Today, Angel City Football Club (ACFC) confirmed that the team has traded forward Messiah Bright to the Houston Dash. In exchange, ACFC will receive up to $150,000 in intra-league transfer funds with a guaranteed $100,000.
“I’m so honored for this time spent here in LA and I’m even more grateful to the entire organization for helping me with this move to be closer to home,” said Bright. “As I move on, I feel deep gratitude for the incredible community here and the personal growth it has sparked in me. A huge thank you to the fans and supporters for your unwavering energy and loud cheers at BMO [Stadium] during our home games—you made every moment special.
“I’m also beyond appreciative of the staff and front office for their constant support, both on and off the field, helping me evolve in my career,” Bright continued. “Finally, a massive shoutout to my teammates for pushing me every day, helping me become the best version of myself. We showed up every day with one goal: to push past every limit and reach new heights together.”
“We are happy to have been able to work with Messiah and Houston to complete the trade for her to play in her home state,” said ACFC Sporting Director Mark Parsons. “Messiah is a young player with a bright future and we appreciate her contributions to our third season in the NWSL. We wish her the best in Houston and in the future.”
Bright, who joined ACFC in January 2024 via a trade with Orlando Pride, tallied 946 minutes and one goal in 25 NWSL match appearances in all competitions with the club. During an international friendly match against Liga MX Femenil club FC Juarez, Bright scored her first hat trick of her professional career, and the first in ACFC history.
Selected No. 21 overall by Orlando in the 2023 NWSL Draft, Bright was named a finalist for NWSL Rookie of the Year in 2023 and led all NWSL rookies with seven goals in all competitions. In August 2023, she became the first player in NWSL history to earn both Player and Rookie of the Month honors in the same month after scoring three goals in four matches, including her first career brace against North Carolina Courage.
Originally from Dallas, Texas, Bright finished her career as a Texas Christian University (TCU) Horned Frog with 50 goals and 17 assists in 102 match appearances, setting the program record for goals scored in a single season. She also earned call-ups to the 2022 U-23 U.S. Women’s National Team (USWNT), where she was named to the roster for the 2022 Thorns Invitational and returned to the squad for the Sweden U-23 Three Nations Tournament. In 2018, she was named to the U-18 USYNT training camps in Florida and Switzerland.
