PITTSBURGH (May 2, 2025) — Another trio of homegrown talents will be added to the inaugural Pittsburgh Riveters roster with the addition of Duquesne University midfielder Jayden Sharpless, University of Cincinnati forward Ashlyn Basinger and Bowling Green University midfielder Minah Syam.
The three players all hail from WPIAL schools and played their club soccer for the Riverhounds Development Academy, making their addition to the Riveters a homecoming to Highmark Stadium.
Sharpless, 21, has started all 37 matches for Duquesne since transferring after her freshman year with Georgia State. Last season, the Dukes posted a 9-7-1 record for their first winning season since 2017.
Prior to college, Sharpless was an all-state player for North Catholic High School, winning two WPIAL titles and helping her team reach the PIAA state finals.
“Jayden is a very experienced central midfield player and is having a very good college career at Duquesne,” Riveters head coach Scott Gibson said. “She will bring intelligence on the field to our group and is very comfortable in possession of the ball. Jayden is also very dangerous from set pieces and has an excellent range of passing. Jayden will bring a lot of depth and experience to our midfield.”
Basinger, 20, just completed her first season with Cincinnati as a sophomore after spending her freshman season with Maryland. She appeared in nine matches and recorded her first career assist in a Big 12 win over Houston.
Originally from Waynesburg, Basinger was a two-time All-WPIAL selection for Waynesburg Central High School one of the WPIAL’s top scorers in her senior season of 2022.
“Ashlyn is a very quick and direct player and will add even more depth and speed to our attack. She likes to take players on 1v1, is technically very good and is a hard-working team player. We are looking forward to working with Ashlyn again this summer,” Gibson said.
Syam, 19, missed her freshman season with Bowling Green last fall due to an injury suffered before the season. An All-WPIAL player for Avonworth High School, she won three consecutive WPIAL titles and twice reached the state final with the Antelopes.
“Minah was a part of the Riverhounds Academy nearly her whole life before moving on to college, so we know exactly the type of player and person we are bringing onto the roster,” Gibson said. “Minah is an absolute competitor, leader and excellent all-around player. She leads by example and makes everyone around her better both on and off the field. We are delighted to have Minah back and can’t wait to see her on the field.”
Opening night for the Riveters is just two weeks away, when the team hosts the Cleveland Force at 7 p.m. Friday, May 16 at Highmark Stadium. Tickets are available now through Ticketmaster and at the Highmark Stadium Box Office.
