Kelsey Turnbow was drafted by the Chicago Red Stars in 2021, but she took an extra year in college at Santa Clara before turning pro, in the process beginning her NWSL career with San Diego Wave FC instead after they traded for her.
As a key member of the 2020 national champion Broncos side, Turnbow was a promising forward who looked like she may have a path to the lineup in San Diego under head coach Casey Stoney. A position switch and a year later, she certainly became a key player.
Turnbow played all but two games all season (she was suspended for both of them) and started the bulk of them, while moving to an attacking midfield role on the pro side.