Jenna Nighswonger
#31 Defender
[JEN-UH NEYE-SWAN-GERR]
HEIGHT 5’3″
BIRTHDAY NOV. 28, 2000
HOMETOWN HUNTINGTON BEACH, CALIF.
LAST CLUB ARSENAL (ENG)
ACQUIRED TRANSFER 2026
Bay FC (2026 – present)
2026: Acquired by Bay FC on Aug. 10 via transfer from Women’s Super League side Arsenal for an undisclosed fee and signed a multi-year contract through 2028.
Aston Villa (2026)
2026: Appeared in eight matches on loan for Aston Villa to close the 2025/26 WSL season.
Arsenal (2025-2026)
2025: Joined Arsenal via transfer from Gotham FC in January… debuted for the club in FA Cup action the following month… appeared in six matches for the Gunners across all competitions.
NJ/NY Gotham FC (2023-2025)
2024: Earned NWSL Best XI First Team distinction after appearing in all 26 regular season matches… helped Gotham FC reach the semi-finals in the NWSL playoffs… scored three goals across all competitions for Gotham, including two in Concacaf Champions Cup play, helping her club secure a berth in the knockout stage.
2023: Selected by Gotham FC fourth overall in the 2023 NWSL Draft… recorded three goals across 20 regular season appearances… named NWSL Rookie of the Year and to NWSL Best XI Second Team… played all but one minute in playoff action as Gotham FC made a run to the NWSL Championship title.
FLORIDA STATE (2019-2022)
2022: Started all 22 matches for the Seminoles her senior season, scoring six goals across over 1,500 minutes… named First Team All-American and Mac Hermann Trophy Finalist… named ACC Tournament MVP and All-ACC First Team as Florida State reached the College Cup semifinals.
2021: Appeared in all 25 of her squad’s matches as Florida State Claimed the 2021 NCAA title… tallied three goals and eight assists.
2020-21: Helped Florida State reach the NCAA tournament Final, scoring in the 63rd minute before the Seminoles would fall in a penalty shootout to Santa Clara… named College Cup All-Tournament Team, All-ACC Third Team and to ACC All-Tournament Team.
2019: Started in 20 of 23 appearances her freshman season… scored first collegiate goal vs. USC Sept. 1… named to ACC All-Freshman team.
UNITED STATES
Helped U.S. U-20 squad to 2020 Concacaf title… represented the U.S. at the U-16, U-17, U-18, and U-23 levels… earned first senior invite in Nov. 2023 and debuted for senior squad in friendly action vs. China in Dec. 2023… helped U.S. to gold at 2024 SheBelieves Cup, Paris Olympics and 2024 Concacaf W Gold Cup… scored first career international goal Feb. 20, 2024 in Gold Cup play vs. Dominican Republic.
Bay FC Acquire Defender Jenna Nighswonger from Arsenal WFC
The 2024 Olympic Champion, 2023 NWSL Champion and Rookie of the Year has signed a contract through 2028 to return to the NWSL after two seasons in England.
