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HOUSTON — Barbara Olivieri has been transferred to Boston Legacy FC, leaving her hometown Houston Dash, in a deal that could be worth up to $165,000 in NWSL allocation funds.
The Dash will receive $50,000 in intra-league transfer funds in both 2025 and 2026, with the agreement also including up to $35,000 in conditional intra-league transfer funds and an additional $30,000 in conditional expansion allocation money.
“We’re incredibly grateful to Bárbara for her time with the Dash and the passion she brought to our club,” said Dash President of Soccer, Angela Hucles Mangano. “She is a talented player with a bright future, and this move gives her the chance to take on an exciting new challenge.”
Olivieri will be joining Boston Legacy through 2029, but she won’t see action with her new team anytime soon. Almost immediately her new team announced that Olivieri would be heading to Mexico on a loan to Tigres UANL in Liga MX Femenil through the end of 2025 and Boston is looking forward to seeing the attacking midfielder in action.
“Olivieri is a creative and dynamic player who despite her young age brings us a wealth of experience both domestically and internationally. As a regular in the NWSL, she has impacted high level games. She suits the team’s style of play and will be a strong addition to what we continue to build at Boston Legacy FC,” General Manager Domè Guasch said. “We are thrilled to welcome Barb to Boston, and our fans can look forward to the impact that she will have on and off the field.”
Going Back
Olivieri started her professional career in Liga MX in 2022 with CF Monterrey Femenil, also known as Rayadas, where she helped her team reach the semifinals on several occasions.
Tigres Femenil has been making big moves they just sold Lizbeth Ovalle to Orlando Pride in the NWSL making historic waves for the amount of $1.5 Million dollars and the team adds its fourth signing for this Apertura 2025 season Olivieri.
She will become the fourth player to have worn both Monterrey shirts the that list also includes Cristina Ferral, Katty Martínez and Carol Cázares.
A Homegrown Star for Houston
Olivieri, a Katy, Texas native, joined the Dash ahead of the 2023 season and later signed a two-year extension following 2024 she had a contract for the Dash until 2026. Over three seasons, she became one of the team’s most promising young players, recording six goals and four assists across 44 regular-season appearances.
Her 2024 campaign was her most productive, with four goals and two assists, earning her the club’s Young Player of the Year award. She created several important plays in 2025.
Olivieri has a different style of play that will be missed on the field, because she brought the passionate, intensity as well never being afraid of going head-to-head with opposing players something that the Dash will now lack.
She will reunite with several former Dash players like Diana Ordońez who recently left and María Sánchez all players that were once major part of the team on the field and as a marketing point.
International & Collegiate Career
Internationally, Olivieri represents the Venezuelan Women’s National Team. She most recently competed in the 2025 Copa América Femenina in Ecuador.
At the collegiate level, she was a standout at Texas A&M, earning SEC Freshman of the Year honors in 2020 and a spot on the All-SEC First Team. In two years with the Aggies, she made 26 starts in 26 appearances, scoring 13 goals before turning pro with Rayadas de Monterrey in Mexico’s Liga MX Femenil.
Fan Reaction
The news sparked a wave of mixed emotions among Dash fans, many of whom have followed Olivieri since her youth days and admired her rise from local standout to professional star.
“Major bummer, explains the excused absence. I’ve loved her at the Dash, I hope she gets the contract and minutes she deserves at Tigres!” posted gk_nealymartin on Reddit.
Most of the sentiment of Dash fans is sad that she is leaving, upset that the Dash can’t seem to keep good players.
Meanwhile in Tigres fans reactions are mixed from saying that she will most likely be a bench player to being excited what she can bring to the team.
“The Dash team reunites: Sanchez, Ordoñez and Olivieri,” said Twitter user Graciela Moreno.
Now the question on every Dash fan is will they bring in any new player in with the NWSL trade window closing soon.
