Sarah Hagen signing with FC Kansas City was the biggest NWSL news on Thursday, but she wasn’t the only signing. Here’s the latest in NWSL news:
— The Western New York Flash signed Courtney Verloo through the 2015 season. The versatile forward/defender out of Stanford University was Western New York’s first pick at No. 9 overall in the 2014 NWSL College Draft.
— Washington announced on Wednesday that they acquired defender Niki Cross in a trade. Cross currently plays for Bayern Munich and her discovery rights were held by Seattle Reign FC. The Spirit sent a 2015 College Draft second round pick to Seattle, who had signed Cross for 2014 and ’15 before trading her to Washington. Cross is expected to report to Washington in June after the Frauen-Bundesliga season.
— Sky Blue FC announced that defender Hayley Haagsma is out for the season with a torn left ACL, which happened in the club’s first preseason match on March 15 vs. St. Johns University. Haagsma is a second-round pick out of Texas Tech.
— The Houston Dash, won their first-ever competitive game, beating Rice University 4-0 in preseason. Dominique Richardson, Jordan Jackson and Teresa Noyola scored, and Rice suffered an own goal in the 2nd minute. Now, how about those uniforms, with the white/black/orange combination? We don’t love them.
— Notre Dame has its new coach to replace 15-year legend Randy Waldrum, who left to coach the Dash: Theresa Romagnolo, who was hired away from Dartmouth.
— Six of the eight U-17 Women’s World Cup quarterfinalists are set.
— Speaking of quarterfinals: The UEFA Women’s Champions League final eight get underway with Leg 1 this weekend. Tyresö takes on Austria’s SV Neulengbach, Italy’s Torres takes on Turbine Potsdam, holders Wolfsburg face Barcelona and Birmingham and Arsenal play in an all-England quarterfinal.
— Friday is media day for Portland Thorns FC, and we’ll be on-site with coverage. Check back later in the day for video. Portland is the only team thus far to not reveal their full 25-player roster.