Mia Fishel Poised for Potential NWSL Return

USWNT Forward Weighs Summer Move Away from Chelsea

In the ever-shifting landscape of women’s football, few stories are as compelling this summer as Mia Fishel’s potential return to the NWSL. The 24-year-old forward, who currently plies her trade with Chelsea in the English Women’s Super League, is reportedly in talks with several NWSL clubs about a summer move that could bring her back to American soil.

This wouldn’t just be another transfer — it would mark a full-circle moment in the young career of a player whose decisions have always bucked the expected path.

What’s Happening With Mia Fishel?

Chelsea FC v West Ham United FC – Barclays Women’s Super League

According to a recent report from ESPN, Mia Fishel, a rising USWNT talent, is actively exploring a move back to the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). Multiple teams are believed to be involved in discussions, eyeing the striker as a potential marquee signing to lead their attacking line.

For Mia Fishel, a move back to the U.S. represents more than just a change of scenery. It could be the spark she needs to reignite her national team ambitions, especially with the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup looming on the horizon.

Although she only has three senior USWNT caps and one international goal to her name, her potential has never been in question. Injuries and circumstance, more than form, have limited her opportunities on the world stage. But that may be about to change.

The Road Back from Injury

The 2024 season was shaping up to be a breakout year for Mia Fishel — until disaster struck.

While preparing for the CONCACAF W Gold Cup earlier this year, Mia Fishel suffered a torn ACL, a brutal injury that dashed her hopes of making the 2024 Paris Olympics roster. The setback came at the worst possible time, just as her name was beginning to build momentum within the senior USWNT setup.

Despite the injury, Mia Fishel has shown resilience and commitment in her recovery. She returned to Chelsea’s matchday squad in the spring and has already resumed competitive training. During the most recent international break, she was named as one of the overage players for the U.S. U23 national team in a pair of matches against Germany, a move that underlined the U.S. Soccer Federation’s long-term faith in her.

USWNT head coach Emma Hayes, who recently took over after managing Mia Fishel at Chelsea, defended the decision to give her U23 minutes instead of forcing a premature return to the senior side.

“Sure, she could sit on the bench for the senior team,” Hayes said. “But it’s better for her to go and play in Germany and get the experiences that will help her grow. We’re thinking about where we want these players to be come 2027.”

Chelsea’s Loaded Forward Line

Paris FC v Chelsea FC Women: Group D – UEFA Women’s Champions League 2023/24

If there’s one clear reason why Mia Fishel’s minutes at Chelsea have been limited, it’s the sheer weight of talent in the club’s attacking ranks.

The Blues’ striker corps currently includes Catarina Macario, another U.S. international, and Mayra Ramírez, a high-profile club-record signing. Add to that the imminent return of Sam Kerr, one of the most lethal forwards in women’s football, and opportunities become understandably scarce.

It’s a classic case of too many cooks in the kitchen — and for a young player still recovering from a major injury, the path to consistent playing time in London looks increasingly narrow.

Did You Know?

Chelsea paid $250,000 in transfer fees to sign Mia Fishel from Tigres UANL in 2023, a bold move at the time that underlined how much faith Hayes had in the forward’s potential.

Fishel had joined Tigres straight out of UCLA, choosing Liga MX over the NWSL despite being selected fifth overall by the Orlando Pride in the 2022 draft. It was a decision that raised eyebrows across the American soccer landscape — but it paid off. She quickly became one of Mexico’s most prolific scorers, bagging 17 goals in her first Apertura season and leading Tigres to the league title. In the Clausura, she added another 13.

It’s that goal-scoring pedigree that continues to make Mia Fishel such an attractive prospect — even as she fights her way back to full fitness.

What Would an NWSL Move Mean?

If Mia Fishel returns to the NWSL this summer, it will signal a huge opportunity for whichever team lands her. With the league approaching its halfway point and a mandatory break from June 23 to 29, she could be available for a debut sometime in early August, assuming her recovery continues smoothly.

Her presence wouldn’t just bolster an attack — it could transform it. A fully fit and firing Mia Fishel brings pace, power, and a lethal finishing touch. More importantly, it would put her squarely in the USWNT selection spotlight during a critical three-year build-up to the next World Cup.

The USWNT Angle

The USWNT is in a transitional phase. Veterans are aging out, and younger talents are being groomed for greater roles. Mia Fishel sits at the intersection of those dynamics — experienced enough to contribute immediately, young enough to build around.

Emma Hayes has already made it clear that club minutes and performance will weigh heavily on future call-ups. A move back to the NWSL, where she would likely play week in and week out, could be Mia Fishel’s best route to wearing the Stars and Stripes again.

Final Thoughts: High Risk, High Reward

Mia Fishel’s story is far from over. She’s made bold choices — skipping the NWSL for Mexico, leaving Tigres for Chelsea, fighting back from a devastating injury. Each decision has shaped her into the player she is today: fearless, tested, and still hungry.

Now, with the possibility of an NWSL homecoming on the horizon, she’s once again at a crossroads.

Will she return to the States and reignite her USWNT career? Will she carve out a new chapter under the bright lights of the domestic league she once bypassed?

We’ll find out soon enough. But one thing’s for sure: wherever Mia Fishel goes next, she won’t be quietly fading into the background.

She’s coming to play.