There isn’t a lot of unexpected news here after the transfer agreement with Arsenal sending the Scottish superstar Kim Little back to the side from whence she came to the States and Laura Harvey’s contract extension through 2020. Quoting the Reign press release:
“Seattle Reign FC announced today that the team has exercised options on eleven players, while five other players have been offered new contracts for the upcoming season.
Players whose options were exercised for the 2017 season include: goalkeepers Haley Kopmeyer and Andi Tostanoski; defenders Lauren Barnes, Kendall Fletcher, Carson Pickett, Rumi Utsugi, and Elli Reed; midfielders Jessica Fishlock and Lindsay Elston; and forwards Nahomi “Naho” Kawasumi and Manon Melis.
Defenders Rachel Corsie and Merritt Mathias, forwards Beverly Yanez and Kiersten Dallstream, and midfielder Havana Solaun are out of contract and have been extended new contract offers. Defender Michelle Cruz is out of contract and has been placed on the Re-Entry Wire.
Following the conclusion of the 2016 season, Reign FC captain and midfielder Keelin Winters announced her retirement from professional soccer.
Seattle Reign FC has completed a transfer of midfielder Kim Little to Arsenal Ladies FC.
USA midfielder Megan Rapinoe remains on the club’s roster as a Federation Player.
Seattle continues to hold the NWSL rights to goalkeeper Hope Solo, who had shoulder replacement surgery in late September.”
The option being picked up on Tostanoski is one of two things, and we probably won’t know until next season which: an indication that there is no intent to bring Hope Solo back – particularly as an unallocated player, where she’d have to fit under the league’s salary cap; or an insurance policy in case she doesn’t return. Given the situation with the USSF, smart money is on the former.
Michelle Cruz never really managed to crack the lineup, and may catch on somewhere else, or may be invited to training camp in an effort to claim a roster spot.
It’ll be interesting to see how Laura Harvey allocates her starting XI next season, with the departures of Winters and Little from the midfield. It’d be unsurprising if Barnes, Fletcher, or Fishlock took over the captaincy; with Fishlock likely the presumptive laureate. Don’t be surprised if the team deploys a 4-2-3-1, either, particularly with Mathias getting called up to the USWNT as a defender. Those lines could end up looking like this:
Kopmeyer
Mathias-Barnes-Corsie-Fletcher
Fishlock-Elston
Kawasumi-Yanez-Rapinoe
Melis
Melis has the pace and work rate to be a true #9 up front, and Naho and Pinoe are naturally wingers. Bev Yanez has done an admirable job when asked to slot into the #10 role. If Corsie doesn’t return, Utsugi-san makes sense in that spot. There’s always the chance of a trade or breakthrough coming, particularly when Harvey sees potential.
Unlike the previous two seasons, the Reign have a pair of first-round draft selections as well as one in each the third and fourth rounds, and one or more of Rebecca Quinn, Maddie Bauer, Morgan Andrews, and Emma Fletcher likely still available. The first two are central defenders, the latter pair midfielders; so should there’s a chance that the first rounders could come and challenge for roster spots if not starting roles – or will be trade bait.
Coming in November – Women’s Soccer Yearbook
