Allie Long signs new contract with OL Reign for 2021

The status of the final two 2020 OL Reign players still out of contract has now been resolved. Midfielder Allie Long has signed a new contract with the club for the 2021 season, while Morgan Andrews has been waived. Both players had been training with the team since the start of camp earlier this month while their contract status was resolved.

“We are extremely happy to have Allie back with the club this season,” said OL Reign head coach Farid Benstiti in a team release. “She is such an important player for our club and always works very hard to help us meet our objectives. We have big ambitions for this season and know Allie will be an important part of our success.”

Long has been with the Reign for three years, coming from the Portland Thorns as part of a large, three-team trade that also involved Sky Blue FC. She has made 41 appearances for the Reign, scoring three goals and adding three assists. Until this season she was a US Federation-subsidized player, but has not been part of Vlatko Andonovski’s US Women’s National Team plans for the past year and has now reverted to a standard league contract.

“Since I got to the Reign my goals have been to win a championship and become the best player I can possibly be,” said Long. “I haven’t hit my best yet, and I am grateful to return to the club, staff, and an environment that will continue to push me to be the best player I can possibly be. This club deserves a championship and I am more than hungry to help them achieve that.”

Andrews also joined the Reign in 2018, having been selected as part of the Dispersal Draft following the dissolution of the Boston Breakers. She made 30 appearances for OL Reign over three seasons, and etched a notable spot in the club’s history by playing emergency goalkeeper in week six of the 2019 NWSL season.

Andrews was called into that extraordinary relief role after goalkeeper Michelle Betos sustained a torn Achilles injury in a 2-1 win against Sky Blue FC.