Reign Call Up French and Stanley For Sky Blue Match

With Hope Solo and Megan Rapinoe away on national team duty this weekend, the Reign have called up two amateur players: goalkeeper Caroline Stanley and forward Mele French. Both French and Stanley were in preseason camp with the team, but were unable to make the senior roster. The team's single open roster spot was earned by draftee Havana Solaun (who broke her ankle in preseason and is out for the year).

Veteran attacker French is the reigning W-League MVP after a championship season with the LA Blues, who despite their perennial success folded after the 2014 season. French played for Sky Blue during the WPS era, so this will be a chance to get some minutes against her former club.

Stanley is an undrafted free agent who just finished her senior season with USC. With the Reign knowing that they'd be losing Solo to national team duty for an extended stretch this season, they would have wanted to keep a backup to Haley Kopmeyer close by. Stanley won that job in preseason, though the NWSL roster limits meant the team couldn't actually carry her and are bringing her in as an unpaid amateur. She was also on the bench in last week's home win over the Washington Spirit.

Stanley is likely only to get playing time if Kopmeyer can't play, but French could be in line for some minutes as a late game attacking option.

Tomorrow's match is at 4pm Pacific at Sky Blue's Yurcak Field and, like all Reign matches, will be broadcast live Youtube.