Deyna Castellanos

Deyna Castellanos’ vast international reputation and experience will be one that the Thorns will look to lean on heading into the 2025 NWSL season.

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Before coming to the NWSL in 2024 to become a member of Bay FC’s inaugural season, Castellanos was battling against some of world’s best players with European giants Manchester City FC and Atlético Madrid. For Atlético, she scored the game-winner in the 2021 Supercopa de España Femenina to give the club its first-ever Supercopa.

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Since scoring in her international debut with Venezuela at 18 in at the 2018 Copa América Femenina, Castellanos has gone on to score 22 goals in 38 appearances for her senior national side and was selected to lead as captain at the age of 21. However, it was with the Venezuelan U-17’s where Castellanos began to rise to international prominence.

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Debuting with the U-17’s at 14 years old, she would help Los Vinotintos secure top four finishes at the 2014 and 2016 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, earning both Bronze Ball and Bronze Boot honors in 2016. She also became the all-time leading goal scorer for both the U-17 FIFA Women’s World Cup (11) and the Venezuelan U-17 team (35). At 17, her performances for the Venezuelan U-17’s also saw her earn two finalist nominations at the 2017 FIFA The Best Awards Ceremony: the FIFA Puskas Award (given to the best goal scored around the world) and The Best Women’s Player of the Year, continuing to hold the honor of youngest player to be nominated for the latter award.

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Castellanos also had an extremely successful collegiate career at Florida State University (2016-19), helping the Seminoles with a game-winning assist to secure the program’s second ever national championship in 2018. As a Seminole, Castellanos scored 48 goals and assisted 22 in 82 matches played, holding the second-highest record in FSU history for single-season goals in 2017 and leading the team in points each year she was there.

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