Also in today’s roundup, Daphne Corboz gets first call-up with France, Rachel Corsie to undergo knee surgery and Saudi Arabia allows women into soccer stadiums for first time.
Desiree Scott has officially signed with Utah Royals FC. (graphic courtesy of Utah Royals FC)
Desiree Scott officially signs with Utah Royals FC
The newest NWSL club announced on Monday that Canadian international midfielder Desiree Scott had signed with the team.
“Desiree is a proven talent in the league,” Head Coach Laura Harvey said in the team’s official statement. “She is the glue to any team she plays for. Her performances last season and throughout her career to this point were excellent, and I’m so excited she will be part of our team this season.”
Scott, a 30-year old who has 129 caps and two Olympic bronze medals with Canada, was a part of FC Kansas City’s inaugural roster in 2013 before departing to play overseas for two seasons with Notts County of the FA WSL. She then returned to the NWSL and FCKC ahead of the 2016 season but missed the first part of the season with an ankle injury. In total she made 54 starts in 55 appearances for the Blues while tallying two assists.
“I am very excited about the new adventure ahead with the Utah Royals,” Scott said in the team’s release. “I feel very fortunate to be a part of a club that wants to do amazing things, not only in the NWSL, but for the women’s game.”
Although the NWSL gave all the rights of FC Kansas City’s players to the Royals, the club is having to sign each player to a contract with their club. Scott is only the second player from last season’s FCKC roster to sign with the Royals, joining FCKC and USWNT defender Becky Sauerbrunn on the roster. The pair join Kelley O’Hara and Taylor Lytle, recently traded to the Royals by Sky Blue FC, and Icelandic international Gunnhilda Jonnsdottir on the Royals roster.
Daphne Corboz called up for France
Daphne Corboz, right, has received her first call-up to France’s senior national team. (photo copyright Katie Cahalin for The Equalizer)
Sky Blue FC’s Daphne Corboz has received her first call-up to the senior French national team, replacing the injured Sandie Toletti ahead of France’s match against Italy on Saturday, Jan. 20. The 24-year-old midfielder was previously called into camp with France’s B team last November.
Although Corboz was born in Alabama and raised in New Jersey, she holds dual citizenship with the U.S. and France, her parents’ native country. She is currently on loan with FC Fleury 91 of the D1 Feminine during the NWSL offseason.
Corboz returns to overseas after her debut season with Sky Blue and in the NWSL. After initially being taken by the New Jersey-based club in the third round of the 2015 draft, Corboz signed with Manchester City, where she played for a year and a half before returning stateside. In her debut season, she made 12 starts over 19 appearances and led the team with five assists.
Rachel Corsie to undergo ‘exploratory’ knee surgery
Rachel Corsie, right, will undergo exploratory knee surgery sometime this week. (photo by Lewis Gettier)
Scotland captain and Seattle Reign defender Rachel Corsie is scheduled to undergo what the BBC is calling an exploratory knee surgery later this week. As a result, Corsie has been ruled out of Scotland’s match against Norway on Friday, Jan. 19 and against Russia on Monday, Jan. 22.
With both Corsie and vice-captain Kim Little, who is still recovering from an ACL tear suffered last year, out with injuries, Glasgow City midfielder Jo Love will wear the captain’s armband for Scotland.
According to the BBC report, Scotland coach Shelley Kerr hopes Corsie will be recovered in time for her squad’s March friendlies against New Zealand. That timeline would have Corsie returning to the field in time for the start of the NWSL season.
Saudi Arabian women enter football stadium for first time
For the first time ever, Saudi Arabian women were allowed to enter a football stadium in Jeddah to watch a live soccer match.
The move is one in a series of reforms meant to modernize and ease strict rules of gender separation in the ultra-conservative country.
The women did have to enter through special “family” turnstiles and sit in designated “family” sections, but their permitted entrance was monumental nonetheless. The stadium also employed women as ushers to greet the female spectators.
