Seattle Reign FC coach Laura Harvey. (Photo Copyright Patricia Giobetti for The Equalizer)
Seattle Reign FC acquired a fifth international roster spot for the 2016 NWSL season in a trade with the Boston Breakers, which was announced Friday. In return, the Breakers receive a second-round pick in the 2017 NWSL College Draft.
Seattle’s current roster features returning Scottish internationals Kim Little and Rachel Corsie, as well Dutch international Manon Melis and Swedish international Antonia Göransson. Welsh international Jess Fishlock does not take up an international roster spot after obtaining her green card prior to the 2015 season.
The Reign now join the Washington Spirit and Western New York Flash as teams with five international roster spots. Portland Thorns FC hold the most in the league with six.
Each team started with a base for four international roster spots for the 2015 season (before trades) and that was supposed to revert to three for the 2016 season before rule changes called for four spots per team to be maintained, as previously reported by The Equalizer.
The one exception is 2016 expansion team Orlando Pride, which was given an additional international roster spot for 2016 and 2017, as reported by The Equalizer. However, the Pride traded one of those five spots (for both seasons) to Portland as part of the deal to acquire Alex Morgan.
Here’s a team-by-team breakdown of international roster spots as they stand after Friday’s trade:
Boston Breakers – 3
Chicago Red Stars – 3
Houston Dash – 4
FC Kansas City – 2
Orlando Pride – 4
Portland Thorns FC – 6
Seattle Reign FC – 5
Sky Blue FC – 4
Washington Spirit – 5
Western New York Flash – 5
