WAVE BRING BACK SAN DIEGO NATIVE CARUSA
The San Diego Wave found gold late last summer when they signed forward Kyra Carusa, a San Diego native who was fresh off a World Cup appearance.
Carusa started four of eight matches after signing, netting two goals — including the game-tying score in the Wave’s playoff-clinching win over the Portland Thorns.
Tuesday, the club re-signed Carusa, 28, to a one-year deal with an option for the 2025 season.
“Kyra is an experienced attacker with a proven goal-scoring record for both club and country,” said San Diego Wave General Manager Molly Downtain. “She’s a dynamic player with a noticeable presence whenever she is on the field and we’re excited to have her continue representing hometown.”
Carusa grew up in San Diego, where she played for the San Diego Surf club team and at Del Norte High School. While in high school, she scored 58 goals and had 50 assists over three varsity seasons. She went from Del Norte to Stanford, where she spent four seasons before finishing her college career at Georgetown. Sky Blue FC (now NJ/NY Gotham FC) made Carusa the 19th overall pick of the 2019 NWSL Draft. She instead went overseas, playing for Le Havre AC in France, HB Koge in the Danish League and the London City Lionesses.
The granddaughter of Irish immigrants, Carusa represented the country in last summer’s World Cup, the country’s first. Carusa has played in 19 matches for Ireland, scoring her four goals.
Carusa said in September that she was happy to be home.
“When the opportunity to come to San Diego comes knocking on your door, you don’t say no,” she said. “Especially being from here.”
Wave trade for goalkeeper
The Wave have acquired goalkeeper Hillary Beall from Racing Louisville in exchange for their second-round pick in the 2025 NWSL Draft.
Beall, 24, grew up in Laguna Beach and starred at the University of Michigan before turning pro. Beall was loaned to Australia’s Western United club last year, where she was named the A-League’s Goalkeeper of the Year. She is back with the club for the 2024 season, which runs through April.
“Hillary is a player that we’ve seen continuing to develop since being drafted and will add competition to our goalkeeping corps,” Downtain said. “We’re excited to have her join us back in Southern California and wish her a warm welcome to the club.”
NWSL Draft set for Friday
The NWSL Draft will be held Friday at the Anaheim Convention Center. The event starts at 5 p.m. and will air on ION.
More than 200 women have declared for the NWSL Draft, including San Diego natives Jade Babcock-Chi and Gianna Creighton. Babcock-Chi attended Torrey Pines High School and the University of Colorado, while Creighton went to West Hills High School and UC Irvine. Both are midfielders.