San Diego Wave FC has acquired $50,000 in Allocation Money from the expansion club Bay FC in exchange for defender Abby Dahlkemper.
“While it certainly was not an easy decision to move Abby, as she has been an integral part of the Wave family both on and off the field, we are so glad we could help facilitate her request to move back home and join Bay FC,” said San Diego Wave FC Sporting Director and General Manager Camille Ashton. “We are appreciative of all her contributions and wish her nothing but the best moving forward.”
A native of Menlo Park, Dahlkemper was the first player announced to join the Wave ahead of the club’s inaugural season, signing on Nov. 22, 2021.
In two and a half years in San Diego, she appeared in 34 matches, with 33 starts, in all competitions. In October 2022, Dahlkemper suffered a back injury that required surgery and kept her off the pitch until August 2023.
“The opportunity to be a part of the Wave from the inaugural season has been a highlight for me in my career and (I’m) so proud of what has been accomplished,” Dahlkemper said. “Since the announcement of Bay FC, I’ve dreamt of the opportunity to return to my hometown to play in front of my family and friends for the first time in my club career.
She added of San Diego, “This city will forever hold a special place in my heart.”
Dahlkemper earned her first call-up to the U.S. Women’s National Team in 2016. The defender played the most minutes of any U.S. player during the sqaud’s victorious 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup campaign.
On the international stage, Dahlkemper has appeared in 83 matches, most recently in the 2024 W Concacaf Gold Cup where the USWNT won the inaugural tournament.
