-
Jeff Kassouf
Goalkeeper Casey Murphy has secured one of the most substantial guaranteed contracts for a goalkeeper in NWSL history with Boston Legacy FC, a source confirmed to ESPN.
Boston has made a significant investment in the American goalkeeper, signing Murphy through the 2029 NWSL season with an option for 2030, reportedly worth a total of $1.5 million guaranteed.
Earlier this year, Murphy joined the 2026 NWSL expansion team as a free agent, as first reported by ESPN in October.
Legacy FC officially announced Murphy’s signing on Monday.
Murphy has been with the North Carolina Courage since the 2021 season and has established herself as a regular member of the U.S. women’s national team.
She served as the backup goalkeeper for the USWNT behind Alyssa Naeher during the 2023 World Cup and 2024 Olympics, where the team secured a gold medal.
Murphy has earned 20 caps with the United States, although she hasn’t appeared for the team since October 2024.
“Casey’s track record provides a solid foundation for this new chapter in Boston,” said general manager Domè Guasch in a statement. “In addition to her skills as a goalkeeper, Casey is a natural leader. We believe she will be a fantastic addition as we prepare our inaugural roster for 2026.”
During her time in North Carolina, Murphy became the franchise’s all-time leader in regular-season wins, contributing to the Courage’s rich history of success. She joined the Courage from Seattle Reign FC (now OL Reign) through a multi-team trade that also involved sending U.S. defender Crystal Dunn to Portland Thorns FC.
Before joining the Reign, Murphy spent two seasons playing abroad.
She was selected 13th overall in the 2018 NWSL Draft by NJ/NY Gotham FC (formerly Sky Blue FC), but opted to start her career with Montpellier in France instead, despite playing on the same field as Rutgers University.
“I’m thrilled to be in such a sports-centric city,” Murphy remarked in a statement. “They call it ‘Title Town’ for good reason, and I look forward to building a culture here and being part of something new from the ground up.”
“The energy and ambition surrounding this team is incredibly exciting, and I’m eager to showcase my leadership skills, set the standard for my teammates every day, and engage with the local community,” Murphy added.
Boston has already announced several player signings in preparation for the team’s launch in 2026.
Recently, the team also confirmed the signing of goalkeeper Hannah Stambaugh, who joined as a free agent from Angel City FC.
Additionally, Brazilian forward Amanda Gutierres, who ranked 21st in the 2025 Ballon d’Or voting, has joined Boston on a pre-transfer from Palmeiras.
Both Legacy FC and Denver Summit FC are set to begin play in 2026, expanding the NWSL to 16 teams.