San Diego Wave FC signed U.S. Women's National Team forward Catarina Macario in a record-breaking deal that makes her one of the highest paid players in the National Women's Soccer League.

Why it matters: The soccer star coming home to San Diego helps elevate the team into an NWSL Championship contender as it rebuilds with international and young talent.

• Her lucrative contract has been reported as the highest-value deal in the history of women's professional soccer.

Zoom in: Macario is set to earn roughly $8 million over five seasons, plus a signing bonus and incentives, Sportico first reported. Her contract runs through 2030.

• The Wave are able to pay Macario that sum through the NWSL's new high-impact player rule, which allows teams to spend up to $1 million over the league's $3.7 million salary cap on top talent.
• Macario transferred from Chelsea FC, one of the top European clubs, to her hometown team. She'll make her NWSL debut with the Wave this season.

Flashback: Born in Brazil, Macario moved to San Diego at 12 and started playing for San Diego Surf.

• She grew up scoring goals on the same fields in Del Mar that the Wave now use for training.

"This city has played such an important role in my journey, and the opportunity to come back and represent it means a lot to me," Macario said in a statement.

• "From my first conversations with the club, I felt the ambition and the vision for what we can accomplish together, including bringing trophies to this city."

Catch up quick: The 26-year-old forward is very familiar with lifting trophies all over the world.

• At Stanford University, Macario won two NCAA National Championships and MAC Herman Trophies as the nation's best collegiate player.
• As a pro, she won a UEFA Women's Champions League title with Lyon, and back-to-back Women's Super League titles and the FA Women's Cup with Chelsea.
• Macario debuted for the U.S. Women's National team in 2021, and has become one of the team's most prolific goal-scorers.

State of play: Macario is "an intelligent, technical and creative attacker with exceptional vision and composure in the final third," Wave sporting director and general manager Camille Ashton said in a statement.

• With Macario's skills, the Wave is bolstering its Brazilian arsenal up top with recently signed forwards Dudinha, Ludmila and Gabi Portilho as it chases its first NWSL Championship.

What's next: Get tickets for the Wave game at Snapdragon Stadium on Saturday, when the club will formally introduce her to fans.

Go deeper

Organizers in San Diego are planning a No Kings Day of Nonviolent Action on Saturday, one of 3,000 events to be held across the country.

• Progressive political groups, labor unions, and human and civil rights organizations expect Saturday's nationwide demonstrations to surpass last year's No Kings rallies in June and October.

Zoom in: San Diego will have a march from 10am-noon at Waterfront Park as well as smaller events around the county.

• About 50,000 people turned out to the last march in October.

The Twin Cities will serve as the flagship event, according to organizers, with U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, Joan Baez, Maggie Rogers, Jane Fonda and Bruce Springsteen scheduled to perform or speak at the State Capitol in St. Paul.

More details

"Prop 50 was about fighting fire with fire."

In an interview on "The Axios Show," Newsom also revealed that former President Barack Obama urged him to launch California's Prop 50 redistricting effort. (Axios)

🚒 A city audit found San Diego firefighters are taking about twice as long as recommended to get ready for calls, with operational issues causing slow responses. (Union-Tribune)

⛽ Diesel prices have surged past $7 a gallon locally, which means we could soon see higher costs for shipping and everyday goods. (U-T)

🏗️ The state legislature is considering a bill that would exempt the Midway Rising project from California Environmental Quality Act requirements to prevent legal challenges and further delays to the massive development project. (Voice of San Diego)

If you're looking to dive into San Diego's live music scene, start here.

• From laid-back surf sounds to country to soul, there's a lot to choose from over the next two weeks.

👩‍🎤 Digable Planets at the Belly Up. The jazz-rap pioneers play Friday and Saturday, to celebrate the 30th anniversary of "Blowout Comb."

• They'll be joined by local artists Ric Scales and Blame One.

🏄 Tom Curren Band at the Belly Up. On Monday, surf legend Tom Curren brings laid-back, Jack Johnson-style vibes to a benefit for UC San Diego Health's Moores Cancer Center.

🎤 The War and Treaty. On April 2, the husband-and-wife duo bring a mix of country and soul to the Epstein Amphitheater at UCSD.

🍺 North Park Festival of Beers. This epic festival on April 4 in North Park will have live music and local brews.

• Catch a reunion set from San Diego indie rockers Louis XIV and a performance by rising bands The Film Company and DJ Mikey Beats.

🔥 St. Paul & The Broken Bones. Also on April 4, this high-energy Alabama-based soul-rock band comes to The Sound at Del Mar.

More music coming up

The weather will be San Diego-perfect this weekend, so get out there and enjoy it.

🚣 San Diego Crew Classic: The premier rowing regatta goes down today through Sunday at Mission Bay and includes races, food vendors and waterfront views.

🎭 "Carmen" at the Civic Theatre: The San Diego Opera's production runs today through Sunday, bringing Georges Bizet's dramatic classic to life in a limited downtown run.

🫂 "Matt & Ben" at New Village Arts: See a preview performance of this comedy that imagines the classic bromance of Matt Damon and Ben Affleck receiving the "Good Will Hunting" script from a divine source.

🎉 East Village Block Party: This free street festival tomorrow celebrates Padres season with live music, food, pet swag, muscle cars and low riders, a wiffle ball derby, yoga and more.

Make some plans