San Diego Wave announced today the departure of French star forward, Delphine Cascarino. The club said in a statement to the press that the two sides “mutually agreed to part ways,” ahead of the 2026 NWSL season.
“Since joining the Wave, every moment of my time in San Diego is something I will always cherish. Playing for this Club, this city, and in front of such a passionate fan base made this decision incredibly difficult,” said Cascarino in a statement. “However, due to personal considerations,
the next step in my career needs to be closer to home at this time.
“I’m grateful to the Wave for their understanding and support, and I will always look back on my time in San Diego with pride and appreciation.”
The French forward was under contract through the 2026 season with a mutual option for 2027 and is the fourth starter to leave the Wave this offseason. She joined Kailen Sheridan, Savannah McCaskill and Hanna Lundkvist to leave this offseason.
The 28-year-old winger, joined the Wave halfway through the 2024 season and made 34 appearances across 2024 and 2025 season in all competitions with the Wave.
In 2025 Cascarino was named a finalist for the NWSL MVP award with five goals and six assists. Cascarino was considered one of the front runners for the award halfway through the season. She returned from a strong 2025 Women’s Euro performance with France, but cooled off significantly through the second half of the Wave’s season.
“Delphine has been an important part of the group since joining the Club, and this was not an easy moment for anyone involved,” said San Diego Wave FC Sporting Director and General Manager Camille Ashton in a statement to the press. “From the outset, we understood that if returning closer to home ever became a priority for Delphine, we would approach that situation with care and respect. After thoughtful conversations with Delphine and her representatives, it was clear it was important to her to be close to home at this time. We’re grateful for her contributions and wish her nothing but the best.”
Cascarino’s next destination seems clear as French outlet, L’Équipe, reported on January 13, that the WSL’s London City Lionesses were set to acquire Cascarino
