The Washington Spirit added Nikki Marshall after she was waived by Portland on Friday. (Photo Copyright Meg Linehan for The Equalizer)
Nikki Marshall is now a member of the Washington Spirit after being the only player selected in Monday’s National Women’s Soccer League Waiver Draft.
Marshall, 25, started all 24 games (including playoffs) for the NWSL Championship-winning Thorns. She was waived by Portland on Friday.
Washington had first dibs on requesting any of the 11 players available on waivers and thus claimed Marshall. Why Portland giving up such a key piece of their title-winning defense remains a mystery. Presumably, she’ll be in a Spirit jersey come kickoff in April.
Marshall played at the Maryland SoccerPlex for the Washington Freedom in 2010 after being drafted No. 7 overall in the draft that year.
By selecting her off waivers, the Spirit inherit Marshall’s old contract that she had with Portland. Players waived but not picked up in the draft are free to sign with any NWSL team.
Players not selected were (with previous team in parentheses): Ashley Phillips (Boston Breakers), Jo Dragotta (Boston Breakers); Sonja Fuss (Chicago Red Stars), Inka Grings (Chicago Red Stars); Tiffany Cameron (FC Kansas City); Kristina Larsen (Seattle Reign FC), Kristen Meier (Seattle Reign FC); Holly King (Washington Spirit), Lindsay Taylor (Washington Spirit); Ingrid Wells (Western New York Flash.
