SAN DIEGO -- San Diego Wave FC announced today the signing of defender/midfielder Kiki Pickett to a two-year deal through the 2027 season. The move marks another chapter in the team’s rebuilding saga after the release of a pair of key players.
Pickett comes to San Diego after stints with the Kansas City Current and North Carolina Courage, as well as her latest stop at Northern California side Bay FC. Over her five-season tenure, she has racked up three goals and two assists.
“We’re excited to bring her [Pickett] into our environment,” said Sporting Director and General Manager Camille Ashton. “She is a competitive, intelligent player who brings experience and composure to the midfield, and we believe she fits well with the way we want to play.”
Ashton and her front office oversaw the release of many of the club’s most established pieces over this offseason. Most significantly, the team sold midfielder Savannah McCaskill, who started in all but six matches over her two seasons with the Wave. During her time with the club, McCaskill became the connecting link between the defense and midfield, converting into both roles as needed.
Pickett will now look to fill the defensive-minded, holding midfielder position that McCaskill carved out in the new season. With such dual experience dating back to her college days at Stanford, Pickett is a strong candidate for the role. As a senior in 2020-21, she earned Pac-12 Defender of the Year and All-Pac-12 first team honors.
The Stanford alum is one of a slew of new signings for the Wave, who are looking to start anew after an up-then-down 2025 campaign. With the release of McCaskill and goalkeeper (and founding player) Kailen Sheridan, the team has looked to quell the shakeup with the addition of Brazilian power in Chicago Stars forward Ludmila.
The club has also retained and gained a host of young talent. Pickett will be joined by Bay FC teammate Leah Freeman, who will bolster a now nebulous goalkeeper group in her second NWSL season. San Diego resigned Melanie Barcenas, Jordan Fusco, and Nya Harrison to short-term deals, while new college signings, midfielder Lia Godfrey and defender Mimi Van Zanten, will look to energize an already young core.