Sydney Leroux's summer plans change
- by Paul Kennedy @pkedit, Jan 26, 2016
Leroux played four games for the USA at the 2015 Women's
World Cup but did not score a goal. She was limited to 11 games (four starts) in 2015 because of an ankle surgery.
On the eve of the 2016 NWSL College Draft, three-team deal sent the
25-year-old Leroux to FC Kansas City, allowing her to reunited with Dwyer, who plays for Sporting Kansas City, and join her fourth club in four seasons. She had been vocal about her displeasure last
year when a deal sent her from Seattle to Western New York. She played the first NWSL season with Boston.
“Although we are disappointed that Syd will not be playing for us this
season, we are thrilled and excited for her and Dom,” FCKC general manager Huw Williams said in a statement. “Dealing with matters such as these is part of our business. All of us
at FC Kansas City are ‘family first’ type of people so we see this as an exciting and joyous occasion.”
Surprise! My plans have changed for this summer. @Ddwyer14 and I are so excited to announce... pic.twitter.com/99knKtCvTO
— Sydney Leroux Dwyer (@sydneyleroux) January 26,
2016 Rodriguez had her first child in 2013 and missed the inaugural NWSL season with Seattle. She was traded to FC Kansas City and helped it win back-to-back titles. Her
absence from the 2016 season while pregnant with her second child was confirmed when she was not included in the U.S. roster for the January camp.
Defender Nikki Phillips
(née Krzysik) sat out of the 2015 FC Kansas City season because she was pregnant and will sit out again in 2016.
The absence of Leroux and Rodriguez and retirement of
Abby Wambach leave the once-deep U.S. frontline with only Alex Morgan and Christen Press returning from the Women's World Cup championship team.
Leroux's announcement
increases the chances that 17-year-old Mallory Pugh could be picked for the 20-player roster for Olympic qualifying in February. The other possibility is Stephanie McCaffrey,
who is coming off her rookie season with the Boston Breakers. Crystal Dunn, the 2015 NWSL MVP with Washington Spirit, is listed as a forward on the U.S. roster but has been
starting in midfield with Megan Rapinoe sidelined with a knee injury.
Congrats you two. Any scholarship offers yet?
Thank goodness! Now if Morgan Brian and Tobin Heath could do the same, we could have the makings of an improved roster.
Wow !! (that's mom - upside down) ... the team would miss Tobin - she is an exceptional player with and without the ball. Clever decisions on defense as she closes space and she also distributes all over the place in transition to her teammates on offense. Gotta love the gal who knows what she is doing to make her teammates look good.
Great news for the Leroux/Dwyer family. So how does this work, soccer-wise? Does the pregnant player still train with the team until a certain time before delivery? Do they take the entire season off, paid or unpaid? Does the coaching staff expect the player to be present but not playing? They just don't have this issue on the men's side (duh).