In March 2023, at just 15 years old, Melanie Barcenas became the second player to join the team. Women’s National Soccer League took advantage of the newly created Under-18 Entry Mechanism when signing with his hometown club. His first contract ran through 2025, and in 1,000 minutes over his first three seasons for the San Diego Wave, he managed 36 total shots in non-consecutive minutes, turning a 1.79 expected goals (xG) into two goals for his team.
After Barcenas’ contract expired, Dalga decided to sign him to a new contract, this time only for one year. At the start of the 2026 season, even after scoring two goals as a substitute in the first few games, it looked like he would get the same sporadic minutes he’s suffered in years past.
His first start didn’t come until the Wave’s 11th game of the season, but he’s started all but three games since then and eventually earned himself a two-year contract extension in mid-September. What made this season so different for the young San Diego native?
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