U.S. youth national team forward Melanie Barcenas signed a pro contract with San Diego Wave FC, the team announced this week.

A local standout for the San Diego Surf, Barcenas becomes the youngest player to sign a pro contract in NWSL history.

“We are very happy that Melanie and her family have decided to entrust her hometown club as the place for her to begin her professional career," Wave FC head coach Casey Stoney said in a press release. "The coaches at San Diego Surf have been instrumental in helping her develop as a person and as a player for her entire youth career. We’re excited to maximize her potential through the coming years, while being patient and deliberate in advancing her development while ensuring she retains some routine and normalcy of being a teenager.”

No. 2 in the 2025 IMG Academy Player Rankings, Barcenas is a longtime U.S. youth national team veteran. She was most recently called up to the U.S. U17 WNT camp in England back in February.

She's just getting started.

Everyone say hey to Mel B! 👋

— San Diego Wave FC (@sandiegowavefc) March 21, 2023

“I’m very excited to sign my first professional contract with my hometown team, San Diego Wave," Barcenas said in a press release. "It’s been a dream of mine to not just play in the NWSL but to have the opportunity to represent this city since the announcement of the Wave last year. I know I am young, but the team and coaching staff have been amazing, and I look forward to learning from them every day as I continue to develop."

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