Jeff Caschell
Reign FC of Seattle has signed forward Mia Fischel, who joins from Chelsea and will remain with the team until 2029.
The contract for Fischel spans the entire 2029 NWSL season and is valued at nearly $2.5 million, marking what sources say is the most significant transaction in NWSL history.
Previously, the record for the largest cumulative contract was held by Mallory Swanson of Chicago.
Fischel joined Chelsea from Tigress in 2023, where she quickly established herself as the league’s top goalscorer in Mexico.
She has appeared three times for the USWNT and scored her first international goal during her second match in 2023.
Unfortunately, Fischel’s time with the USWNT has been cut short due to an ACL injury sustained during training for the 2024 CONCACAF W Gold Cup. Recently, she returned to Chelsea and participated in a couple of under-23 matches against Germany while on international break.
At 24, Fischel hails from San Diego. Her entry into the NWSL comes three years after she opted to leave college early to join the league. She was initially drafted fifth overall by Orlando Pride in the 2022 NWSL Draft after leaving UCLA but chose to sign with Tigress instead when she declined to join Orlando.
Orlando had just appointed former UCLA head coach Amanda Cromwell as their head coach, but Cromwell faced suspension early in the 2022 season amid allegations related to workplace discrimination.
Fan Take: This signing is a game-changer for the NWSL, not only altering the league’s financial landscape but also elevating the visibility of women’s soccer. As more star players like Fischel join, the sport’s popularity and professional opportunities continue to grow, promising exciting developments for fans.
