Seattle Reign FC exercises contract options on 13 players for 2019

Friday was the final day for NWSL teams to exercise player contract options for the 2019 season, and Seattle Reign FC announced today that the team has extended the contracts of 13 players, while seven additional players are out-of-contract and have been offered new deals.

Among the players who had their 2019 options exercised were goalkeepers Lydia Williams and Michelle Betos, defenders Lauren Barnes, Theresa Nielsen, Christen Westphal, Alyssa Kleiner and Steph Catley, midfielders Jess Fishlock, Elizabeth Addo and Rumi Utsugi, and forwards Nahomi Kawasumi, Jodie Taylor and Jaycie Johnson.

Seven players were out of contract at the end of the season and will receive a new contract offer, but are currently unsigned. Those players include defenders Kristen McNabb, Yael Averbuch and Megan Oyster, midfielders Morgan Andrews and Beverly Yanez, and forwards Kiersten Dallstream and Jasmyne Spencer.

Megan Rapinoe, Allie Long and Adriana Leon also remain on the club’s roster as Federation Players. Their status will be reevaluated by their federations closer to the start of the 2019 season.

With last week’s signing of Elise Kellond-Knight, Reign FC currently has 14 players under contract, plus 3 Federation players, as well as offering new contracts to the remaining 7 players from their 2018 roster. NWSL Managing Director Amanda Duffy recently announced that roster sizes would be increasing for next season, but it remains to be determined how many roster spots will be added and whether that would include an increase in international spots. Of note, six players under contract with Reign FC currently require an international spot.

League-wide, seven players were released by their teams and are eligible for selection for the next 24 hours on the NWSL Waiver Wire, after which they are free agents.

Expect plenty of additional news this off-season about out-of-contract players, trades, and new signings, leading up to the NWSL college draft in early January.