News — Four players in the National Women’s Soccer League are on the move. The Houston Dash and Reign FC swapped players and involved one NWSL Draft pick in a Monday afternoon trade. The Dash will receive defender Megan Oyster and forward Shea Groom. Meanwhile, the Reign pick up midfielder Sofia Huerta and defender Amber Brooks.
Also, the Dash have acquired a conditional second-round pick in the 2022 NWSL College Draft.
The move is a positive for both organizations, but a major win for the Dash. Despite being with the Dash for four seasons, Brooks was dwindling in production. The Dash backline gave up 36 goals in the NWSL last season. The only team to give up more was last-place Orlando, who gave up 53 goals.
Meanwhile, Huerta is heading to her third club in the last two seasons. A longtime member of the Chicago Red Stars, she joined the Dash in the summer of 2018. Since then, Huerta has made 36 appearances for the Dash, scoring 10 goals and providing eight assists. Huerta hit the 100 NWSL appearance mark this past season.
Huerta has been aiming to rejoin the U.S. women’s national team. She recorded seven appearances with the national team, but fell out of favor when she wasn’t defending at the club level. She was not named to Vlatko Andonovski’s Identification Camp roster in December.
James Clarkson, Houston Dash head coach, said he wishes Brooks and Huerta the best in Tacoma, where the Reign are located.
“It’s always sad to see players leave the club, especially two that have played a big part over the years,” Clarkson said, via a press release.
Thank you, @schuerta 🧡 pic.twitter.com/ldEhWXccQz
— Houston Dash (@HoustonDash) February 3, 2020
Thank you for everything, @abrooks22 🧡 pic.twitter.com/GiXSNfNjNa
— Houston Dash (@HoustonDash) February 3, 2020
H-Town picks up Shea Groom, Megan Oyster
On the other end of the trade, Groom and Oyster are heading to H-Town. Groom was behind a few players on the Reign FC depth chart, including Megan Rapinoe and Jodie Taylor. However, Rapinoe didn’t feature in many regular-season matches last season — she appeared in six matches, and one playoff match. Groom is an NWSL champion with the former FC Kansas City club.
Groom made 15 appearances for the Reign, scoring twice. In 2018, she joined Sky Blue FC, where she scored two goals in 21 appearances.
“We have added two outstanding players with lots of experience that will strengthen us heading into the season,” Clarkson said. “I’ve been interested in both players for a long time and am really excited to start working with them.”
The other player Clarkson is talking about is Oyster.
Oyster was picked by the Washington Spirit in the 2015 NWSL Draft. She made 38 appearances for the Spirit, and scored her first-ever professional goal against her hometown Chicago Red Stars in 2015. Oyster hails from Naperville, Illinois.
After two seasons with the Spirit, Oyster joined the Boston Breakers. When the club dissolved, Oyster joined Reign FC, where she made 41 appearances, scored one goal and provided two assists. She started the club’s semifinal match against North Carolina last year.
Oyster has two appearances for the USWNT.
Thank you to @sheabayy2 and @MeganOyster for all they gave to our club. #ThankYouShea #ThankYouMegan pic.twitter.com/Ye0uC9owt2
— OL Reign (@OLReign) February 3, 2020
