Angel City FC and the Orlando Pride agreed to a trade Wednesday that sends forward Sydney Leroux to Los Angeles in exchange for draft picks and allocation money.
NEWS: Orlando Pride Trades Sydney Leroux to Angel City FC; Acquires 2024 First Round Pick and $75,000 in Allocation Money.Details https://t.co/ygZeyDPesh#PrideOfOrlando pic.twitter.com/XHuGLJ92iu— Orlando Pride (@ORLPride) June 29, 2022
NEWS: Orlando Pride Trades Sydney Leroux to Angel City FC; Acquires 2024 First Round Pick and $75,000 in Allocation Money.Details https://t.co/ygZeyDPesh#PrideOfOrlando pic.twitter.com/XHuGLJ92iu
In return for Leroux, the Pride receive ACFC’s natural first round pick in the 2024 NWSL Draft and $75,000 in allocation money. Additional performance-based incentives could also see the Pride receive $10,000 in allocation money in 2022 and an additional $10,000 in 2023.
“Sydney gave all she could for the Club every time she pulled on the jersey. We want to thank her for everything she has done for both our team and our community,” Orlando Pride general manager Ian Fleming said. “We’ll miss having Sydney and her family here in Orlando, but we believe this trade is best for all parties. We wish Syd the best of luck in this next chapter.”
Leroux joined Orlando in 2018 following a trade with the Utah Royals. In five seasons with the Pride, she’s made 63 appearances and tallied 18 goals.
“I’d like to thank the Club, the fans and the community for embracing me and my family over the past five seasons,” Leroux said. “We had many exciting memories and moments throughout my time here, and I always will remember my time in Orlando fondly.”
The forward has been a member of the NWSL since 2013, when she played for the Boston Breakers during the league’s inaugural season. Since then, she’s played with the Reign, the Western New York Flash and the Royals.
So far this season Leroux had two goals through seven appearances for Orlando, tying for first on the team with Mikayla Cluff. She led the team in goals last season with eight – three more than Alex Morgan, who is currently leading the league in goals with San Diego Wave FC.
Orlando has had a rocky start to the season, sitting 11th out of 12 teams in the league with a 2-5-2 record.
On June 7, coach Amanda Cromwell was placed on leave amid an investigation into “alleged retaliation in violation of the NWSL Policy to Prevent and Eliminate Workplace Discrimination, Harassment, and Bullying.”
On June 17, the team bought out Amy Turner, who joined the team last June from Manchester United.
For Angel City FC, the addition of Leroux comes as the team tries to recover its early season form. The club sits in the sixth and final playoff spot with a 4-4-1 record.
Christen Press had also been leading the attack before going down for the season with an ACL tear. Savannah McCaskill paces Angel City FC with two goals.