By OkayGoal 
The NWSL is growing! With two expansion teams this year, Denver Summit FC and Boston Legacy FC, it’s clear there is a huge desire and interest in women’s sports. About time!
As we plan for the 2026-2027 season, let’s take a look at the Boston Legacy FC roster.
Boston Legacy FC starts off strong with its head coach, Filipa Patão, the former manager of Benfica in Lisbon, where she led the team to five consecutive titles. A competitive coach, she is coming in already recognizing that Boston is a city of sports fanatics and championship teams.
“I’m here to make history,” she said in a press conference.
The club made waves by signing U.S. Women’s National Team star, gold medalist, and Iron Woman Casey Murphy to a four-year deal. The veteran goalkeeper, who recently won the NWSL Shield with North Carolina, provides the leadership and legacy-making ability necessary for the team to live up to its name.
“I’m excited to be in such a sports city,” Murphy said in a statement. “They call it ‘Title Town’ for a reason, and I’m excited to build a culture here from the ground up and be a part of something new.
The attack is equally formidable, led by a mix of domestic and global talent. The club secured forward Ella Stevens, an NWSL champion with Gotham FC, who, over two seasons, scored seven goals and made five assists. Joining her is Canadian international Nichelle Prince, whose speedy pace and technique is well-known to NWSL fans. She comes to the Legacy from KC Current and the Houston Dash before that. The Legacy have also looked to South America and Europe, signing Brazilian star Amanda Gutierres from Palmeiras and Ugandan sensation Fauzia Najjemba.
The midfield is anchored by the club’s first-ever signing, 21-year-old defender Annie Karich, who spent time in the Frauen-Bundesliga and has played at the U15, U17, U20, and U23 youth levels. She also was named WCC Defender of the Year at Santa Clara University. She is joined by Spanish midfielder Alba Caño, a product of the legendary FC Barcelona system, and Bárbara Olivieri, an attacking midfielder who plays for the Venezuelan National team.
We can’t forget young star Chloe Ricketts, “making history as the first-ever player to sign via the NWSL Under-18 Entry Mechanism in 2023 when she joined the Washington Spirit.” Ricketts went pro at just fifteen years old, and is likely to be a standout player for the Legacy.
The Legacy will officially kick off their journey on March 14, 2026, at Gillette Stadium. Foxborough is a temporary home, while the long-term center of the club will be the renovated White Stadium in Franklin Park. Scheduled for an official opening in 2027, this $80–$100 million project in the Baker neighborhood is designed to be a community hub. It also plans to be the first venue in the country to be shared between a major professional franchise and public school athletics.
Boston Legacy FC also has high-profile investors, like Aly Raisman and Elizabeth Banks.
“Women’s sports are rewriting the rules of what’s possible — and the NWSL is leading that charge,” Banks said in a statement. “This league has incredible athletes, incredible stories, and an incredible fan base. I’m proud to help amplify that energy and make sure the next generation sees women’s sports not as the exception, but as the standard.”
The eyes of the soccer world are on Boston Legacy FC’s impressive roster. The flight of the Swan has officially begun.
Image via @bostonlegacyfc