By OkayGoal 
USWNT left-back Jenna Nighswonger traded her Gotham FC jersey for the red and white of Arsenal in January of this year. Since then, the player has started once (during the FA Women’s Cup match against the London City Lionesses) and been provided three substitutions for a total of four appearances for the team. The slight minutes seen by Nighswonger have piqued questions about what will come of the international player’s trade. And how will her trade impact the team? Though these are quick questions to arise, the answers and processes between them aren’t as reactive.
Moving to the WSL
“Americans abroad” has been the phrase of the early NWSL 2025 season. The wave of United States women’s soccer players taking their talents overseas has shocked and entertained women’s sports spectators. With player transitions to leagues across the pond stacking up early this year, the women’s soccer worlds on both sides of the WSL and NSWL are searching for results.
Even with fast returns from players such as fellow defender and USWNT Emily Fox, who has enjoyed success in Arsenal since 2024, and USWNT Catarina Macario, who has solely played for European club teams as a star forward, transitions can be a slow-burn process. But once the fire is ignited, there is usually no looking back. This could be the case with left-back Jenna Nighswonger, who boasts an often-acclaimed “versatile” playing style in positions such as forward in college, left-back for the USWNT, and even midfielder for Arsenal.
Arsenal’s head coach, Renée Slegers, said of Nighswonger’s midfield positioning, “Credit to Jenna for picking that up because it’s not easy to come to a new team, new teammates, a new style of play, and you have not been playing in that position for two years.”
Finding Her Place in a New Style of Play
While Nighswonger’s playing style is versatile, the same can be said about the playing styles between international soccer leagues. The varying differences between the England-based WSL and the United States-based NWSL are often said to be tactical versus transitional play.
Nighswonger understood the difficulties she would face in the English league. In an interview with former USWNT player Sam Mewis, she mentions that she has wanted to play in Europe and the Champions League since she was eight years old. So, when the opportunity to play in England arose, she knew she “had to take it.”
The trade is a chance for Nighswonger to grow and become a better and possibly even more versatile player.
“It’s a great step in my career. It’s a great opportunity to be very uncomfortable and just try to work on getting better,” said Nighswonger in the interview.
The player seems to be welcoming the discomfort, in whatever facet that may mean. Whether it is limited playing time on the field or none at all. In the meantime, Nighswonger is said to also be competing for minutes with WSL left-back talents such as Katie Reid and Katie McCabe.
As Nighswonger soaks up her first transition abroad and the experiences of playing for a renowned English club, only time could reveal the impact of her bold move across seas.
Featured image via Getty Images
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