Christen Press Recalls Rookie-Year NWSL Shocker to Reveal League’s Massive Shift

Back when the National Women’s Soccer League wasn’t launched in 2013, the women’s players in America had other ways to be a part of the domestic experience. Either it was playing in the USL-W league, WPS, or end up signing for a European team, that too, if you played your cards right. Take Christen Press, for instance. After graduating from her three-year collegiate stint with the Stanford Cardinal, she experienced all of those paths in that exact order, eventually breaking through into the NWSL a year after its debut by signing with the Chicago Red Stars.

But even though Press spent over three seasons in Chicago, the USWNT veteran never truly felt like she earned a contract with a team, especially considering she had specifically requested not to be placed there. Then again, looking at where Press is today—playing for Angel City since 2022 after enjoying two years with the Utah Royals between 2018 and 2020—one can hope things have improved. So, what exactly was the moment when CP23 felt the real NWSL shift?

Her answer? “When I signed for Angel City, I got my first NWSL contract,” began Press on the latest episode of the RE—INC podcast. “That was the first time a club paid me. That felt entirely different, and it felt like I got to play where I wanted.”

“Do you remember? Filled out a form of which teams we wanted to play on and everyone filled it out? And I didn’t actually fill it out. I actually said I don’t care where you put me, just don’t put me on these two teams. And Chicago was one of them. And I was the only USWNT player that got on her “no” list.”

(This is a developing story…)