A new NWSL season kicks off this weekend, and there are a number of new faces across the league. Many of these players represent a trend in the NWSL: an influx of foreign players as the U.S.-based league becomes increasingly international.
In the past few months, a number of top American players have made the decision to head overseas. USWNT center back Naomi Girma, one of the best defenders in the world, led the charge with a transfer to Chelsea, with other players — Crystal Dunn (Paris Saint-Germain), Jenna Nighswonger (Arsenal) — also making the leap across the pond.