In a landmark transfer for Ugandan women's football, Crested Cranes defender Shadia Nankya has completed a high-profile move to Washington Spirit in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) in the United States.
Nankya, who has signed a four-year contract, becomes the first Ugandan female footballer to play in the top-tier American league, widely regarded as the best women’s football division in the world.
A step up in her career
The towering defender joins Washington Spirit after an impressive spell at FC Masar in Egypt, where she played a crucial role in the club’s third-place finish on their debut appearance in the CAF Women’s Champions League.
Her standout performances earned her a place in the tournament’s best XI, alongside fellow Ugandan Aisha Nantongo.
Washington Spirit, established in 2012, won their first-ever NWSL title in 2021 and are currently managed by former Barcelona Women’s head coach Jonatan Giráldez.
Nankya’s move to the U.S. will not only allow her to continue her football career at the highest level but also further her education.
Rising through the ranks
Nankya’s football journey began as a teenager with Uganda Martyrs Lubaga Women Football Club in 2016.
She later broke into the Uganda Crested Cranes squad in 2018, featuring in both the CECAFA and COSAFA Championships, where Uganda secured bronze medals.
In 2019, she moved to UCU Lady Cardinals, where she continued to shine, despite suffering a knee injury in 2021 that ruled her out of Uganda’s CECAFA Women’s Championship and WAFCON appearances in 2022.
Notably, in her final season at Uganda Martyrs, Nankya, despite being a defender, she emerged as the FUFA Women’s Cup top scorer with 9 goals.
Breaking new ground
While several Ugandan female footballers, including Sandra Nabweteme, Sandra Nantumbwe, Sharon Naddunga, Tracy Jones Akiror, Asiat Naluggwa, Joan Nakirya and Patricia Akiror, have played in the U.S., they all featured at college level. Nankya’s move to Washington Spirit marks a historic first for Ugandan women's football as she becomes the first player to compete in the NWSL.
Her signing represents a significant milestone, opening doors for more Ugandan players to break into elite women’s football leagues worldwide.
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