FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (August 13, 2026) – Fort Lauderdale United FC has officially announced its offseason arrivals, adding seven experienced veterans to an established core as the club prepares for its third season in franchise history. With a blend of proven experience and returning talent, Fort Lauderdale enters the 2026 campaign reloaded and determined to return to the Gainbridge Super League Playoffs.
“We’re really excited about the players we’ve added this offseason and the experience they bring to our group,” said Aly Hassan, General Manager of Fort Lauderdale United FC. “This is a group that understands what it takes to compete at a high level. They complement the core we’re bringing back and give us the depth, quality, and experience we need as we look to take the next step in 2026.”
Fort Lauderdale has bolstered its roster with seven new additions, including a trio of experienced defenders in Haley Thomas (104 appearances), Maggy Henschler (30) and Kelsey Oyler (27), a pair of forwards in Grace Cutler (28) and Farrah Walters (1), and seasoned shot-stopper Heather Hinz (17). Additionally, the club acquired midfielder Nicole Vernis (28) on loan from Lexington SC for the 2026 campaign. Collectively, the seven additions bring 235 professional appearances to Fort Lauderdale, including 161 appearances from its trio of defensive reinforcements.
Thomas leads the group with 104 professional appearances and brings extensive experience in the Gainbridge Super League, as does former Spokane Zephyr teammate and fellow defender Oyler (27 GP), while former Tampa Bay Sun attacker Walters (1) made her professional debut during the 2025/26 campaign. Cutler (28 GP) and Hinz (17 GP), both of whom have been selected by the Houston Dash in the NWSL Draft during their careers, bring international experience from Italy, Croatia, Australia and Japan, collectively. Henschler also adds international experience after spending two seasons in Sweden, and loan acquisition Vernis (28 GP) joins Fort Lauderdale after a title-winning campaign with Lexington SC, bringing additional international experience from Italy.
Together with Fort Lauderdale’s returning core, the seven additions form one of the club’s strongest and most experienced rosters to date.
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The wait is over — the 2026 Gainbridge Super League season is finally here! Don’t miss a moment of the action, be a part of it and get your tickets HERE! Stay tuned and follow us on social media to stay up-to-date with all things FTL UTD on Instagram, X(Twitter), LinkedIn, TikTok, and Facebook.
