W Champions Cup, winning the 2024 Challenge Cup and continuing to build experience in regional and international competition.
