Cristiana Girelli

Bay FC picked up Cristiana Girelli on loan from Juventus in February 2026, a short-term move that brought a proven Serie A finisher into the NWSL rather than a long-term rebuild piece. The Italian forward had spent the previous eight years establishing herself at Juventus as one of the league's most reliable scorers, and the loan runs only through the end of August 2026.

Girelli's route into the professional game ran through Bardolino, where she stayed for eight years from 2005, before a five-year spell at Brescia turned her into a player worth signing. Juventus brought her in in 2018, and she quickly became central to the club's growth in the women's game in Italy, winning the Serie A title, the Coppa Italia and the Supercoppa Italiana during her time there.

Her best individual season came in 2018/19, when she finished as Serie A's top scorer. She was also named Italy's best female footballer by the FIGC, a recognition that came in both 2018 and 2019. For the national team, the numbers speak for themselves: 130 caps and 62 goals, output that places her among the most productive forwards Italian football has produced. Reacting to her recognition from the FIGC, Girelli said she hoped her success could inspire future generations.

At Bay FC she wears the number 10 and plays as a central forward, a role built around finishing rather than link-up play. The move to California mid-career, at a point when most of her peers would be winding down, says as much about her standing in the women's game as any of the trophies collected in Turin.