NWSL’s Top 5 Trades of the Offseason

Taylor Vincent
Taylor Vincent, Resident NWSL ExpertMay 16, 2024
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1. Sam Staab to Chicago

Trade Details

Chicago acquires: Sam Staab

Washington acquires: 2024 1st round pick (#1 overall, selected Croix Bethune)

Contract Status

Signed thru 2026; UFA 2027

Analysis

Hours before the 2024 Collegiate Draft began, it was announced that defender Sam Staab had been traded from the Washington Spirit to the Chicago Red Stars, and in return the Spirit received Chicago’s third overall draft pick. 

Staab was originally drafted fourth overall in the 2019 Collegiate Draft by the Washington Spirit, and in her time with the Spirit, was a three-time NWSL Ironwoman (someone who plays every available regular-season minute), and in 2023 she set a new league record for the most consecutive regular season-starts. On top of all that, she earned Best XI of the Month six times in her career including the March/April Best XI last month with Chicago. After arriving in the Windy City, Staab also signed a three-year extension with Red Stars, keeping her with the squad through 2026. 

The Spirit used their newly acquired third overall draft pick to pick midfielder Croix Bethune. As well as winning the March/April NWSL Rookie of the Month, Bethune was also named to the Best XI of the Month. The rookie is also in fourth place in the Golden Boot race with four goals and four assists in her nine matches. 

2. Ashley Sanchez to North Carolina

Trade Details

North Carolina acquires: Ashley Sanchez

Washington acquires: 2024 1st round pick (#5 overall, selected Hal Hershfelt), $250,000 Allocation Money

Contract Status

Signed thru 2026; UFA 2027

Analysis

In the midst of the Collegiate Draft, midfielder Ashley Sanchez was traded from the Washington Spirit to the North Carolina Courage in return for $250,000 in allocation money and the fifth overall draft pick.

Sanchez was drafted by the Washington Spirit in 2020 and was a highly impactful player for the team, got her first cap for the US Women’s National Team in 2021, and was named to the USWNT roster for the 2023 FIFA World Cup. In 2023, Sanchez played over 1600 minutes for the Spirit, scoring five goals and an assist. Since joining the Courage, Sanchez has played in 770 minutes over nine games, with a goal, three assists, and an 80% passing accuracy. 

With the fifth overall draft pick that they acquired, the Washington Spirit picked midfielder Hal Hershfelt. Hershfelt has played in all nine matches for the Spirit this year, with two goals and an 81% passing accuracy. 

3. Rocky Rodriguez to Angel City

Trade Details

Angel City acquires: Rocky Rodriguez

Portland acquires: $275,000 Allocation Money

Contract Status

Signed thru 2025; UFA 2026

Analysis

In its first two seasons, Angel City’s midfield struggled to really find its identity and create a consistent flow between the lines. A large part of this was the lack of depth in the midfield. After midfielder Savannah McCaskill signed with the San Diego Wave as a part of her free agency during the 2023-24 offseason, ACFC was in further need of some added numbers in the midfield. And so, Angel City traded $275,000 in allocation money—and potentially some conditional funds toward the transfer fee threshold—for Portland Thorns midfielder Rocky Rodriguez. 

Although a concussion kept the Costa Rican national team player out of the first two games of the season, Rodriguez has seen playing time in every Angel City game since then with a 78% passing accuracy. 

4. Mandy Haught to Utah

Trade Details

Utah acquires: Mandy Haught

NJ/NY Gotham acquires: $150,000 Allocation Money, protection from UTAH in 2024 Expansion Draft

Contract Status

Signed thru 2024; 2025 Mutual Option (RFA if declined)

Analysis

Ahead of the trade window closing for the 2024 Expansion Draft, NJ/NY Gotham goalkeeper Mandy Haught was traded to the Utah Royals for expansion protection and $150,000 in allocation money. 

During the 2023 season, following injuries to goalkeepers Abby Smith and Michelle Betos, Haught stepped in the starting role without a hitch, aiding Gotham in its final run into playoff qualification—making it above the cutline thanks to having a two goal differential over Orlando. Haught then held clean sheets in the quarterfinals and semifinals to get Gotham to the NWSL Championship which they would go on to win. Haught has thus far played in every single minute for the Royals this year.

5. Arin Wright to Louisville

Trade Details

Louisville acquires: Arin Wright

Chicago acquires: $125,000 Allocation Money, 2024 2nd round pick (#15 overall, Jameese Joseph)

Contract Status

Signed thru 2024, UFA 2025

Analysis

Just 30 minutes before the Collegiate Draft began, it was announced that long-time Chicago defender Arin Wright was traded to Racing Louisville in return for the 15th overall pick and $125,000 in allocation money.

Wright was picked eighth overall in the 2015 NWSL Collegiate Draft by Chicago and last year set a new record for the player with the most starts in Red Stars history. Wright requested the trade to return to her home state of Kentucky. Wright’s ability to play outside back and center back has been very useful for Racing, especially after defender Elli Pikkujämsä tore her ACL and ended up on the Season-Ending Injury list back in March. 

With the acquired draft pick, the Red Stars chose midfielder Jameese Joseph. Joseph has found playing time in six matches for Chicago thus far and has gotten one assist and had nine tackles won. 

 

Related:

NWSL Trade Tracker

 


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