NWSL offseason tracker: San Diego Wave finalizing Alex Morgan trade; Angel City get Julie Ertz, Sarah Gorden

The National Women’s Soccer League closed out the 2021 season last month, with the Washington Spirit claiming the title. The 2021-22 offseason is now underway and the league has already seen a number of new signings and trades. The 2021 season featured some transformational moments, with NWSL players in the middle of on-going CBA negotiations and participating in demonstrations to protest abusive coaching environments to advocate for systematic change.

A historically long season, spanning 10 months, has now come to a close and the league is now looking ahead to the 2022 Expansion Draft on Dec. 16 and the 2022 NWSL Draft on Dec 18 with coverage on CBS Sports HQ, CBS Sports Network and Paramount+. A number of offseason moves have already occurred as the two events loom closer, and several head coaching positions are still vacant despite two clubs announcing they have filled the roles.

Let’s take a look at some trades and players who have decided to pursue soccer elsewhere this offseason on a team-by-team basis.

Angel City FC

The expansion club has already made waves since its introduction. Angel City have been built up through a primarily women-led ownership group with several other powerhouse women investors spanning across several industries. The club built up its front office staff before growing its their roster, hiring Eni Aluko as sporting director and Freya Coombe as head coach. The duo will lead the club through its first expansion draft after the franchise signed its first player, Christen Press.

Signed:

• Christen Press – Forward – Player rights traded from Racing Louisville FC 

Trade:

• Chicago Red Stars traded defender Sarah Gorden and midfielder Julie Ertz and an international slot to Angel City in exchange for roster protection in the upcoming expansion draft
• Acquired Mary Alice Vignola from Washington Spirit for $30,000 in allocation money and allocated player protection in the expansion draft. 

Chicago Red Stars

The team made its way to another NWSL final but came up short once again. After the loss, the Red Stars accepted the resignation of 11-year head coach Rory Dames — announced in a near-midnight release, ahead of a report from the Washington Post detailing allegations of verbal abuse and harassment from the now-former coach and once-acting general manager. The club is now in the midst of a head coaching search while beginning their offseason by trading six players across three clubs. 

Signed:

• Contract extentions issued to USWNT players Tierna Davidson, Mallory Pugh, and Casey Krueger through 2023. Goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher also extended, with an option for 2024.

Transfers:

• Kayla Sharples, Defender – Adelaide United (Loan through March 2022) – Australia

Trade:

• Red Stars traded defender Sarah Gorden and midfielder Julie Ertz and an international slot to Angel City in exchange for roster protection in the upcoming expansion draft.
• Chicago sends Nikki Stanton to OL Reign for third-round pick in the upcoming NWSL draft.

Houston Dash

The Dash narrowly missed out on the 2021 NWSL playoffs on a tie-breaker, losing their last game and ending their season early. The team is led by head coach James Clarkson, who is the only remaining coach in his original position from the 2021 season.

Signed: 

• Nichelle Prince – Forward – Contract extended through 2024
• Jane Campbell – Goalkeeper –  Contract extended through 2024

Kansas City Current

The Current ended their season in last place in the table, but had a late-season surge, acquiring Kirsten Hamilton, Hallie Mace, and Adrianna Franch in midseason trades. The Current went on to play spoiler against teams in the playoff hunt while maintaining a seven-game undefeated streak at home. The franchise quickly looked ahead to 2022 and unveiled its new team name and crest.

At the conclusion of the 2021 season the club shifted roles for coach Huw Williams, who moved into a front office administrative role, and is currently conducting a search for a permanent head coach. The organization made waves to start its offseason with a trade for USWNT midfielder Samantha Mewis.

Signed: 

• Signed defender Elizabeth Ball to contract extension, will remain with the club through the 2024 season.

Trades: 

• Traded Sam Mewis to Kansas City Current for Kiki Pickett and a first-round draft pick in 2022 NWSL Draft

NJ/NY Gotham FC 

The team had an impressive 2021 that included midseason administrative changes. Gotham FC introduced a new general manager in former NWSL player Yael Averbuch West, and a coaching change during the final third of the season after the departure of Freya Coombe to Angel City — marking the arrival of new coach Scott Parkinson. Through the long 10 months, the players made the 2021 Challenge Cup final, and the NWSL quarterfinals where they were eliminated after a 1-0 loss against Chicago Red Stars. 

Trades:

• Acquired expansion draft protection and allocation money from San Diego Wave in exchange for rights to Canadian goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan.
• Traded midfielder Brianna Pinto to North Carolina Courage for $125,000 allocation money
• Acquired Ali Krieger and Ashlyn Harris via Orlando Pride in exchange for a first round pick in the 2022 NWSL Draft, a 2023 NWSL Draft natural third round pick and $50,000 in Allocation Money from NJ/NY Gotham FC.

Signed:

Allie Long – midfielder – signed through 2023

Transfers:

• Elizabeth Eddy –  Newcastle United Jets (Loan through March 2022) – Australia 
• Gaëtane Thiney – Paris Saint-Germain – Loan to Gotham FC complete for 2021 season
• Sodam Lee – South Korean international – Loan to Gotham FC completed for 2021 season

Player options declined:

• Kenie Wright
• Megan Hinz

North Carolina Courage

A late-season report detailed troubling allegations of sexual misconduct and sexual coercion against former head coach Paul Riley during his head coaching days with Portland Thorns FC in 2015. The scandal led to his termination from the club, and despite the off-field turmoil, Courage players ended their season with a playoff appearance in the NWSL quarterfinals. The team has made several moves already in the offseason, including a three-way trade with the Houston Dash and San Diego Wave FC. They also traded star player Sam Mewis to Kansas City ahead of the expansion draft in exchange for Kiki Pickett and a first-round draft pick.

Loans:

• Lynn Williams –  Melbourne Victory FC (loan till Jan. 7, 2022) – Australia 

Player options declined:

• Diane Caldewell

Trades:

• Traded Sam Mewis to Kansas City Current for Kiki Pickett and first round draft pick in 2022 NWSL Draft
• Received $190,000 in allocation money and San Diego’s natural first-round draft selection in the 2023 NWSL Draft for the player rights to Abby Dahlkemper after conditions in a midseason trade with the Houston Dash were met.
• Acquired midfielder Brinna Pinto from Gotham FC for $125,000 allocation money

OL Reign

The Reign ended their season with a semifinals appearance where they were eliminated by the Washington Spirit. Head coach Laura Harvey joined the club midseason and will remain with the club through 2023. No official word on the official status of Sarah Bouhaddi, Dzenifer Maroszan, or Eugeine Le Sommer and their future with the Reign, though the initial loan terms of the three Olympique Lyonnais players were through December 2021. 

Trades:

• Acquired midfielder Nikki Stanton from Chicago Red Stars in exchange for a third-round pick in the upcoming NWSL draft
• Traded the 36th overall draft pick in the 2022 NWSL Draft to Angel City FC in exchange for $25,000 allocation money and partial roster protection from Angel City. Los Angeles has agreed to not select a forward from OL Reign’s list of unprotected payers in 2022 NWSL Expansion Draft.

Orlando Pride

The Pride got off to a hot start in 2021, going on a seven-game undefeated game streak, only to have a coaching change midseason after former Pride coach Marc Skinner left to take a position with Manchester United. The Pride fell out of playoff position before the end of the season, and have already made offseason trades. Orlando is also currently rumored to be looking to hirer longtime UCLA coach Amanda Cromwell for the head coaching vacancy.

Rumored:

• Alex Morgan, forward: San Diego Wave FC reportedly finalizing trade

Trades: 

• Traded Jodie Taylor to San Diego Wave FC in exchange for 2023 NWSL Draft natural second-round pick, natural third-round pick or Allocation Money, pending conditions met

Portland Thorns FC

The Thorns completed their season winning three titles (Challenge Cup, WICC, and NWSL Shield) and came up just short of the NWSL championship after being eliminated in the semifinals. The conclusion of their season also meant the departure of former head coach Mark Parsons, who left the club to pursue the head coaching position with the Netherlands women’s national team.

In the wake of on-going investigations into the club stemming from Paul Riley’s time in 2015, the franchise has hired a new general manager in former Thorns player Karina LeBlanc, and introduced their new head coach, Riahn Wilkinson. Both Canadian internationals spent time with the club as players in early years. 

Racing Louisville FC

The expansion side in 2021 played to a ninth-place finish, while the franchise terminated then-head coach Christy Holly for cause midseason. Racing Louisville stated they would not keep interim head coach Mario Sanchez in the main role and would begin a search for a new head coach in the offseason. 

Trades:

• Acquired player rights to Christen Press in 2020 expansion draft and then traded Press to Angel City in exchange for roster protection and received Angel City’s first-round pick in the 2022 College Draft, and $75,000 in allocation money

San Diego Wave FC

The franchise will join NWSL as an expansion side in 2022 as the 12th team in the league. The club introduced themselves with Jill Ellis as club president, and the two-time World Cup-winning former USWNT manager quickly hired Molly Downtain as general manager and Casey Stoney as head coach.

The club announced their first player signing in former UCLA Bruins defender Abby Dahlkemper in a three-team trade with Houston Dash and North Carolina Courage. Several trades ahead of the expansion draft, the club added even more players to the roster. In move with Orlando Pride, 35-year-old forward and English international Jodie Taylor joined the squad and will be coached by her now former teammate, Stoney.

The club also added Tegan McGrady arrived after a deal with Washington Spirit, and forwards Katie Johnson, Makenzy Doniak, and Santa Clara’s Kelsey Turnbow in a trade with Chicago Red Stars. All players have hometown ties to California. 

Rumor:

• Alex Morgan – Forward – currently with Orlando Pride via reporting

Trades: 

• Received Abby Dahlkemper in trade via Houston Dash after midseason conditions were met between North Carolina Courage. The Courage will receive $190,000 in allocation money and San Diego’s natural 1st round draft selection in the 2023 NWSL Draft coming up on Dec. 18.
• Traded defender Tegan McGrady, a 2022 first-round college draft pick, and an international roster spot for the 2022 season in exchange for roster protection in the expansion draft. 
• Acquired Katie Johnson, Makenzy Doniak, and the player draft rights to Santa Clara’s Kelsey Turnbow in exchange for roster protection in the expansion draft and $ 25,000 in allocation money.
• Acquired Canadian goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan from NJ/NY Gotham FC in exchange for expansion draft protection and allocation money.

Washington Spirit

The 2021 NWSL Championship team is currently in discussion to keep interim-head coach Kris Ward in a permanent role as head coach after taking over midseason. Former head coach Richie Burke was terminated for cause based on investigations of emotional and verbal abuse within team environments. The team has also made early moves ahead of the double expansion draft to protect their current championship winning roster.

Trades: 

• Traded defender Tegan McGrady, a 2022 first-round college draft pick, and an international roster spot for the 2022 season in exchange for roster protection in the expansion draft.
• Traded Mary Alice Vignola to Angel City for $30,000 in allocation money and allocated player protection in the expansion draft.