Fort Lauderdale United FC has bolstered its squad with four new signings ahead of the 2026 Gainbridge Super League Fall Season, adding a quartet of players with extensive collegiate, professional and international backgrounds.
The group features three players with previous Gainbridge Super League experience, including defenders Haley Thomas and Kelsey Oyler, who join from Spokane Zephyr FC, as well as goalkeeper Heather Hinz, who returns to Fort Lauderdale following a standout loan spell during the club’s inaugural season. Forward Grace Cutler adds another dynamic option to the attack, bringing a decorated professional background with stops in the NWSL, Italy, Japan and Croatia.
Haley Thomas, Defender
Thomas spent the first two seasons of the Gainbridge Super League with Spokane Zephyr FC. A native of Kennewick, Washington, she built a standout collegiate career at Weber State and Boston College, earning 2020 Big Sky Co-Defensive MVP honors and All-Big Sky First Team recognition before finishing her career as an ACC starter. Following collegiate play, Thomas gained international experience with Iceland’s IBV and Germany’s MSV Duisburg before returning stateside. With Spokane, the defender quickly established herself as a cornerstone of the club’s back line, ranking among the league’s all-time leaders in appearances (50), starts (47), minutes played (4,262), clearances (181) and tackles won (51). Thomas also contributed offensively with two goals and three assists while earning Team of the Month honors in March 2025.
Grace Cutler, Forward
Selected by the Houston Dash in the third round of the 2019 NWSL College Draft, Cutler went on to gain professional experience around the world with stops at the Washington Spirit, Sassuolo in Italy, Omiya Ardija in Japan and ŽNK Međimurje Čakovec in Croatia before joining Fort Lauderdale. Cutler began her collegiate career at Santa Clara before transferring to West Virginia, where she appeared in all 72 matches during her three seasons with the Mountaineers, serving as team captain in her senior campaign and earning All-Big 12 Second Team honors. She finished her collegiate career with 94 appearances, 12 goals and five assists while playing alongside current Fort Lauderdale captain Sh’nia Gordon.
Heather Hinz
After making an immediate impact during her loan spell with Fort Lauderdale United in the club’s inaugural season, goalkeeper Heather Hinz returns to South Florida as a permanent addition for the 2026 campaign. A standout at the University of South Carolina, Hinz made 78 appearances for the Gamecocks, recording 255 saves and 32 shutouts while earning SEC Tournament MVP honors during South Carolina’s 2022 championship run. She followed with a historic 2023 season, earning United Soccer Coaches All-Region First Team, All-SEC First Team and SEC Goalkeeper of the Year honors. Selected 38th overall by the Houston Dash in the 2024 NWSL Draft, Hinz made her professional debut before joining Fort Lauderdale on loan, where she recorded nine saves and an 81.8% save percentage in two starts. Most recently, Hinz starred with Sydney FC in Australia, leading the A-League Women with an 82.4% save percentage and earning Players’ Player of the Year honors.
Kelsey Oyler
Oyler joins the club after a standout rookie season with Spokane Zephyr FC and reunites with former teammate Haley Thomas. A native of Meridian, Idaho, Oyler became one of Gonzaga’s most decorated defenders, earning United Soccer Coaches Second Team All-America honors, First Team All-WCC recognition and helping the Bulldogs capture their first-ever conference title. She later transferred to Arkansas, where she helped lead the Razorbacks to the 2024 NCAA Tournament Sweet 16. Oyler concluded her collegiate career as Gonzaga’s all-time assists leader with 22 before beginning her professional career with Spokane. During her rookie Gainbridge Super League season, the versatile defender appeared in 27 matches, recording 39 interceptions, 37 tackles won, 12 chances created and 42 crosses.