Lynn Williams is heading to Kansas City, with the North Carolina Courage trading the forward to the Current in a package deal announced Monday. In exchange for Williams and their natural second- and fourth-round picks in the 2023 NWSL Draft, the Courage receive $200,000 in allocation money, Kansas City’s 2023 natural first-round pick and goalkeeper Katelyn Rowland.
Williams confirmed the news on the Just Women’s Sports Snacks podcast on Monday morning.
Calling in from Australia, where Williams has been playing on loan with the Melbourne Victory since December, the 28-year-old opened up about joining a new team after spending the past five seasons with the Courage. In Kansas City, Williams will once again team up with Snacks co-host Sam Mewis, after the Current acquired the midfielder in a blockbuster trade in November.
During her tenure in North Carolina, Williams helped the Courage to two NWSL championships and three NWSL Shields. She finished the 2018 season as an MVP finalist and led the Courage with seven goals in 2021. Williams called leaving a club where she has spent nearly her entire career “bittersweet.”
“In order to grow and challenge myself I needed to get out of my comfort zone and try something new so I can try to be the best Lynn I can possibly be on the field,” Williams said.
Williams joining Mewis in Kansas City comes as welcome news for listeners of the Snacks podcast. As part of the trade for the U.S. women’s national team star in November, the Current sent defender Kiki Pickett and the No. 3 overall pick in the 2022 NWSL Draft to the Courage, who used the pick to select Virginia Tech midfielder Emily Gray.
“I am really excited. It’s a big change,” Mewis said. “I am excited for a new opportunity and I think change can be good, so I am looking really forward to it.”
Mewis has been recovering since having arthroscopic knee surgery in August. Training with sister Kristie Mewis and Sam Kerr, Sam Mewis said she has “turned a corner” and is “optimistic” for her physical health entering the 2022 season. Kansas City will lean on Mewis and Williams after finishing last season — their debut as an NWSL expansion club — in last place with a 3-14-7 record.
As far as reuniting with co-host and longtime NWSL and USWNT teammate Williams, Mewis said: “Hopefully I never have to play without you.”