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PITTSBURGH (Feb. 19, 2026) — Pittsburgh Riveters SC has another quartet of players returning from the team’s Great Forest Division-winning debut season, with commitments from forwards Alexis Tylenda and Robin Reilly, goalkeeper Bailey Herfurth and midfielder Fiona Mahan for the upcoming season.

The returning group maintains more continuity for head coach Scott Gibson’s squad heading into the start of the 2026 USL W League season this May.

“We are happy to have more core players return for the 2026 season,” Gibson said. “Alexis was very productive in her first season, and we expect her to improve her levels even further this summer. Bailey has had an excellent season at WVU as the starting goalkeeper, so we want her to use that experience to be a leader in our GK department.”

Gibson continued: “Robin will provide depth in our attacking areas and is a very talented player. We are also excited to welcome a healthy Fiona back to the squad, as we know what qualities she brings after working her for years in the Riverhounds Academy.”

Tylenda, 20, returns after being one of the Riveters’ top attackers in the team’s first year with two goals and three assists in just seven matches. The Pittsburgh native just completed her sophomore season at the University of Kentucky, where she tied for the team lead with seven goals and helped the Wildcats back into the NCAA Tournament.

Reilly, 18, appeared in five matches for the Riveters in 2025 before embarking on her college career at West Virginia University. As a true freshman with the Mountaineers out of Latrobe, Pa., she appeared in three matches for a team that finished second in the Big 12 regular season and reached the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament.

Herfurth, 22, was a teammate of Reilly’s both with the Riveters and at WVU. As a redshirt junior a season ago, the netminder from Northport, N.Y. allowed only 15 goals in 20 matches (18 starts) while posting nine clean sheets and combining on two other shutouts. Last season, she started two matches for the Riveters, winning both while posting one clean sheet.

Mahan, 19, is a Pittsburgh native who was part of the Riveters program last year but did not play while recovering from an injury. Rated as the top high school player in Pennsylvania in the Class of 2025, she redshirted her freshman season at the University of Alabama and is returning to the field this spring.

The Riveters will be back on the field for their second year on Saturday, May 16, when they kick off 2026 by hosting FC Buffalo. Season tickets can be secured now by visiting riveterssc.com/tickets, and single-game tickets will go on sale at a later date.

PITTSBURGH (Feb. 13, 2026) — Pittsburgh Riveters SC has added another new player for the 2026 season with the commitment of goalkeeper Lexi Grundler.

Grundler, 20, is a recent transfer to Bowling Green University after spending her first two college seasons in the program at 2025 Elite Eight qualifier Michigan State. A decorated player entering college out of Brentwood, Tenn., Grundler was a two-time ECNL All-Conference selection playing for Tennessee SC in the Ohio Valley Conference, where she competed against teams from the Pittsburgh Riverhounds Academy.

Last season, she competed in the USL W League for Kings Hammer FC Cincinnati, which advanced to the Central Conference Final played at Highmark Stadium.

“We are very happy to welcome Lexi to the Riveters. We are familiar with Lexi after competing against her at the Academy level, and she is exactly the type of goalkeeper that we wanted to add,” Riveters head coach Scott Gibson said. “She has good W league experience and will provide leadership to the group. Lexi is a very good shot stopper, good with her feet and commands her 18-yard box very well.”

A two-time United Soccer Coaches All-American and a state champion in high school, Grundler was a top-200 recruit nationally when she committed to Michigan State. At her new college, Grundler is a teammate of returning Riveters midfielder Minah Syam and new Riveters Taylor Green, Emme Butera and Gabby Lamparty.

The Riveters continue preparations for the 2026 season, which the USL W League revealed this week would begin Saturday, May 16, with a home contest against FC Buffalo. Keep up with the team ahead of its second season of play by visiting riveterssc.com.

PITTSBURGH (Feb. 11, 2026) — Ten matches against regional rivals are on tap for the Pittsburgh Riveters, whose 2026 schedule was announced this afternoon by the USL W League.

The Riveters will be out to defend the Great Forest Division title in their second season of women’s soccer competition, which begins exactly one year to the day after the team’s inaugural match. FC Buffalo will provide the opponent in the opener, a 7 p.m. kickoff on Saturday, May 16 at Highmark Stadium.

The team will host Rochester, N.Y. club Flower City 1872 in their second match on May 23 before embarking on a three-match road swing to face Steel City FC (May 28), Cleveland Force (June 3) and Flower City 1872 (June 6).

Back-to-back contests with Erie Sports Center follow with the home match Friday, June 12 and the road contest two days later on June 14. The Riveters then wrap up the schedule at home against Cleveland (June 21), at Buffalo (June 24) and at home against Steel City on Saturday, June 27.

The USL W League Playoffs will take place in July, and the Riveters are striving for a return trip to the postseason after reaching the Central Conference Semifinals in 2025. Fans can lock in their season tickets for the 2026 season now, while single-match tickets will go on sale at a later date.

To see the team’s full schedule with match times, visit riveterssc.com/schedule. Keep up with the latest Riveters news at riveterssc.com and on social media at @RivetersSC.

PITTSBURGH (Feb. 6, 2026) — Pittsburgh Riveters SC has named Bella DeFabbo as their new goalkeeper coach, adding to head coach Scott Gibson’s staff ahead of the 2026 USL W League season.

DeFabbo, 26, is entering her second year as an assistant coach at Duquesne University, where she played as a goalkeeper from 2018-21, and she has coached in the Riverhounds Academy since 2021, working with youth players in the development stage.

“We are pleased to welcome Bella onto our Riveters staff. She has worked alongside us for many years in the RDA and understands what it means to represent the club. She will bring excellent knowledge, passion and leadership to our goalkeepers, and we look forward to getting started,” Gibson said.

Raised in nearby Cranberry Township, Pa., DeFabbo was an All-WPIAL player for Seneca Valley High School before beginning her four years as a student-athlete at Duquesne. In addition to NCAA competition, DeFabbo also played in the Women’s Premier Soccer League during college. 

DeFabbo graduated from Duquesne’s School of Nursing in 2022 and is currently pursuing her doctorate at the University of Pittsburgh. On the field, she has also attained her Level 3 goalkeeping diploma from United Soccer Coaches and holds her D Coaching License from the U.S. Soccer Federation.

The Riveters are set to take the field for their second season beginning this May, and fans can follow all the latest team news at riveterssc.com or at @RivetersSC on social media.

PITTSBURGH (Jan. 29, 2026) — Pittsburgh Riveters SC has added another top talent by reaching an agreement to bring Republic of Ireland international midfielder Ellen Molloy to the club for the 2026 USL W League season.

Molloy, 22, has been a senior-level player since age 16, and this winter, she joined Shamrock Rovers in the League of Ireland Women’s Premier Division. She will join the Riveters this May after playing for Rovers during Spring.

“We are delighted to welcome Ellen to Pittsburgh. She has played at the highest level internationally, and her experience in Ireland will help elevate our team and the players around her,” Riveters head coach Scott Gibson said. “She is an excellent attacking player and will bring a creative edge that will have our supporters on the edge of their seats. Ellen is a great competitor and leader and is exactly the character we want in our locker room.”

A native of Kilkenny, Ireland, Molloy has made seven appearances for the Ireland National Team, debuting for her country’s senior team at 16 in a Women’s Euro 2022 qualifier against Ukraine. She also recorded numerous appearances at the Under-17 and U-19 levels for Ireland, and in 2020, she became the first female winner of the FAI’s International Goal of the Year for her strike in a match against Iceland.

At the club level, Molloy debuted with Wexford FC (formerly Wexford Youths) in 2020, and she would go on to be named the league’s Young Player of the Season in her first year. She also won named Player of the Match in Wexford’s 2021 victory in the FAI Women’s Cup Final, and in 2022, she scored a career-best 16 goals — second in the league — before an injury ended her season early.

After a short spell in England with Sheffield United in 2024-25, Molloy returned to Wexford, where she posted 16 goals across all competitions in 2025 before making the move to Shamrock Rovers.

The Riveters’ 2026 season is set to begin in May, and this year’s USL W League schedule is due to be announced next month. Keep up with all the club news at riveterssc.com and on social media at @RivetersSC.

PITTSBURGH (Jan. 21, 2026) — The youngest contributor to the inaugural Pittsburgh Riveters SC season will be back in 2026 with forward Anna Korney set for a second year in the USL W League.

Korney, 16, made an instant impact in her first Riveters appearance, scoring 21 minutes into her senior-level debut with the opening goal of a 3-1 win over Steel City FC. She made three appearances as a 15-year-old in 2025, finishing with a goal and an assist.

“Anna is such an exciting talent and continues to strive to reach the highest levels of the game. Last year, we threw Anna in at the deep end as a 15-year-old, and she grasped the opportunity with both hands,” Riveters head coach Scott Gibson said. “She is now ready to be part of the Riveters full time after a wonderful year in the RDA. Our Academy is a major pathway to our First Team, and if you’re good enough, you’re old enough to make an impact.”

A standout both in the Riverhounds Development Academy and for DuBois Area High School, Korney was part of the U.S. Under-17 Women’s National Team training camp held over the Thanksgiving holiday in Fayetteville, Ga., marking her third year involved in the national team setup.

Last year, Korney became the first Hounds Academy player to win ECNL Conference Player of the Year honors in any age group after claiming the Ohio Valley Conference scoring title as a U16 player. She followed that up in the fall by helping DuBois to its first-ever PIAA semifinal while breaking the school’s career scoring record of 108 goals in the middle of her sophomore season.

The Riveters are gearing up for their 2026 season beginning this May, and the announcement of the USL W League schedule for the team’s second year is expected in the coming weeks. Follow the team on social media at @RivetersSC and online at riveterssc.com.

PITTSBURGH (Jan. 14, 2026) — Pittsburgh Riveters SC will have another key piece returning as Tanum Nelson, the team’s top scorer in its inaugural season, is set to return for the 2026 USL W League season.

Nelson, 21, made Riveters history a season ago by scoring the first-ever goal for the team in a May 24 road win at Flower City 1872. The midfielder would also post the first hat trick in team history June 8 against FC Buffalo at Highmark Stadium, and she would finish the year with six goals and two assists in 10 matches.

“We are delighted to bring Tanum back to Pittsburgh. She was such a key piece of our attack with her goals and assists last year, and we expect her to have a huge impact once again this season. She will bring experience and leadership, and she knows what it means to be a Riveter,” Riveters head coach Scott Gibson said.

For her impact in the 2025 season, Nelson was selected as the Steel Army Player of the Year, given by the independent supporters’ group of the Riverhounds and Riveters.

A senior at Cornell University, Nelson was one of the captains for the Big Red in 2025 and one of five players to log more than 1,000 minutes. Playing in the center of the park, the Vermont native had one goal last fall for the Ivy League side.

With Nelson’s return to Pittsburgh joining other confirmed players for 2026, the Riveters will be bringing back more than half of their scoring from the team that had the Great Forest Division’s most potent attack at 2.4 goals per match.

The Riveters will kick off the 2026 season this May; to keep up to date on the latest team news, visit riveterssc.com and follow the team on social media at @RivetersSC on all platforms.

PITTSBURGH (Jan. 8, 2026) — Pittsburgh Riveters SC has secured another new duo with the additions of midfielder Emme Butera and defender Gabby Lamparty, both juniors at Bowling Green University, for the 2026 season.

Butera and Lamparty, both 20, held down the middle of the field last fall for Bowling Green, with both players starting all 22 games and Butera leading the team with five assists, as the Falcons went all the way to the Mid-Atlantic Conference Final. Both players’ performances last year earned them spots on the All-MAC First Team, combining defensively in each of the team’s nine clean sheets. 

“Emme and Gabby are both excellent players that will immediately add quality to our group. We are familiar with both players throughout their ECNL youth years at the Cleveland Internationals and are happy to bring them to Pittsburgh,” Riveters head coach Scott Gibson said. “Gabby is a very strong defender and will add another piece to our backline as we look to solidify that unit. Emme is a very clever midfield player, and we are very familiar with her qualities after competing against her this past summer.”

Lamparty comes from Canfield, Ohio and led Bowling Green field players in minutes played, two ahead of Butera, in her first year after transferring from West Virginia. She also finished second on the team in scoring, as the defender notched three goals and three assists, totaling nine points, and was named MAC Defensive Player of the Week on Oct. 28.

Butera, from Willoughby Hills, Ohio, is a two-time All-MAC honoree after being named to the second team as a sophomore, and she has not missed a match in three college seasons. She also started for the Cleveland Force against the Riveters last season in the Riveters’ first-ever match, on her way to a team-leading 712 minutes for the Force, the Great Forest Division runner-up.

The duo will join a pair of their Bowling Green teammates with the Riveters, recent addition Taylor Green and Minah Syam, who is entering her second season with the Riveters.

The Riveters will be back on the field this May in the USL W League as the team returns to defend their title as division champions. Reserve your season tickets now by visiting riveterssc.com or by calling the Highmark Stadium Box Office at 412-865-GOAL.

PITTSBURGH (Jan. 6, 2026) — Pittsburgh Riveters SC is bringing another talented defender to the fold with the addition of Zoe Cuneio for the 2026 USL W League season.

Cuneio, 20, recently transferred to TCU after playing her first three seasons of college soccer at Purdue University. She was a fixture along the Boilermakers’ back line during her tenure there, appearing in 53 of 55 matches and starting every one of those 53.

“We are delighted to welcome Zoe to Pittsburgh this summer. Zoe brings a lot of experience from the highest levels of the game and is exactly the type of defender we were looking to add,” Riveters head coach Scott Gibson said. “She had a fantastic youth career in addition to playing over 50 games at Purdue. She will also be joining a Final Four program at TCU and is the caliber of player and person we are glad to have as a Riveter.”

Hailing from Wildwood, Mo., Cuneio added two goals and three assists from the back line as she helped Purdue improve from a three-win team her freshman season to winning 13 matches over the next two. Last season, she also was a teammate at Purdue with freshman and returning Riveters forward Lilly Bane. Cuneio brings USL W League experience from a pair of division-winning sides, Indy Eleven in 2024 and FC Olympia in 2025.

Prior to college as a standout player for ECNL club St. Louis Scott Gallagher, Cuneio was invited into camp with the U.S. Youth National Team at the Under-15 level and the U.S. Women’s National Team in the Under-17 age group.

The Riveters are gearing up for their second season in the USL W League, set to begin this May. Fans can follow along with all the latest team news at riveterssc.com or by following @RivetersSC on social media.