The Wait Is Over

Group Five

About an hour after the Spirit/Breakers match concludeed, the North Carolina Courage kicked off against Sky Blue FC. The game was 1-0 for the Courage in the 63rd minute when their season potentially came to a dead end.

NC trainer: Sabrina, what is it?

Sabrina D'Angelo: I don't know. I went up to catch the cross, and when I landed I felt an explosion just above my left heel.

NC trainer: That's not good. Sounds like you blew your Achilles.

Sabrina: Damn! There goes my chance to gain ground on Steph in the next camp.

D'Angelo is carted off the field and taken back to the locker room. Katelyn Rowland replaces her in goal and the Courage see out the match to win, 1-0, with Makenzy Doniak picking up the sole tally. Following the match and the players showering and loading up for the hotel, the Courage trainer ran additional tests on Sabrina's left foot and confirmed her original diagnosis. The news was passed onto Paul Riley, who already began planning how to get another goalkeeper before the transfer window opened on Thursday and he lost leverage with NWSL teams since his major bargaining chip would most likely sign overseas that day for a January move.

NWSL:

North Carolina Courage - Placed goalkeeper Sabrina D'Angelo on the Season-Ending Injury list.

***

Monday morning comes, and Riley starts calling around.

Gabarra: Jim Gabarra. Oh hi, Paul. Bad luck on Saturday with Sabrina's injury, but you got the points. What can I help you with, since I presume you're in the market for a replacement goalkeeper?

Riley: Yes I am. Are either of your keepers available? I know you've been playing them both fairly regularly.

Gabarra: They could be, at the right price.

Riley: Well, you saw Sam Mewis was at your game on Saturday, right?

Gabarra: So that's why Kristie and Abby took so long getting to the team bus after the match.

Riley: Probably. She is looking to get out of North Carolina and has listed the Spirit and the Breakers as preferable destinations in NWSL. She also is looking abroad and will most likely sign with someone there on Thursday when the window opens.

Gabarra: Straight up, Mewis for one of our keepers?

Riley: I don't think so. Kelsey isn't national team level and Steph has, maybe another year, two tops.

Gabarra: Steph says she wants to play through the LA Olympics in 2024, and you're only looking for a temporary replacement since Sabrina should be back next season at some point.

Riley: Add another player with Wys and you have a deal.

Gabarra: I'll do it with Labbe, but not with Wys. Church and Labbe for Mewis?

Riley: I'll have to get back to you. I need to see if Boston might have a better combination of assets for us.

Riley hangs up and calls John Herdman.

Herdman: Paul, me old mate! Bummer about Sabs and the Achilles.

Riley: Yeah. That's why I'm calling you. Being that you have three starting-level goalkeepers, we're willing to offer a pretty penny to acquire one.

Herdman: How pretty?

Riley: A national teamer who fills a void in your system.

Herdman: I'm listening.

Riley: Did you see Sam Mewis on Saturday at your match against Washington?

Herdman: Yes. I saw her talking with her sister and Dahlkemper and Oyster.

Riley: Things haven't been right for her down here since Abby left in the expansion draft. Luckily for her, she ended up being dealt to the Spirit and was able to hook up with Kristie.

Herdman: And Sam is looking to come back this way?

Riley: Yes. She told me she prefers either the Spirit or the Breakers if she stays in the league, or she'll look overseas for a January move at the start of the window.

Herdman: That's Thursday, right?

Riley: Right.

Herdman: So you need a goalkeeper. Any of the three can be had straight-up for Sam.

Riley: You and Gabarra must have the same agent. That's the same offer he gave me for Wys not ten minutes ago. We need more for her than that.

Herdman: If you want Abby Smith, it has to be one-for-one. I could throw in another body if you want Prudhomme or Stout.

Riley: I thought Stout was your #2?

Herdman: Yes, but she's a little agitated that she's not getting a shot at the starting job or any playing time at all.

Riley: What about Prudhomme?

Herdman: With this being her fifth year in the league, she wants to be starting, and from a financial standpoint NEEDS to be a first or second choice somewhere to get paid at the minimum salary level.

Riley: Well, we can offer that, even if she's behind Rowland the rest of this season and perhaps the start of next.

Herdman: Do you have anyone in mind that you'd like to have me send with her?

Riley: Out of your excess players, I think Summer Green would be a good addition. She played at North Carolina, so this would be a bit of a coming-home for her.

Herdman: So Prudhomme and Green for Sam Mewis?

Riley: Yes. Deal?

Herdman: I'll give it to Lee and let him do his work to have this done by Wednesday.

Riley: Thanks, John.

Herdman: You're welcome, Paul.

Riley calls Sam and tells her the news. Two days later, after all the paperwork has been filed, the trade becomes official and Sammy Mewis is off to Boston to rejoin Megan Oyster and fill that bulldog midfield role that Herdman favors behind the threesome of Lavelle, Fleming, and Andrews.

NWSL

Boston Breakers - Traded goalkeeper Sammy Jo Prudhomme and forward Summer Green to North Carolina for midfielder Samantha Mewis.