Johnson has eight goals in 23 appearances with Mexico’s Women’s National Team; Turnbow, a collegiate national champion at Santa Clara, to make pro debut in 2022 NWSL season
SAN DIEGO (December 2, 2021) – San Diego Wave Fútbol Club announced today it has acquired the rights to Mexican international Katie Johnson, fellow Southern California native Makenzy Doniak and Kelsey Turnbow, a collegiate national champion, in a trade with the Chicago Red Stars. In exchange, the Red Stars received roster protection in the 2022 NWSL Expansion Draft plus allocation money. All three forwards join the expansion Wave FC ahead of the upcoming 2022 NWSL season.
“This is a deal that infuses our team with quality young talent and bolsters our attacking options,” said Wave FC President Jill Ellis. “Katie and Makenzy bring valuable NWSL seasoning to us, and Katie more so through her experiences on the international stage with Mexico. We hope Kelsey’s achievements at a top NCAA women’s soccer program such as Santa Clara translates to a promising professional career with us. We are excited to give Katie, Mankenzy and Kelsey fresh starts as pioneering members of Wave FC.”
“We are working with a blank canvas this season and this trade shows our desire to build an attacking team that values both experience and youth. I am a coach that believes in developing players and it is at the heart of everything we do and I am very much looking forward to working with Katie, Makenzy and Kelsey in our drive to create a team they relish being part of and one in which they have the platform to perform,” added Wave FC head coach Casey Stoney.
Johnson, 27, is a native of Monrovia who played collegiately at the University of Southern California before being drafted into the NWSL in 2017 by Seattle Reign FC as the 16th overall pick. She scored twice in 26 games (10 starts) for Chicago in the NWSL season and has collected 10 goals over 82 career NWSL games. She debuted for Mexico’s Women’s National Team in December 2015 as a collegiate and has eight goals in 23 international appearances. Johnson scored once for Mexico in Olympic qualifying in 2016, and scored three goals at the 2018 Central American and Caribbean Games as Mexico won the gold medal.
Doniak, 27, is a native of Chino Hills and scored three goals over 18 games (seven starts) for Chicago last season. Doniak won the 2016 NWSL championship as a rookie with the Western New York Flash before moving to the North Carolina Courage the following year and playing in the 2017 NWSL final. She made her NWSL debut after leaving the University of Virginia (2012-15) as the Cavaliers’ all-time leader in goals (64) and points (164), and she past played for the United States at the Under-20 and Under-23 levels. Wave FC will be Doniak’s fifth NWSL team, as she has compiled seven goals over 69 career NWSL matches.
Turnbow, a 22-year-old Scottsdale, Ariz. native, was a second-round pick by Chicago in the 2021 NWSL Draft, while playing with NCAA powerhouse Santa Clara. She is set to begin her pro career with Wave FC soon after leaving Santa Clara during the ongoing 2021 NCAA Women’s Championships; Turnbow captains Santa Clara, which plays in the NCAA national semifinals on Friday. Turnbow helped Santa Clara win the 2020 NCAA Women’s Division I championship, scoring in regulation and the penalty kick shootout in the final, and was named the 2020-21 College Cup Offensive Most Outstanding Player.and the 2017 West Coast Conference Freshman of the Year among earning many other accolades.
Athlete Bios
Name: Katie Johnson
Position: Forward
Height: 5’8”
Date of Birth: September 14, 1994
Hometown: Monrovia, CA
International Caps/Goals (Mexico): 23/8
Last Club: Chicago Red Stars (NWSL)
Name: Makenzy Doniak
Position: Forward
Height: 5’8”
Date of Birth: February 25, 1994
Hometown: Chino Hills, CA
Last Club: Chicago Red Stars (NWSL)
Name: Kelsey Turnbow
Position: Forward
Height: 5’8”
Date of Birth: January 10, 1999
Hometown: Scottsdale, AZ
College: Santa Clara University
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About San Diego NWSL
The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) announced in June 2021 that San Diego will be home to an NWSL expansion team, set to begin play in Spring 2022. Jill Ellis, the only two-time FIFA Women’s World Cup winning manager and a former FIFA World Women’s Coach of the Year recipient, serves as President of the San Diego NWSL team while England standout and former Manchester United Women’s Manager Casey Stoney will serve as the team’s head coach. Chief Revenue Officer, Vanessa Shay, will run revenue streams, marketing and business operations. The San Diego NWSL is owned by investor Ron Burkle. Burkle has tapped longtime friend and business associate Matt Alvarez to lead the project on his behalf.
