NWSL team signs 15-year-old

The San Diego Wave have signed 15-year-old Melanie Barcenas, the youngest player ever to reach a deal with a National Women’s Soccer League team. The San Diego native is the first local youth player to sign with the league and the first signed by the Wave through the NWSL’s under-18 entry rules. At 15 years and 138 days, Barcenas is younger than Chloe Ricketts, who was 15 years and 283 days old when she signed with the Washington Spirit earlier this month.