San Diego Wave FC confirmed on Thursday they have signed forward Kelsey Turnbow to a contract for the 2022 season. Further details were not disclosed.
Turnbow is a rookie, having been drafted by the Chicago Red Stars in the 2021 NWSL Draft but opting to stay in college another year and finish her eligibility with Santa Clara, with whom she won the NCAA title in 2021. Turnbow’s NWSL rights were subsequently traded to San Diego ahead of the Expansion Draft, along with those of Katie Johnson and Makenzy Doniak.
So Turnbow is a rookie, and while she doesn’t have the profile of San Diego’s first-ever NWSL College Draft pick, Naomi Girma, there are high hopes Turnbow could make a quick adjustment to the pro game herself and be a contributor at NWSL level.