San Diego Wave FC Acquires Maria Sanchez

Taylor Vincent
Taylor Vincent, Resident NWSL ExpertApril 20, 2024
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Details

San Diego acquires: María Sánchez

Houston acquires: $300,000 in intra-league Transfer Funds, $200,000 in Allocation Money, a 2024 International Slot and a 2025 International Slot

Analysis

Although requested back in March, Houston Dash forward María Sánchez’s move to San Diego was finalized just hours before the deadline of the NWSL Primary Window Closing on Friday. The Wave will pick up Sánchez’s current contract which will keep her in San Diego through the 2026 season with an option for 2027. In exchange for Sánchez, San Diego is sending $300,000 in intra-league transfer funds, $200,000 in allocation money, and an international slot in 2024 and 2025 to the Dash. 

Prior to the Sánchez trade, the biggest sum of money that passed between two NWSL teams on a single deal was $350,000 in allocation money being sent along with a fourth round future pick from NJ/NY Gotham FC to the Orlando Pride for the 2023 No. 2 overall pick. Gotham ended up flipping the pick—which would become forward Michelle Cooper—to Kansas City for forward Lynn Williams. 

The Wave played yesterday against Orlando in a rough 1-0 loss that could’ve easily seen Orlando score three or more goals, while the Wave were held to just four shots and one on target.  They will head home today after two weeks on the road to host expansion side Bay FC next weekend. 

“We are thrilled to bring María to San Diego and offer her a warm welcome to our club and

community,” said San Diego Wave FC President Jill Ellis said in a release. “For club and country, María has been an integral part of every team she has been on and her talent will be a wonderful addition to the club.”

It will be really interesting to see how Sánchez fits in a San Diego side which is stacked up top, with nine forwards currently on the roster, or whether Sánchez will drop back into the midfield. 

Houston is already in Portland ahead of their evening matchup against the Thorns and then will continue their road series facing Utah next weekend. Currently sitting 11th in the table, the Dash only have four points through four games, and have been really struggling to find their footing under new head coach Fran Alonso. They will be facing a bottom of the table Portland Thorns who are currently under the direction of a new interim head coach as of Tuesday. Sanchez has played all but 12 minutes of the Dash’s regular season thus far, and it will be interesting to see who steps up in her absence. 


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