The National Women’s Soccer League has begun a half a year offseason. The Western New York Flash celebrations’ commenced and the NWSL enjoyed the festival of a landmark fourth season. Now, the offseason deals are being made. Players are leaving, being loaned, or have a chance to maintain their spots for the 2017 season.
NWSL Notable Offseason Moves This Week
Kim Little Leaves Seattle Reign for Arsenal Ladies FC
The biggest transfer currently is Kim Little leaving the Seattle Reign FC. Kim signed a multi-year contract reuniting with Arsenal Ladies FC of the Football Association Women’s Super League (FA WSL). Kim, The NWSL Most Valuable Player in 2014, scored 34 goals in 67 appearances for the Reign.
Pedro Martinez Losa, the Arsenal Ladies’ manager, is excited to have Kim’s talents as he expressed in an interview to www.arsenal.com :
“Kim is one of the outstanding talents in the women’s game and we are so pleased that she will be re-joining us. She has proven that she can create and score goals at the highest level time and time again, and she will be a fantastic asset to our team as we prepare to challenge for the top honours in 2017.”
Kim adds a scoring presence Arsenal sorely needs. The Lady Gunners only have one player in the top 20 in goals according to www.fawsl.com. The Reign’s lack of goals was the reason for missing the playoffs. The loss of Kim and Hope Solo’s uncertain future will have Seattle fans monitoring future transactions.
Vanessa Bernardo Loaned to Perth Glory by Chicago Red Stars
Australia’s Westfield W-League begins next month and so far seven NWSL players are loaned out to play a season. Notably, Vanessa Bernardo of the Chicago Red Stars has been loaned to the Perth Glory. Bernardo, the three-year assist leader for the Red Stars, joins the Glory who was in eighth place in the W-League last season.
Chicago made some more news extending contracts to the entire team. The Red Stars’ front office is more confident in the potential of their squad than Western New York. The champions only exercised options to ten players. Flash forward Lynn Williams may become a Federation player (paid by the national team) and teammate Jessica McDonald has been offered a contract extension.
As players move the ball to win in the present, the NWSL front offices are keeping and moving players to win in the future. The offseason is long and slow, like a chess game and each move is crucial for success in 2017. Hope your team moves wisely.
