Pamela Pereira will be making the final roster in 2017.
A six-year player, the Brazilian defender made her debut for Sao Paulo in 2014, scoring the game-winning goal in the team’s final match against Natal FC. Pereira has been a member of three Brazilian National Team squads in international competition, earning multiple caps with the U-19s, U-20s, and U-23s.
2016 has been a breakout year for Pereira, as the defender has been named the 2014 WPS Player of the Year after helping lead Sao Paulo to the Brazilian League title.
Pereira won three WPS titles during her time in the league, including the 2011 and 2013 championships, as well as the 2012 Player of the Year and 2015 WPS Female Player of the Year honors. More recently, Pereira was honored as the WPS Female Player of the Year following two appearances on the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup U-18 squad while in her U-17 national team debut.
She scored her first goal with Sao Paulo in a 3-0 win over Natal FC in her first appearance in league action as a defender. Three days later, Pereira recorded her first assist with a brace vs. Getafe CF at the WPS Champions League Finals. In fact, she made seven starts in MLS play last season, scoring three goals and providing two assists. In the CONCACAF women’s club championship final that Sao Paulo and FC Dallas played in April, her goal in a 1-1 draw gave Sao Paulo the title.
Last season, she was named to the 2016 WPS Best XI after earning First Team All-WPS honors in 2015. She also made her international debut in the women’s tournament. Her performance in that tournament resulted in four goals and one assist in seven games. This season, she is looking to continue her success on the international level.
On Aug. 8 at the World Cup, the 27-year-old finished the tournament in style with an assist at the 92nd minute. That goal would be the first ever in a World Cup final for Australia.
Pereira has started her career in European club play with clubs such as Paris Saint-Germain, FC Bordeaux, and FC Copenhagen.
Pereira is the second Brazilian player off the 2014 draft board. After completing her eligibility with the NWSL through the 2017