SSFC Spotlight: Sally Menti earns a spot in the NWSL

After initially committing to Gonzaga, Menti matriculated at Santa Clara and contributed two goals and six assists during the COVID-influenced spring season, converted a penalty in the final to help claim the NCAA title, and merited TopDrawerSoccer Best XI Freshman Team, West Coast Conference Freshman of the Year, Freshman All-WCC, and All-WCC Second Team. As a sophomore, she registered one goal and two assists in 21 matches as the team reached the College Cup semifinal. After missing 2022 with an anterior cruciate ligament tear, her senior campaign saw her add four goals and nine assists in 21 fixtures and selected to the First Team All-West Region and First Team All-WCC. Her collegiate career concluded with four goals and seven assists in 20 appearances as a fifth-year player, once again gaining First Team All-West Region and All-WCC accolades.

Entering the professional ranks, Menti was with the Seattle Reign during the 2025 preseason as a non-roster trialist (having trained with the NWSL side “over the years”) but was unable to compete due to a “lingering” injury and “approached her rehabilitation with exceptional dedication and professionalism.” The club signed her to a short-term contract through June, with initial plans to “loan her out to another club afterward.” Her debut came in a May substitute appearance against the Washington Spirit; shortly after, her first start brought her first goal in a 2-1 victory over the San Diego Wave, described as a “showstopper” long-range finish.

“I had a little injury coming out of college, so everything was kind of slow to begin with,” said Menti. “It’s been getting my fitness up, getting used to my team, getting comfortable with the coaches and everything. So [it] just kind of all been building. And I mean, everyone here has been so welcoming and encouraging that it was a pretty natural build for me. And I just appreciate my teammates a lot and coaches for helping me.”

In light of her performances, Seattle signed her to a two-and-a-half-year contract extension through 2027 (with an option for an additional season), having “seized every opportunity to make an impact.” Menti added an assist in a 2-1 victory over the North Carolina Courage and finished the year with 16 appearances on a run that ended in the quarterfinal round of the playoffs. The club presented her with the Young Player of the Year award.

Menti entered the 2026 season with “the potential to be a dominant midfielder” in the NWSL. Unfortunately, she started the schedule with an injury. After returning, her year opened with three substitute appearances, including a “short but fairly impactful shift” against Racing Louisville.

At the international level, Menti is a long-term member of the United States program, beginning in the Under-16 age group. She was a part of the Under-20 team that won the 2022 CONCACAF U-20 Championship but broke her wrist in the first match and missed the ensuing U-20 World Cup with her ACL tear. After competing with the Under-23 squad in 2025, her first senior call-up came in January of 2026, followed by her first cap in the 6-0 victory over Paraguay.

Standing at five feet, eight inches tall, Menti is an all-around center midfielder with the ability to line up as a box-to-box or attacker, praised as “creative” with “great vision and technical ability.” As a “crafty player with exceptional football intelligence,” she is described as “possessing a lot of grit, poise, and calmness on the ball.” Her game comes “with a little bite” and includes “dangerous” free kicks and a habit of breaking up the opponents’ plays.

“I think the main thing is consistency, for sure,” Menti told the local press. “I want to continue to play at the top of my game, and I want to keep growing each game. I want to contribute to goals. I want to contribute to helping our team build out successfully. I’ve kind of adapted [to] the role of box-to-box, which I love. I love being in the attack. I love helping out on defense … I [do] not really want to be put into a box and [be told] this is what you have to do. I like being free out there.”

After making her senior international debut, Menti’s time perhaps will come during the next World Cup cycle. She has already proven her ability to rise to the challenge, having earned her way into a long-term contract at Seattle by demonstrating her skill and potential. The midfield depth chart is a tough nut to crack in any squad, but Emma Hayes has shown a willingness to give players multiple chances to prove their worth.