NWSL Player Allocation

The National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) Player Allocation distributed the national team players that would be paid for by the United States Soccer Federation (USSF), the Canadian Soccer Association (CSA), and the Mexican Football Federation (FMF) to the eight founding teams of the NWSL. The initial allocation list was announced on January 9th, 2013,[1] with the results for the 55 national team players announced two days later.[2] From tweets concerning the first trade in the league between Seattle and Chicago, the allocations looked to be effective for at least the first two NWSL seasons,[3] though this was later shown to be not true as Keelin Winters, who was involved in said trade, was signed as a free agent in the 2013-14 offseason. The 2014 Allocation was reduced to 50 players, Mexico dropping eight slots and the United States adding three.

2013

Allocation process

For the initial allocation, each of the eight teams submitted which players they desired, ranking all players in each national team pool, and all the eligible players submitted which four teams they wanted to play for, as well as one team they didn't. The results were then matched by a third party.[4]

The initial player allocation was held on January 9, 2013, with each team's allocation announced on January 11. The USSF initially chose to fund 23 player salaries, while CSA and FMF both funded 16 players. Each team, except for the Western New York Flash, received three U.S., two Canadian, and two Mexican internationals; the Flash received two U.S. internationals.[5]

Allocation results

Boston Breakers Chicago Red Stars FC Kansas City Portland Thorns Seattle Reign FC Sky Blue FC Washington Spirit Western New York Flash
United States Sydney Leroux Shannon Boxx Nicole Barnhart Rachel Buehler Megan Rapinoe Jillian Loyden Ashlyn Harris Carli Lloyd
Heather Mitts Amy LePeilbet Lauren Cheney Tobin Heath Amy Rodriguez Kelley O'Hara Ali Krieger Abby Wambach
Heather O'Reilly Keelin Winters* Becky Sauerbrunn Alex Morgan Hope Solo Christie Rampone Lori Lindsey
Canada Adriana Leon* Erin McLeod Desiree Scott Karina LeBlanc Kaylyn Kyle Sophie Schmidt Robyn Gayle Bryanna McCarthy
Rhian Wilkinson Carmelina Moscato* Lauren Sesselmann Christine Sinclair Emily Zurrer Melanie Booth Diana Matheson Jodi-Ann Robinson
Mexico Anisa Guajardo Maribel Dominguez Renae Cuellar* Luz Saucedo Jenny Ruiz Monica Ocampo Alina Garciamendez Veronica Perez
Cecilia Santiago Dinora Garza Marylin Diaz Rubi Sandoval Teresa Noyola* Lydia Rangel Teresa Worbis Pamela Tajonar

Italic designates players who did not participate in the season
* designates player who was traded during the season

Post allocation changes

Player withdrawals

Heather Mitts retired before the season started, Amy LePeilbet was out with injury all summer, and Amy Rodriguez took the season off due to pregnancy.

In the month leading up to opening day, the FMF withdrew funding for several of its players, removing them from the NWSL:

Other changes

On March 1st, Chicago sent Winters and a fourth-round 2014 draft pick to Seattle in exchange for a first-round 2014 draft pick and a return of one of Seattle's allocated players to Chicago after the season was complete.[3][7] It was later revealed that Seattle would not send an allocated player to Chicago, with Winters losing her allocation status and Chicago getting a new allocated player.[8]

On July 1st, Kansas City traded Renae Cuellar and their third-round pick to Seattle in exchange for Teresa Noyola, right to Nikki Krzysik, and a second-round draft pick.[9] Cuellar had been a league-leading scorer until she had an injury and was unable to return to KC's starting lineup even after fully recovering.[10]

On July 30th, Chicago and Boston swapped Adriana Leon and Carmelina Moscato.[11]

Kristie Mewis of FC Kansas City gained allocated status during the 2013 season.[12]

Offseason changes

All three federations re-evaluated their allocations during the 2013-2014 offseason. Teams made trades with their allocated players often before the allocations were announced, though. There were four offseason trades before new allocations were officially announced, all involving the Seattle Reign. On September 10th, Carmelina Moscato was sent from Boston to Seattle in exchange for Kaylyn Kyle.[13] On October 25th, Washington gave the rights to Alina Garciamendez (and to Nikki Marshall) to Seattle in exchange for Renae Cuellar (and rights to Jodie Taylor). Third-round 2014 draft picks were also traded.[14] Third, Seattle sent Amy Rodriguez to FCKC in exchange for Kristie Mewis.[15] Finally, on November 18th, Seattle gave away Mewis, Michelle Betos, and their first two 2015 draft picks to the Boston Breakers in exchange for Sydney Leroux.[16]

2014

The new allocation list was revealed on January 3.[17][18][19] Despite the addition of the expansion side Houston Dash, Canada did not increase their allocation to 18 players; Mexico decreased their allocation from 16 (effectively 12) to 8, similarly not accounting for the ninth team, and unlike Canada or the United States did not as a rule keep returning allocated players on their existing teams. The United States increased their allocation from 23 to 26 players. The Houston Dash were only allocated one US player but was allowed to take two more in the 2014 NWSL Expansion Draft.

Allocation results

Boston Breakers Chicago Red Stars FC Kansas City Houston Dash Portland Thorns Seattle Reign FC Sky Blue FC Washington Spirit WNY Flash
United States Heather O'Reilly Shannon Boxx Nicole Barnhart Whitney Engen † Rachel Buehler Megan Rapinoe Jillian Loyden Ashlyn Harris Carli Lloyd
Meghan Klingenberg* † Amy LePeilbet* Lauren Holiday Tobin Heath Hope Solo Kelley O'Hara Ali Krieger Abby Wambach
Kristie Mewis Christen Press † Becky Sauerbrunn Alex Morgan Stephanie Cox † Christie Rampone Yael Averbuch †
Amy Rodriguez Sydney Leroux
Canada Kaylyn Kyle Erin McLeod* Desiree Scott Melissa Tancredi* † Karina LeBlanc* Carmelina Moscato Sophie Schmidt Robyn Gayle Selenia Iacchelli †
Chelsea Stewart † Adriana Leon Lauren Sesselmann* Christine Sinclair Jonelle Filigno † Diana Matheson
Rachel Quon †
Mexico Dinora Garza Cecilia Santiago Teresa Noyola Jackie Acevedo † Arianna Romero* † Monica Ocampo Renae Cuellar Veronica Perez*

Highlight designates difference from previous allocation
† designates newly allocated player for 2014
Italic designates a player that did not participate in the season
* designates player who was traded during the season OR selected in the expansion draft

Post-allocation changes

The Houston Dash were very quick to get into the trading arena, sending Melissa Tancredi to Chicago in exchange for Erin McLeod on January 7th.[20] They then selected Meghan Klingenberg, Lauren Sesselmann, & Arianna Romero in the expansion draft.[21]

After the expansion draft, the trade limitation of allocated-for-same-country-allocated was lifted.[22] Players that were 'unevenly' traded once this restriction was lifted include Amy LePeilbet (to Kansas City), Karina LeBlanc (to Chicago), and Veronica Perez (to Washington).

When rosters were revealed on April 7th, Crystal Dunn and Alyssa Naeher had received allocation status.

Offseason changes

Some allocated players were traded between teams before the new 2015 allocations were announced. The Western New York Flash dealt Carli Lloyd to the Houston Dash in exchange for Whitney Engen (and Becky Edwards).[23] The Boston Breakers also traded Heather O'Reilly to FC Kansas City in exchange for unallocated rookies Morgan Marlborough and Kassey Kallman.[24] Sophie Schmidt announced in January she would not play for Sky Blue FC nor the NWSL in order to focus on the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup.[25]

2015

Official allocation results for all three federations were announced on January 14, 2015, reducing the total number of allocated players to 42 (down from 50 in 2014 and 55 in 2013).[26] Allocated players will play the first 3-4 NWSL games of the 2015 season before missing 7-8 games due to the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup.[27]

Allocation results

Boston Breakers Chicago Red Stars FC Kansas City Houston Dash Portland Thorns Seattle Reign FC Sky Blue FC Washington Spirit WNY Flash
United States Kristie Mewis Shannon Boxx Nicole Barnhart Meghan Klingenberg Rachel Buehler Sydney Leroux* Kelley O'Hara Ashlyn Harris Abby Wambach*
Alyssa Naeher Christen Press Lauren Holiday Carli Lloyd Tobin Heath Megan Rapinoe Christie Rampone Ali Krieger Whitney Engen
Julie Johnston † Amy Rodriguez Alex Morgan Hope Solo Crystal Dunn
Becky Sauerbrunn
Heather O'Reilly
Canada Nkem Ezurike † Adriana Leon Erin McLeod Christine Sinclair Jonelle Filigno Diana Matheson
Rachel Quon Lauren Sesselmann Kaylyn Kyle
Karina LeBlanc Allysha Chapman † Rhian Wilkinson †
Melissa Tancredi
Mexico Bianca Sierra † Monica Ocampo Veronica Perez
Arianna Romero

Highlight designates difference from previous allocation
† designates newly allocated player for 2015
Italic designates a player that did not participate in the season
* designates player who was traded during the season

Post-allocation changes

Abby Wambach announced on March 18 she would not play for Western New York nor the NWSL in order to focus on the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup.[28] On March 30 Western New York traded Wambach, Amber Brooks, and their 2016 first round draft pick to Seattle for Sydney Leroux and Amanda Frisbie.[29]

References

  1. ↑ "NWSL Announces List of 55 Allocated Players" (Press release). United States Soccer Federation. January 9, 2013. Retrieved January 26, 2013.
  2. ↑ "NWSL Announces Allocation of 55 National Team Players to Eight Clubs" (Press release). United States Soccer Federation. January 11, 2013. Retrieved January 26, 2013.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Lewis, Scott (March 1, 2013). "Seattle Reign FC acquires Keelin Winters from the Chicago Red Stars in the first ever NWSL trade". NWSL News. Retrieved March 3, 2013.
  4. ↑ Lauletta, Dan (January 9, 2013). "NWSL allocation and rules: what we know thus far". Equalizer Soccer.
  5. ↑ "NWSL Announces Allocation of 55 National Team Players to Eight Clubs" (Press release). United States Soccer Federation. January 11, 2013. Retrieved January 26, 2013.
  6. ↑ "Portland Thorns FC: Mexican Players Luz Saucedo and Marlene Sandoval Removed from Roster". SB Nation. 21 March 2013. Retrieved 11 April 2013.
  7. ↑ "Seattle Reign, trying to reload, bolster midfield ahead of NWSL season". NBC Sports. Retrieved 5 March 2013.
  8. ↑ "Winters signs two-year Seattle deal as non-subsidized player". Equalizer Soccer. 24 October 2013. Retrieved 26 October 2013.
  9. ↑ "Reign make two trades, land Cuellar for Noyola". Equalizer Soccer. 1 July 2013. Retrieved 26 October 2013.
  10. ↑ "Andonovski: Cuellar ‘just lost her spot on the team’". Equalizer Soccer. 1 July 2013. Retrieved 26 October 2013.
  11. ↑ "Official: Red Stars deal Moscato to Breakers for Leon". Equalizer Soccer. 29 July 2013. Retrieved 26 October 2013.
  12. ↑ Kassouf, Jeff (2013-08-23). "Kristie Mewis already subsidized by US Soccer". The Equalizer.
  13. ↑ "Seattle Reign sends Kaylyn Kyle to Boston Breakers for Carmelina Moscato". Equalizer Soccer. 10 September 2013. Retrieved 26 October 2013.
  14. ↑ "Spirit land Cuellar in multi-player deal". Equalizer Soccer. 25 October 2013. Retrieved 26 October 2013.
  15. ↑ "Kansas City sends Mewis to Seattle for Amy Rodriguez". Equalizer Soccer. 7 November 2013. Retrieved 7 November 2013.
  16. ↑ "Leroux traded to Seattle as Mewis heads to Boston". Equalizer Soccer. 18 November 2013. Retrieved 19 November 2013.
  17. ↑ "NWSL ANNOUNCES 2014 ALLOCATED PLAYERS". NWSL. 3 January 2014. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  18. ↑ "NWSL 2014 allocation list revealed". SB Nation. 3 January 2014. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  19. ↑ "Source: Press to Chicago as allocation takes shape". Equalizer Soccer. 2 January 2014. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  20. ↑ "Dash deal Tancredi to Chicago, get GK McLeod". Equalizer Soccer. 7 January 2014. Retrieved 8 January 2014.
  21. ↑ "Dash add Klingenberg, nine more in expansion draft". Equalizer Soccer. 10 January 2014. Retrieved 10 January 2014.
  22. ↑ Official NWSL Twitter announcement of new allocated trade rule
  23. ↑ "Houston Dash acquire USWNT midfielder Carli Lloyd from Western New York Flash". Houston Dash Communications. 16 October 2014. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
  24. ↑ B. Martin (27 October 2014). "FC KANSAS CITY ACQUIRE MIDFIELDER HEATHER O’REILLY FROM BOSTON BREAKERS". FCKansasCity.com. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
  25. ↑ Kassouf, Jeff (2015-01-14). "NWSL announces list of 42 subsidized players". The Equalizer. Retrieved 2015-01-16.
  26. ↑ "NWSL ANNOUNCES 2015 ALLOCATED PLAYERS". National Women's Soccer League. January 14, 2015. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
  27. ↑ "NWSL to play 20-game schedule, break for World Cup; national team players to miss 7-8 games". Equalizer Soccer. 27 August 2014. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
  28. ↑ Geary, Molly (2015-03-18). "USWNT's Abby Wambach will not play in 2015 NWSL season". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 2015-03-15.
  29. ↑ Kassouf, Jeff (2015-03-30). "Flash, Reign swap Wambach, Leroux in blockbuster". The Equalizer.

See also