National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) side San Diego Wave and Canada international goalkeeper and team co-captain Kailen Sheridan have mutually agreed to terminate her contract, the club announced Monday.
Sheridan's deal had been due to run through to the 2026 season.
"Kailen has been an integral part of this club since day one," Wave sporting director and general manager Camille Ashton said in a club statement. "After discussions, we mutually agreed that this was the right decision for all parties. We thank her for the contributions to this club and this city and wish her the best in the next chapter of her career."
Sheridan, 30, signed with the Wave in 2022 from Gotham FC and quickly became a marquee player known for her assertive leadership from goal and close relationship with Wave supporters. She was named NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year that season, with the Wave making history as the first expansion team to reach the playoffs in their inaugural season.
In 2023, her 67 saves helped the Wave secure the NWSL Shield. The following year she recorded six clean sheets across all competitions, which included the Wave's Challenge Cup victory.
At the start of the 2025 season, Sheridan became even more of a critical voice on the team as one of three players still with the club since its inception, along with center back Kristen McNabb and forward Makenzy Robbe . (Robbe has also left the club.) She saw the team through numerous changes to the roster and front office, from the departures of players like Alex Morgan , Naomi Girma , and Jaedyn Shaw to three coaching changes and new ownership.
"There was a lot of internal reflection and player reflection and challenging the ownership, challenging the club itself to (ask), 'What do you want to be? Do you want to just be here, be present, or do you want to be a competitive winning team?'" she recalled to The Athletic in July of the club's rebuild.
Despite the high roster turnover between 2024 and 2025, the Wave managed to reach the postseason as the No. 6 seed, losing in the quarterfinals to the Portland Thorns. Following the NWSL season, the Wave claimed the second World Sevens Football championship in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and the $2 million prize that came with it.
Sheridan, who became a parent with the birth of her daughter in September, leaves the Wave having made 87 appearances and starts. This season she became the second goalkeeper in NWSL history to record 600 regular season saves.
In addition to Sheidan's departure, the Wave also announced the signing of two-time NCAA champion and defender Mimi Van Zanten, who will join San Diego from Florida State. The 20-year-old has represented both Jamaica and the U.S. at the international level; Jamaica with the senior Reggae Girlz, and the U.S. most recently with the under-23s.
This article originally appeared in The Athletic .
San Diego Wave, NWSL
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