Thorns FC receive $75,000 Allocation Money, protection in 2024 NWSL Expansion Draft
San Francisco (Dec. 12, 2023) – Bay FC, the Bay Area’s new women’s professional soccer franchise in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), have acquired defender Emily Menges from Portland Thorns FC in exchange for $75,000 in Allocation Money and protection in the 2024 NWSL Expansion Draft, it was announced today.
Menges is a two-time NWSL Champion and NWSL Shield winner across 10 seasons in the league with Thorns FC. Across all NWSL competitions with Thorns FC, Menges made 186 appearances (179 starts), including starting and playing in nine NWSL playoff games. An NWSL Best XI selection in 2016, Menges has appeared in 160 career NWSL regular season matches, making 156 starts and logging 13,850 minutes. Individually, she was named NWSL Second XI for her performances in the 2017, 2018 and 2021 seasons.
“Emily is a smart and experienced center back in this league that will bring important leadership qualities and a winning mentality to our group,” said Bay FC General Manager Lucy Rushton. “She is an accomplished defender with great game understanding. Her capacity to read the game and play out from the back will be paramount in our style of play.”
Originally drafted in the fourth round of 2014 NWSL College Draft by Portland, Menges also played abroad in Australia with the Melbourne Victory during the 2019-20 season, helping the club to the league playoffs. During her career at Georgetown (2010-13), Menges played in 84 career matches, making 81 starts for the Hoyas.
Emily Menges
Position: Defender
Height: 5-7
Birthdate: July 28, 1992
Hometown: Garden City, N.Y.
Previous Club: Portland Thorns FC (NWSL)
Citizenship: United States
College: Georgetown
Bay FC is entering its first season in the NWSL and will have the first pick in the 2024 NWSL Expansion Draft set to take place virtually on Friday, December 15. The 2024 NWSL Expansion Draft will air live on CBS Sports Network with coverage beginning at 7 p.m. ET. The “Attacking Third” women’s soccer show will also provide additional coverage and analysis during the week of the expansion draft on CBS Sports Golazo Network and across @AttackingThird social accounts.
Bay FC will kick off its inaugural season in March 2024 at PayPal Park in San Jose. Ticket deposits are now open for Bay FC’s inaugural season and new merchandise can be purchased at BayFC.com. Fans can also follow @wearebayfc on social channels for more exciting announcements to come.
About Bay Football Club
Bay Football Club (Bay FC) is the new women’s professional soccer franchise representing the Bay Area and the 14th team to join the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). Bay FC was established in April 2023 and co-founded by USWNT legends Brandi Chastain, Leslie Osborne, Danielle Slaton, and Aly Wagner in partnership with global investment firm Sixth Street and an investor group of leading tech, business and sports executives. Sixth Street’s investment is the largest institutional investment to date in a women’s professional sports franchise. Bay FC is changing the face of women’s soccer as we know it. Beginning play in the 2024 season, we are building a squad that will play the beautiful game with power, passion, energy, and creativity. Ticket deposits are now open for Bay FC at https://bayfc.com and fans can follow Bay FC’s social channels (@wearebayfc) for the latest news, merchandise, and events.
