In another blockbuster move, San Diego Wave FC are in the final stages of acquiring U.S. women’s national team star forward Alex Morgan from the Orlando Pride, according to Meg Linehan of The Athletic.
🚨BREAKING🚨
— Just Women’s Sports (@justwsports) December 6, 2021
Alex Morgan is likely headed to San Diego.
The clubs are expected to complete negotiations when the trade window reopens following the expansion draft on Dec. 17, @TheAthletic's @itsmeglinehan reports pic.twitter.com/j3xeLxm2gD
The clubs have not completed paperwork for the trade since it was not finalized before the trade window closed on Friday, The Athletic reports. The trade window is set to reopen on Thursday, Dec. 17 following the NWSL Expansion Draft, at which time the sides are expected to complete negotiations.
It’s unclear what Orlando will receive in the trade or how this will affect the Pride’s protected list for the upcoming expansion draft. It could mean that Morgan is left unprotected. The 32-year-old has been with Orlando since 2015, when she joined the 2016 expansion club in a trade with the Portland Thorns during the offseason as one of its first key players.
Orlando has been active ahead of the expansion draft, sending defender Ali Krieger and goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris to NJ/NY Gotham FC for draft picks and allocation money.
San Diego, meanwhile, continues to add to its roster that now includes defender Abby Dahlkemper and goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan.