Gotham FC receives protection in 2024 NWSL Expansion Draft, Bay FC receives $130,000 in Allocation Money from Louisville
San Francisco (Dec. 12, 2023) – In a three-team trade with NJ/NY Gotham FC and Racing Louisville FC, Bay FC, the Bay Area’s new women’s professional soccer franchise in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), have acquired defender Ellie Jean from Gotham FC in exchange for protection in the 2024 NWSL Expansion Draft. Additionally, the club has received $130,000 in Allocation Money from Louisville.
Jean joined NJ/NY Gotham FC ahead of the 2022 NWSL season. Across those two seasons with the club, Jean appeared in 45 matches (21 starts) across all NWSL competitions, winning the 2023 NWSL Championship. After concluding her college career at Penn State, Jean made the move to Europe initially signing with but did not feature due to the pandemic. Ahead of the 2020-21 season, Jean signed with PSV Eindhoven and played for the club from 2020-22 before signing with Gotham FC.
As a youth international for the United States, Jean started all six matches the U.S. U-20s at the FIFA U2-20 World Cup in 2016 and captained the U-17 team at the 2013 Concacaf Women’s U-17 Championship. During her collegiate career at Penn State from 2015-19, Jean helped lead the Nittany Lions to a National Championship as a freshman. Across four seasons, she played in 100 games (84 starts), tallying one goal and eight assists.
Ellie Jean
Position: Defender
Height: 5-7
Birthdate: Jan. 31, 1997
Hometown: Coventry, Conn.
Previous Club: NJ/NY Gotham FC (NWSL)
Citizenship: United States
College: Penn State University
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.
