Bay FC Signs Rising Star Kennedy Fuller from Angel City FC
SAN JOSE, Calif. – Bay FC have moved aggressively in the NWSL market, landing one of the league’s brightest young creators in a deal that underlines their ambition to contend now, not later.
The expansion side has acquired midfielder Kennedy Fuller and an international roster spot from Angel City FC for the remainder of the 2026 season, sending $500,000 in intra-league transfer funds and $20,000 in allocation money the other way. The U.S. U-20 international will link up with Bay FC after the June international window.
That price tag is no small outlay in the NWSL’s current landscape. It’s the kind of investment clubs usually reserve for players they expect to build around.
Head coach Emma Coates made it clear Fuller fits that profile.
“Kennedy is an exciting player and a fantastic addition,” Coates said. “She is a superb young talent who possesses lots of NWSL experience. Her creativity and quality on the ball make her a joy to watch and will add to our attack. What is most exciting is the room she has to continue developing, and I believe she has a very bright future ahead of her at Bay FC.”
Bay FC are not just buying potential. They are buying production.
Fuller arrives from Angel City after a sharp start to 2026, with two goals and two assists while appearing in all 11 of Angel City’s matches before the league’s June break. She has been a constant presence, a player coaches trust and teammates look for when the game needs a pass threaded through traffic.
Her 2025 campaign pushed her into the league’s spotlight. Fuller ranked in the NWSL’s top 10 for chances created (36), driving Angel City’s attack and earning Week 24 Player of the Week honors. For a teenager, those numbers carried weight; for rival scouts, they carried warning.
She has been ahead of schedule from the beginning.
A Southlake, Texas native, Fuller turned professional at just 16 in March 2024, becoming the eighth player to sign under the NWSL’s Under-18 Entry Mechanism. She did not arrive as a project to stash on the bench. She stepped directly into the league and adapted at speed.
Now, Bay FC are betting that her next leap comes in San Jose.
“I’m incredibly excited to join Bay FC and be part of what the club is building,” Fuller said. “From my conversations with Emma and the staff, it was clear that this is an environment where players are challenged to grow and reach their potential. I’m looking forward to learning from my teammates, connecting with the fans and doing everything I can to help the team compete for championships.”
That competitive edge has defined her rise through the U.S. youth national team system.
Fuller has worn U.S. colors since 2022 and most recently featured with the U-20 National Team in June, sharing the field with future club teammate Onyeka Gamero. Her influence has not gone unnoticed at federation level: she was named one of three finalists for U.S. Soccer’s 2024 Young Player of the Year, recognition reserved for talents expected to shape the next generation.
Her résumé in tournament play already reads like that of a seasoned international.
At the 2022 Concacaf Women’s U-15 Championship, Fuller powered the United States to the title and walked away with the Golden Ball as the competition’s best player. Two years later, she collected more silverware with the U-17s in 2024, winning gold at the Concacaf Women’s U-17 Championship and bronze at the U-17 World Cup, scoring 12 goals across the two tournaments. For an attacking midfielder, those are eye-catching numbers.
Bay FC now inherit that pedigree and potential at a pivotal moment in their early history.
An international roster spot included in the deal gives the club additional flexibility to shape the squad around Fuller’s strengths, adding another attacking piece or complementary profile if needed. For a first-year club trying to fast-track its identity, the structure is clear: surround a high-ceiling American playmaker with the right blend of experience and flair.
Fuller will arrive after the international window with expectations already attached to her name and a transfer fee that signals trust. The question is no longer whether she belongs at this level. It’s how quickly she can tilt games in Bay FC’s favor—and how far that can carry a club intent on chasing trophies before the ink on its expansion tag has even dried.
