Bay FC shakes up the NWSL by signing Hannah Bebar in a high-stakes move | OneFootball

Bay FC continued to bolster its roster, this time securing midfielder Hannah Bebar to a three-year contract through 2027. After her college years at Harvard and then Duke, the talented player joined the professional ranks after finishing an excellent college career.

Bebar comes in with a strong résumé: three All-American selections, and she made her presence felt at Harvard and Duke. In 69 collegiate matches, she recorded 20 goals and 30 assists-pretty solid numbers considering that her freshman season was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

She was definitely a factor to be reckoned with in midfield, and her move to the NWSL is bound to be exciting. However, there is a whole world of difference between college soccer and the professional level in terms of the intensity, physical demand, and competition, which are all on another scale altogether. This leads to one big question: will Bebar keep up the rhythm she had in college when she will surely meet among the best in the world?

Was it a good move by Bay FC?

The short answer: yes, but context matters. Bay FC is assembling a mix of young talent and experienced players, and Bebar fits the mold of a team looking to build for the future.

Head coach Albertin Montoya praised her talent, emphasizing that she has stood out at every stage of her career: "We’re really excited to bring a player of Hannah’s caliber to this club. She has excelled at every stop in her playing career so far, and we’re eager to see what she can accomplish at Bay FC."

Being best in the NWSL, however, tells a different tale. The league is fast-pace, hard-hitting, and tactically demanding. Bebar will eventually develop into perhaps a core midfielder, but such adaptation won't happen overnight.

Add to this equation the fact that she is still finishing off her master's at Duke until spring, so that probably indicates her debut with NWSL will be just a little later than probably conceived.

Time stands still for nobody

Bay FC are deep in preseason training for 2025 in San Jose, with a further stop scheduled for Santa Barbara and Indio in California. Two of their big tests this season at the Coachella Valley Invitational include Seattle Reign and San Diego Wave.

Meanwhile, Bebar still has to be fitted into the squad. Bay FC opens its regular season on March 16 away against Utah Royals. Still, that is just the appetizer. The club brought in the midfielder in to firm up the midfield, but the NWSL has repeatedly shown that a set of good college statistics isn't good enough.

She might be one of the standout players if Bebar can adapt to life at the club quickly. If not, she is going to have to learn ways to handle the pressure and expectations of a club that is trying to hold its place in the league. Bay FC invested interestingly, but only then will this transfer prove to be truly successful if Bebar can transform potential into real impact on the field.