Catarina Macario has said a chat with star forward Ada Hegerberg helped convince her to sign with European champions Lyon.
The U.S. women's national team prospect announced on Tuesday that she had signed with Lyon in a two-and-a-half-year deal.
Macario would have almost certainly been the first pick in Wednesday night's NWSL draft, but the former Stanford University star instead opted to begin her professional career in Europe.
Editors' Picks
The 21-year-old said that the opportunity to play at Lyon, combined with the ongoing pandemic's effects in the United States, drove her to sign with the French powerhouse.