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 9, 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. Since 2016, Mexico has not allocated players to the NWSL.
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.[2]
Allocation results
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:
- Marylin Diaz and Luz Saucedo - failed fitness tests
- Rubi Sandoval - reportedly injured[5]
- Alina Garciamendez - had existing contract with FFC Frankfurt
Other changes
On March 1, 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][6] 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.[7]
On July 1, 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.[8] 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.[9]
On July 30, Chicago and Boston swapped Adriana Leon and Carmelina Moscato.[10]
Kristie Mewis of FC Kansas City gained allocated status during the 2013 season.[11]
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 10, Carmelina Moscato was sent from Boston to Seattle in exchange for Kaylyn Kyle.[12] On October 25, 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.[13] Third, Seattle sent Amy Rodriguez to FCKC in exchange for Kristie Mewis.[14] Finally, on November 18, Seattle gave away Mewis, Michelle Betos, and their first two 2015 draft picks to the Boston Breakers in exchange for Sydney Leroux.[15]
2014
The new allocation list was revealed on January 3.[16][17][18] 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
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 7.[19] They then selected Meghan Klingenberg, Lauren Sesselmann, & Arianna Romero in the expansion draft.[20]
After the expansion draft, the trade limitation of allocated-for-same-country-allocated was lifted.[21] 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 7, 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).[22] The Boston Breakers also traded Heather O'Reilly to FC Kansas City in exchange for unallocated rookies Morgan Marlborough and Kassey Kallman.[23] 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.[24]
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).[25] 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.[26]
Allocation results
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.[27] 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.[28]
Offseason changes
After the Women's World Cup, many allocated players announced or discussed their plans to retire from national and club football. Shannon Boxx did not finished the season NWSL season with her club; Lauren Holiday and Karina LeBlanc did.[29][30] Abby Wambach, who passed on the entire 2015 season, officially announced her retirement the day the USWNT visited the White House as part of their 2015 World Cup victory celebrations.
During the offseason, several trades took place to move allocated players, with Chicago and WNY swapping Whitney Engen and Adriana Leon for Chicago to further trade with Boston, swapping Engen for Alyssa Naeher. WNY also sent Sydney Leroux to Kansas City after it was announced that Amy Rodriguez would miss the 2016 season to have her second child.
Finally, several allocated players swapped teams as part of the expansion of the Orlando Pride into the league. Portland sent Alex Morgan and Kaylyn Kyle to Orlando as part of a trade that included them receiving Meghan Klingenberg from Orlando after Orlando selected Klingenberg (and Orlando native Ashlyn Harris) in the 2015 NWSL Expansion Draft.
2016
Primary allocation results for United States players were announced on January 13, 2016 with 24 allocated players.[31] Two days later, during the 2016 NWSL College Draft, NWSL also announced a new allocation process.[32] Canada's allocation list was released with 11 players on February 8, 2016, all of whom were allocated under the old process.[33]
Primary allocation results
Highlight designates difference from previous allocation
† designates newly allocated player for 2016
Italic designates a player that did not participate in the season
* designates player who was traded during the season
(†)Emily Sonnett was also declared as an allocated player but would be subject to the 2016 NWSL College Draft, where she was selected by Portland Thorns FC with the first overall pick.
Unattached allocation order & results
Full details for the new process, officially termed Player Distribution, were revealed in late March a day before nine previously allocated players were to have their rights dispersed to other teams.[34][35] This new process, while first implemented for the 2016 Dispersal Draft, was rumored to have been finalized in time for Mallory Pugh to potential turn professional for the Portland Thorns.[36][37]
In an effort to create a "equitable mechanism" of distributing players, federations can declare player(s) currently unattached to NWSL clubs to be allocation-eligible, at which point the NWSL have the opportunity to roster said player(s) on a rolling basis. Players that have lost their allocation and are not picked up by their previous team are also eligible for distribution. The distribution ranking order is determined by the previous season's finishing order (including playoffs) with expansion teams being granted the final spots in the order (i.e. after the defending champions). This order can only be changed by trades or when a team decides to accept a new player.
For the 2016 season, the new distribution process proceeded as follows:
| Final Ranking |
Used Ranking |
Previous Ranking |
Original Ranking |
Club | Date Allocation Used | Player | Previous Club | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | 1 | - | 1 | Boston Breakers | 15 January 2016 | trade | ||
| 1 | - | 4 | - | Portland Thorns | ||||
| 2 | - | - | 2 | Sky Blue FC | ||||
| 3 | - | - | 3 | Western New York Flash | ||||
| - | 4 | - | 4 | Portland Thorns | 15 January 2016 | trade | ||
| 4 | - | 1 | - | Boston Breakers | ||||
| 5 | - | - | 5 | Houston Dash | ||||
| 6 | - | - | 6 | Washington Spirit | ||||
| 7 | - | - | 7 | Chicago Red Stars | ||||
| - | 8 | - | 8 | Seattle Reign | 31 March 2016 | Arianna Romero | Washington Spirit ÍBV | [38] |
| 8 | - | - | 9 | FC Kansas City | ||||
| 9 | - | - | 10 | Orlando Pride | ||||
| - | 10 | 8 | - | Seattle Reign | 31 March 2016 | Veronica Perez | Washington Spirit Canberra United KIF Örebro DFF | [38] |
| 10 | - | 10 | - | Seattle Reign |
Offseason changes
- Alex Morgan to Lyon[39]
- Heather O'Reilly to Arsenal L.F.C.
- Crystal Dunn to Chelsea L.F.C.
- Ali Kreiger to Orlando[40]
- Diana Matheson to Seattle
- Allysha Chapman to Boston[41]
2017
NWSL switched from referring to "allocated players" to referring to "subsidized players" this season, as a result of the new subsidization process and evidenced when Canada announced its list of subsidized players on January 25, 2017.[42] Allocation for United States players was announced on April 6, 2017 with 22 allocated players,[43] the day after a new USWNT CBA was announced.
Previously-attached subsidized players
Highlight designates difference from previous allocation
† designates newly allocated player whose rights were already held or acquired through the 2017 NWSL College Draft (i.e. avoiding the newly-subsidized player distribution process)
‡ designates player new to NWSL added through unattached distribution order process
Italic designates a player that did not participate in the season
* designates player who was traded or changed status during the season
Unattached distribution order & results
For the 2017 season, the new distribution process proceeded as follows:
| Current Ranking |
Used/Traded Ranking |
Previous Ranking |
Original Ranking |
Club | Date Selection Used | Player | Previous Club | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | 1 | - | 1 | Boston Breakers | 17 November 2016 | trade to Spirit | [44] | |
| - | 1 | 2 | - | Washington Spirit | 13 May 2017 | Mallory Pugh | UCLA | [45] |
| - | 2 | - | 2 | Orlando Pride | 1 November 2016 | trade to Spirit | [40][46] | |
| - | 2 | 9 | - | Washington Spirit | 17 November 2016 | trade to Breakers | [44] | |
| 1 | - | 1 | - | Boston Breakers | ||||
| 2 | - | - | 3 | Houston Dash | ||||
| 3 | - | - | 4 | Sky Blue FC | ||||
| 4 | - | - | 5 | FC Kansas City | ||||
| 5 | - | - | 6 | Seattle Reign FC | ||||
| 6 | - | - | 7 | Chicago Red Stars | ||||
| 7 | - | - | 8 | Portland Thorns FC | ||||
| - | 9 | - | 9 | Washington Spirit | 1 November 2016 | trade to Pride | [40][46] | |
| 8 | - | 2 | - | Orlando Pride | ||||
| 9 | - | - | 10 | North Carolina Courage | ||||
| 10 | 1 | 2 | - | Washington Spirit |
2018
Allocated players
Allocated players for the 2018 NWSL season were announced on February 15, 2018.[47] There are 34 players from the United States and Canada total, including six new players, on the allocation list.
Highlight designates difference from previous allocation
† designates newly allocated player whose rights were already held or acquired (i.e. avoiding the newly-subsidized player distribution process)
‡ designates player new to NWSL added through unattached distribution order process
Italic designates a player that did not participate in the season
* designates player who was traded or changed status during the season
Post-allocation changes
Christen Press was traded from the Chicago Red Stars to the Houston Dash during the 2018 NWSL College Draft and was subsequently allocated to the Dash, but did not report to the team. She instead signed a short-term contract with Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC and played part of the 2018 Damallsvenskan season in Sweden.
On June 18, the Utah Royals acquired Press's rights from Houston in a three-team trade, and she joined the team later that month, before the scheduled end of her contract with Göteborg.[48]
On May 9, the Houston Dash acquired Allysha Chapman from the North Carolina Courage. [49]
On June 12, Adriana Leon was traded from Sky Blue FC (who had acquired her in the 2018 NWSL Dispersal Draft) to Seattle Reign FC.[50]
On August 9, Janine Beckie signed a one-year deal with Manchester City of the FA Women's Super League. [51]
References
- ↑ "NWSL Announces List of 55 Allocated Players" (Press release). United States Soccer Federation. January 9, 2013. Retrieved January 26, 2013.
- 1 2 "NWSL Announces Allocation of 55 National Team Players to Eight Clubs" (Press release). United States Soccer Federation. January 11, 2013. Archived from the original on March 4, 2013. Retrieved January 26, 2013.
- 1 2 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.
- ↑ Lauletta, Dan (January 9, 2013). "NWSL allocation and rules: what we know thus far". Equalizer Soccer.
- ↑ "Portland Thorns FC: Mexican Players Luz Saucedo and Marlene Sandoval Removed from Roster". SB Nation. 21 March 2013. Retrieved 11 April 2013.
- ↑ "Seattle Reign, trying to reload, bolster midfield ahead of NWSL season". NBC Sports. Retrieved 5 March 2013.
- ↑ "Winters signs two-year Seattle deal as non-subsidized player". Equalizer Soccer. 24 October 2013. Retrieved 26 October 2013.
- ↑ "Reign make two trades, land Cuellar for Noyola". Equalizer Soccer. 1 July 2013. Retrieved 26 October 2013.
- ↑ "Andonovski: Cuellar 'just lost her spot on the team'". Equalizer Soccer. 1 July 2013. Retrieved 26 October 2013.
- ↑ "Official: Red Stars deal Moscato to Breakers for Leon". Equalizer Soccer. 29 July 2013. Retrieved 26 October 2013.
- ↑ Kassouf, Jeff (2013-08-23). "Kristie Mewis already subsidized by US Soccer". The Equalizer.
- ↑ "Seattle Reign sends Kaylyn Kyle to Boston Breakers for Carmelina Moscato". Equalizer Soccer. 10 September 2013. Retrieved 26 October 2013.
- ↑ "Spirit land Cuellar in multi-player deal". Equalizer Soccer. 25 October 2013. Retrieved 26 October 2013.
- ↑ "Kansas City sends Mewis to Seattle for Amy Rodriguez". Equalizer Soccer. 7 November 2013. Retrieved 7 November 2013.
- ↑ "Leroux traded to Seattle as Mewis heads to Boston". Equalizer Soccer. 18 November 2013. Retrieved 19 November 2013.
- ↑ "NWSL ANNOUNCES 2014 ALLOCATED PLAYERS". NWSL. 3 January 2014. Archived from the original on 8 January 2014. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
- ↑ "NWSL 2014 allocation list revealed". SB Nation. 3 January 2014. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
- ↑ "Source: Press to Chicago as allocation takes shape". Equalizer Soccer. 2 January 2014. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
- ↑ "Dash deal Tancredi to Chicago, get GK McLeod". Equalizer Soccer. 7 January 2014. Retrieved 8 January 2014.
- ↑ "Dash add Klingenberg, nine more in expansion draft". Equalizer Soccer. 10 January 2014. Retrieved 10 January 2014.
- ↑ Official NWSL Twitter announcement of new allocated trade rule
- ↑ "Houston Dash acquire USWNT midfielder Carli Lloyd from Western New York Flash". Houston Dash Communications. 16 October 2014. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
- ↑ B. Martin (27 October 2014). "FC KANSAS CITY ACQUIRE MIDFIELDER HEATHER O'REILLY FROM BOSTON BREAKERS". FCKansasCity.com. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
- ↑ Kassouf, Jeff (2015-01-14). "NWSL announces list of 42 subsidized players". The Equalizer. Retrieved 2015-01-16.
- ↑ "NWSL ANNOUNCES 2015 ALLOCATED PLAYERS". National Women's Soccer League. January 14, 2015. Archived from the original on 16 January 2015. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
- ↑ "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.
- ↑ Geary, Molly (2015-03-18). "USWNT's Abby Wambach will not play in 2015 NWSL season". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 2015-03-15.
- ↑ Kassouf, Jeff (2015-03-30). "Flash, Reign swap Wambach, Leroux in blockbuster". The Equalizer.
- ↑ "Last games announced for Holiday, Boxx, Chalupny". The Equalizer. 2015-10-12. Retrieved 2015-10-21.
- ↑ Munoz, Sibyl (2015-09-04). "LeBlanc Announces Retirement From Professional Soccer". Chicago Red Stars. Retrieved 2015-10-21.
- ↑ "NWSL ANNOUNCES U.S. WNT ALLOCATED PLAYERS". National Women's Soccer League. 15 January 2016. Archived from the original on 16 January 2016. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
- ↑ "NWSL ANNOUNCES NEW PLAYER ALLOCATION PROCESS". National Women's Soccer League. 15 January 2016. Retrieved 15 January 2016.
- ↑ "NWSL ANNOUNCES CANADIAN WNT ALLOCATED PLAYERS FOR 2016". National Women's Soccer League. 8 February 2016. Retrieved 8 February 2016.
- ↑ http://www.nwslsoccer.com/home/911233.html
- ↑ https://ussoccer.app.box.com/s/nofgukt7zuqihebj955adywxo9y4p7n1
- ↑ http://www.soccerwire.com/news/college/college-women/sources-u-s-soccer-has-allocated-17-year-old-talent-mallory-pugh-will-be-allocated-to-portland-thorns/
- ↑ http://www.denverpost.com/preps/ci_29410687/mallory-pugh-not-going-pro-despite-rumors-soccer
- 1 2 https://medium.com/@ReignFC/reign-fc-acquires-rights-to-ariana-romero-and-veronica-perez-in-nwsl-distribution-draft-3840bd38d816#.hjar9bfm1
- ↑ http://www.orlandocitysc.com/post/2016/12/20/orlando-pride-forward-alex-morgan-open-year-french-club-olympique-lyonnais
- 1 2 3 http://www.orlandocitysc.com/post/2016/11/18/nwsl-transfers-who-s-going-where
- ↑ http://www.bostonbreakerssoccer.com/NEWS/928229.html
- ↑ "NWSL ANNOUNCES CANADIAN SUBSIDIZED PLAYERS FOR 2017". National Women's Soccer League. Retrieved 6 April 2017.
- ↑ "NWSL ANNOUNCES U.S. WNT ALLOCATED PLAYERS FOR 2017 SEASON". National Women's Soccer League. Retrieved 6 April 2017.
- 1 2 "Breakers acquire defender Megan Oyster, draft picks from Washington". Boston Breakers. 17 November 2016. Retrieved 30 June 2017.
- ↑ Straus, Brian (16 May 2017). "Another round of recruiting lands USWNT rising star Mallory Pugh with NWSL's Spirit". www.si.com. Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 30 June 2017.
- 1 2 Lauletta, Dan (November 2, 2016). "Spirit trade Ali Krieger to Orlando Pride". The Equalizer. Retrieved August 24, 2017.
- ↑ Purdy, Jacqueline (15 February 2018). "NWSL announces 2018 allocated players". NWSL. Retrieved 16 February 2018.
- ↑ Lee, Maddie (18 June 2018). "Utah Royals acquire U.S. forward Christen Press in three-team trade". Retrieved 1 August 2018.
- ↑ "Houston Dash acquire DF Allysha Chapman, draft picks from North Carolina Courage". HoustonDashSoccer.com. 9 May 2018. Retrieved 21 September 2018.
- ↑ Rantz, Susie (12 June 2018). "Seattle Reign acquire Adriana Leon from Sky Blue". Retrieved 2 August 2018.
- ↑ Castillo, Arielle (9 August 2018). "City Sign Janine Beckie". Manchester City. Retrieved 21 September 2018.