San Diego Wave FC has made a significant move by signing former Club América and FC Barcelona goalkeeper Sandra Paños to a 3-year contract. Paños, who signed on Wednesday, joins a Wave club that sits first in the NWSL standings with an 8-4-1 record. Despite their success, the club has struggled to replace longtime fixture Kailen Sheridan in goal. Veteran Didi Haračić and rookie Leah Freeman are each allowing an average of one goal per match, with the Wave ranking last in the NWSL with a 61.8% save rate. The 33-year-old Paños brings veteran leadership to a club that appears to be going for it following a chaotic 2024 and rebuilding 2025. Paños led Club América to the Liga MX Femenil Clausura title and won 'Portera de la Final' honors as the top goalkeeper of the championship match. Before that, Paños won three UEFA Champions League titles as a key member of FC Barcelona's women's team. Wave general manager Camille Ashton said Paños is a world-class goalkeeper with experience and leadership at the highest levels of the game. The Wave return to action on July 4, hosting Gotham FC at Snapdragon Stadium. The holiday match starts at 5:45 p.m. Paños has also made 54 appearances for Spain's national team and was a two-time Women's World Cup call-up. The Wave signed U.S. Women's National Team forward Cat Macario to a record-breaking contract earlier this spring. Macario has yet to make her Wave debut but will likely return shortly after the international break ends. Paños expressed her excitement to join San Diego and begin this new chapter of her career, citing the Wave's talented group of players and strong foundation as what attracted her to the club.