SAN FRANCISCO — The San Francisco Glens Soccer Club announced today that forward Mia Watanabe has signed on for the 2023 USL W League season, pending league approval.

A part of the reigning Pac-12 Conference champions, Watanabe appeared in six games last season as a sophomore for the Cardinal.

“I’m super excited to be joining the SF Glens’ first season this summer,” said Watanabe. “I cannot wait to play for your club and looking forward to seeing you soon. Up the Glens!”

A native of Kaneohe, Hawai’i, Watanabe came to Stanford after earning back-to-back Hawai’i State Championships and first team All-State honors for the Iolani School in Honolulu. She played club soccer for the Honolulu Bulls and Hawai’i Heat FC.

“Mia is another outstanding player, who is set to join our Glens family,” said head coach Mike Sharabi. “She has won championships at every level. We’ll be looking for her to score and create goals at the top of the pitch this season.”

The San Francisco Glens are entering their first USL W League season in the NorCal Division. Open tryouts will take place February 18 and March 12 at Skyline College. Register now at sfglens.com/tryouts.

ABOUT SAN FRANCISCO GLENS SC

With over 90 total teams and 1,100 youth and adult players, the San Francisco Glens are the largest and most diverse soccer club in The City. Founded in 1961, the Glens have established minor-league men’s team in USL League Two, a women’s team in the USL W League, and a comprehensive youth academy that includes a full pathway in MLS NEXT, the top youth league in America, right down to local micro soccer programs serving kids as young as Pre-K. Last year, the club announced the construction of a soccer-specific facility at Treasure Island with a targeted completion date by end of 2023.

As a community-focused 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the Glens are proud to have never turned away a single player or family due to financial hardship thanks to internal fundraising efforts and a scholarship program that distributed over $200,000 last year alone. Visit us at sfglens.com and sfglensacademy.com.

ABOUT THE USL W LEAGUE

The USL W League is the nation’s premier pre-professional league developing the next generation of women’s soccer talent both on and off the field, enhancing the pipeline between college and professional soccer. Since the conclusion of the inaugural 2022 season, 25 W League alums have gone to sign a professional contract. In addition, seven players were drafted in the 2023 NWSL draft, and nine players have been invited to professional preseason training camps home and aboard. The USL W League strives to use women’s soccer as a force for societal good by creating a national platform to increase opportunity, gender equity, and career development. Visit uslwleague.com to learn more.