Transfer Rumor: USWNT forward Catarina Macario draws interest from NWSL clubs
The recent trend in USWNT player transfers has been stars moving away from the domestic league to play in Europe. Clubs from across the Atlantic have attracted players capable of paying higher salaries and higher competition in the Champions League. However, a big name is now attracting interest from NWSL teams as Catarina Macario’s contract with Chelsea is set to expire.
According to ESPN, Macario is set to become a free agent at the end of the 2025-2026 season and could sign a pre-contract with clubs starting January 1, 2026. However, it appears that in order to come to the United States, the league would have to adopt rules that would allow teams to pay a single “high impact player” (HIP) a salary that would exceed the $1 million salary cap.
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Macario was a key player for the national team when healthy, but she suffered significant injuries in the years since joining the USWNT. In recent friendlies against Italy, the striker scored three goals in two matches. So far this year for Chelsea, she has played just over 600 minutes with two goals and two assists in all competitions.
