DC Power FC has had a busy offseason after a first season that didn’t go quite to plan. After finishing second-to-last in the inaugural season of the USL Super League (now commercially known as the Gainbridge Super League), DC Power has made a flurry of roster additions to prepare for the 2025-26 season in the hopes that they can make a nice run towards the top of the table.

The first step was to identify the point of emphasis in remaking the roster. DC Power maintained a tight core of players, but said goodbye to 11 players from last season’s roster. They signed Katrina Guillou to a new deal and finalized the conversion of Gianna Gourley’s loan from Fort Lauderdale United into a permanent transfer. Then, DC Power sporting director Steven Birnbaum got to work in bringing in some new players who could he thought could help in the areas the team needed: providing more athleticism and versatility on the field.

“I think the biggest biggest thing is that we’d become more athletic, much more athletic,” Birnbaum said exclusively to The District Press. “Not just speed, [but] height all over the field and versatility. We brought players in who could play multiple positions and…in a pinch can play a different position. And with these roster sizes, we’re not carrying 30 players on the roster. So they need to be able to adapt, whether it be to the formation or to the coach’s style of play.”

“We’ll play on our front foot, we’ll play atttacking soccer [with] a lot of emphasis on possession and being intentional with our possession,” Omid Namazi, who was recently hired as DC Power head coach, said in press availability on Monday. “Not just to keep it for the sake of keeping it, but then pressing high and trying to win the ball high up on the field and and try to create some turnovers so that we can get easier opportunities [to score].” Namazi added that with so many new players coming from different teams and different styles, “bringing all this together is not easy…it takes work on the field, doing some video, taking care of the details, making sure everybody understands their role. And that’s part of coaching…to get everybody to kind of buy into what you’re trying to do and then be able to execute it out on the field.”

Ten players have been added to the DC Power roster, including the re-signing of Katrina Guillou and the loan conversion for Gianna Gourley. We break down all the new players signings as well as the re-signing of Guillou and Gourley returning to the club via transfer.

Paige Almendariz (Defender)

Paige Almendariz comes to DC Power from Tampa Bay Sun, who won the first ever USL Super League title last season. Almendariz had an assist, recorded 39 clearances, 147 duels (81 won) and tied for a team-high 49 tackles (34 won) last season for the champions and brings the understanding of what it takes for a team to win in this league. Tampa Bay Sun were below the playoff line for much of the season until a surge during the spring allowed them to get into the playoffs and win the title. Almendariz also has experience with Benfica, Braga, and Lank Vilaverdense in Portugal.

Makenna Gottschalk (Goalkeeper)

Makenna Gottschalk was with Fort Lauderdale United last season as the team made it to the USL Super League Final. She appeared in five matches last season, recording 21 saves earning a 77.8% save percentage. Gottschalk also has experience with South Georgia Tormenta as well as Portugal side SCU Torreense.

Chinye Asher (Midfielder)

Chinye Asher is a Jamaican national team midfielder who brings a lot of experience from teams in several leagues around the world. She also played a couple of matches as a National Team Replacement for the Washington Spirit during the 2021 season, when the Spirit won the NWSL title. Asher also has Women’s World Cup experience, as she was on the Jamaica team that competed in the 2019 tournament. Despite all the experience, Asher, a native of Silver Spring, said returning home was part of the consideration for signing with DC Power. “[Being] back home was a huge part of it, and being able to play in front of my family and…[having] a bit more of my own community,” Asher said in comments made to The District Press. “It was a huge part because that’s such a privilege and such’s an extra treat that you could have that you shouldn’t take for granted.”

Asher also said that her many stops around the world have prepared her for this moment, to be the veteran presence with a ton of experience with different styles of soccer. “I think that one of the best blessings I can take from my international career and just the fact that I’ve truly traveled to seven seas playing all over the place,” Asher said. “[It] doesn’t stress me out to come into a new organization because I do feel prepared. I’ve played in a lot of different styles, a lot of different systems, different football cultures. So, when you take that mental intimidation factor away, it allows you to just be very present for whatever the objective is and how present and open and for however they’re going to want to use you as a player.”

Ellie Gilbert (Midfielder)

Ellie Gilbert made her pro debut with FTC-Telekom in Budapest, Hungary in 2025, helping the team to a 6th straight league title. Gilbert played four years at the University of Georgia, where she served as team captain and helped the Bulldogs to their first ever SEC title in 2023. “Ellie’s impressive read of the game and natural athleticism set her apart as a cornerstone player at the University of Georgia and on FTC-Telekom’s 2025 championship team,” Steven Birnbaum said in a statement released by the team. “We’re eager to bring her into the fold and certain that her recent success has prepared her to excel with Power FC.”

Jaydah Bedoya (Forward)

Jaydah Bedoya comes to DC Power from Carolina Ascent, who won the Players’ Shield as the top team in the regular season in the USL Super League’s first season. She scored 3 goals and added an assist last season and was on USL Super League’s Team of the Month in October and November 2024. She also has international experience, debuting for Ecuador in February 2022. She will be called upon to provide firepower to an attack that sputtered for most of last season until late.

Margie Detrizio (Forward)

Margie Detrizio is a name that might be familiar to Washington Spirit fans, as she appeared in two matches for the Spirit as a short-term injury replacement at the start of the season. Before the two matches with the Spirit, Detrizio played four seasons at Washington State before finishing her college career with the Georgia Bulldogs. “Margie is the ideal player to elevate our front line of attack and boost offensive chances,” Steve Birnbaum said in a statement. “Detrizio’s NWSL exposure and success in college has prepared her to shine as she advances in her professional career. We are eager to embed her into Power FC’s system and confident in her abilities to take our side’s attack to the next level.”

Sydney Cummings (Defender)

Sydney Cummings is an elite defender who played for Spokane Zephyr last season. She made history a the first NWSL draftee from Brown University when Racing Louisville drafted her in 2022. She has made appearances for the San Diego Wave a a National Team Replacement Player and also played for Celtic and the A-League’s Western United. Cummings plays internationally for Guyana, and her versatility and consistent play will be relied upon to help the defense.

Alexis Theoret (Midfielder)

Alexis Theoret will make her professional debut with DC Power, signing with the club after five seasons at the University of Virginia. Theoret grew up in the area and is a native of Haymarket, Virginia and also has extensive experience in the U.S. Youth National Team system. “Theoret’s strong foundation at the collegiate level and appearances with the U.S. Youth National Team have shaped her into a versatile player that we’re confident will be an asset as we build towards success in the club’s second season,” Steve Birnbaum said upon the signing of Theoret.

Katrina Guillou (Midfielder)

Katrina Guillou returns to DC Power after being an integral part of the core from last season. Her contract was initially not renewed for the coming season, but the team quickly agreed to new terms with the Philippines national team midfielder to keep her with the club for the new season. Guillou appeared in 17 matches last season with a 70% pass accuracy, 36 tackles (23 won), and 13 interceptions. She has also scored 13 goals and added 10 assists in 42 caps with the Filipino Women’s National Team. She had a foot injury midway through last season, but she is viewed as one of the leaders of the team and will be counted upon to serve as part of the main consistent core.

Gianna Gourley (Forward)

Gianna Gourley’s return was welcome news to all around the club. No one scored more goals in the spring portion of last season than Gourley, who had seven goals in 14 matches after being acquired by the club during the midseason break. Gourley said after some rest and time with family during the summer break, she worked on some of the “little details” in continuing to elevate her game. But, she’s excited to be back in DC. “I think [the club] did a great job keeping a good core group of girls and then the girls that they’ve added have been super great and I’m excited to see what we do this year,” Gourley said in press availability on Monday.

Gourley said that the focus so far this preseason has been to get to know some of the other new players on the team and gelling as a group, but some consistent principles remain. “I think one is hard work. I think that’s something that we’ve always had, even last year, and I think it’s coming back this year,” Gourley stated. “Also, just being attacking minded and being dangerous and lethal. I think we want to play like transition and also just be a dominant force up top and in the [midfield].

The current DC Power 2025-26 roster:

Goalkeepers (2): Morgan Aquino, Makenna Gottschalk
Defenders (5): Paige Almendariz, Claire Constant, Sydney Cummings, Susanna Fitch, Madison Murnin
Midfielders (10): Chineylu Asher, Anna Bagley, Emily Colton, Katie Duong, Charlie Estcourt, Carleigh Frilles, Ellie Gilbert, Katrina Guillou, Alexis Theoret, Grace Yango
Forwards (4): Loza Abera, Jaydah Bedoya, Margie Detrizio, Gianna Gourley

Sporting director Steve Birnbaum said to The District Press that with these recent additions, the roster is pretty set to start the season, but they still wanted the room to make a move down the road if necessary. “We’re not trying to overhaul and sign too many players [so] if we need to make adjustments in the wintertime, there is that room for adjustments,” Birnbaum said. “So I think the plan is to ride it out with the roster that we have and supplement it with potential academy players….But we’re leaving a little bit of that buffer for this wintertime [so] if we need to go out and make a few splashes here and there, we have the capability to [do so].”

DC Power has a few preseason matches scheduled, beginning tomorrow when they take on North Carolina Courage down in North Carolina. They also have a preseason match scheduled against the Washington Spirit on July 21st. The preseason matches against the NWSL teams are completely closed to the public. DC Power will play preseason matches on the road against VCU on August 2nd and the University of Virginia on August 9th. Those two exhibition matches will be open to the public. DC Power begins the 2025-26 USL Super League season on the road to expansion club Sporting Jacksonville on August 23rd. They have their home opener on August 30th at Audi Field against Spokane Zephyr.