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Mega Deal in the NWSL Sends Sydney Leroux Dwyer to WNY for Rights to Abby Wambach

By Scott Sinclair

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A mega deal went down late this afternoon in the NWSL as the Western New York Flash traded the rights of Abby Wambach to Seattle for Sydney Leroux Dwyer. The NWSLwas stung by Wambach’s desire to stay in the Pacific Northwest ahead of this summer’s World Cup, and her decision not to play club soccer at all this summer.

Western New York’s aggressive move was based around Wambach’s rights going to Seattle in return for USMNT star forward Leroux -Dwyer (her new twitter moniker after marrying Dom Dwyer).

Seattle also gets midfielder Amber Brooks and a first round pick in 2016, while the Flash land defender Amanda Frisbie.

WNY lands a budding superstar that will put butts in the seats at Sahlen Stadium in Rochester.:“As everyone knows, Sydney Leroux is a top goalscorer who has had both a fantastic club and international career so far,” said Flash general manager and head coach Aaran Lines. “I’m excited about the opportunity that she presents for us and the offensive threat that she adds to our attack.”

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    • Wambach could change her mind on a season away from the league, as her rights are now much closer to wife Sarah Huffman, who plays for Portland.“Abby is a fantastic player who has proven over the years she is one of the best forwards in the world,” said Laura Harvey, general manager and head coach of Reign FC. “We understand and support her decision to focus on the World Cup this season. The contribution she is capable of making is obvious, so we will welcome her to our club at whatever point she is ready to rejoin the league.”

    It’s risk-reward for both clubs, but WNY’s glut of first-round picks this year set the table for the future and made Brooks and the ’16 first expendable, especially when they could land a draw like Leroux Dwyer 24, who scored five goals in 22 appearances for Seattle last season after arriving in Seattle after a trade with the Boston Breakers in November 2013.

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    Leroux, a British Columbia native, has scored 33 goals in 67 appearances for the USWNT. She became eligible to play for the U.S. after moving to Arizona as a 15-year-old to attend an American high school.

    Frisbie, 22, was a first-round pick in 2014 yet suffered an injury in the preseason. She did not play for the club last year, as the Reign went 16-2-6 in their second year of existence and won the NWSL Shield for finishing atop the regular-season standings. Seattle went on to lose the NWSL championship game to FC Kansas City.

    This is a terrific move by Western New York to acquire a player in the prime of her career. For the Reign, having Wambach play closer to home and family may entice her to change her mind in 2016 and resume her professional career.

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