Goal-Scoring Gem: Catarina Finds The Back Of The Net For San Diego Wave
The deal is reportedly worth $8 million over five seasons.
LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 10: Catarina Macario of Chelsea arrives at the stadium prior to the UEFA Women's Champions League 2025/26 league phase match between Chelsea FC Women and AS Roma at Stamford Bridge on December 10, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Harry Murphy - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images) | UEFA via Getty Images San Diego Wave are reportedly about to make one of the biggest moves in their club’s history. Sportico first reported on Monday morning that Catarina Marcario would be signing the largest deal by total value in women’s professional soccer with the San Diego Wave.
View this post on Instagram The contract is expected to reach nearly $8 million in fully guaranteed money over the next five seasons including the 2026 season. Though Macario’s contract with Chelsea is set to expire at the end of the 2025-2026 WSL season, the Wave are expected to send Chelsea a $300,000 transfer fee to bring her into the Wave squad sooner. The contract would most likely fall under the high impact player roster designation which allows NWSL teams to spend up to $1 million over the league’s salary cap.
The USWNT star has dealt with injury issues since joining Chelsea including a torn ACL and knee issues that kept her out of the 2023 Women’s World Cup and 2024 Paris Olympics. Macario hasn’t appeared for Chelsea since December 14, and was not called up to either USWNT camp this past winter. It’s unclear whether her recent foot injury kept her off or her suspected move to the NWSL played a factor.
The forward has a strong connection to the city of San Diego. Macario was born in Brazil, but when she moved to the United States her family settled in San Diego, California, when she was 12 years old. There she played with one of the strongest youth clubs in the country, San Diego Surf, who also happen to lease a portion of their fields in Del Mar to San Diego Wave for their training facilities.