The 2022 NWSL season will hopefully bring to an end the search for a title for the two oldest franchises in US women's professional soccer, the Boston Breakers and the Chicago Red Stars. Twelve other teams will have their say on whether either franc...
By the close of business today, every NWSL team will have chosen which members of their 20-player rosters with more than three years professional playing experience are to be designated for assignment. Teams use this move either to re-negotiate a current player's contract to a lower number (CR), to move players on standard contracts to their Reserve teams in the WPSL (RV), or to off-load excess talent that hasn't gotten bites in the trade market, freeing up space on the roster for acquisitions (ST). Following this, there is a 48-hour window (through the close of business on Friday, April 1...yeah, bad luck with the date this year) during which any NWSL team can pick up a player from the list subject to the following: 1) the player MUST be kept on the team's 20-player roster for the entire 2022 season unless on injured reserve; and 2) the player's current contract transfers to the new team. Players who aren't picked up during this 48-hour window are considered to have cleared waivers and thus are re-assigned. NWSL teams may negotiate with unrostered players during this window, but cannot sign in excess of the 20-player limit. Those on the list for contract purposes are still considered members of their current club's roster until and unless picked up by another team. NWSL rosters freeze following the window, with any moves occurring after this requiring league notification, including ALL subsequent moves to be made in order to meet roster and salary limits.
The following are the players from the 14 NWSL teams designated for assignment (CR for contract renegotiation, RV for movement to reserves, ST for straight release; only the team and the league office know who is being listed for which reason):
Atlanta: Amanda Frisbie (ST); Boston: NONE;Chicago: Morgan Proffitt (RV), Katey Fawcett (RV), Janelle Flaws (RV);Houston: Sarah Gorden (CR), Lydia Williams (CR); Kansas City: Becca Moros (CR); Los Angeles: NONE; North Carolina: Jessica McDonald (CR), McCall Zerboni (CR);Orlando: Jasmyne Spencer (ST);Philadelphia: Alyssa Mautz (CR), Carson Pickett (RV);Portland: Kendall Johnson (CR);Seattle: Kiersten Dallstream (CR), Kristen Edmonds (CR); Sky Blue: Taylor Lytle (CR);Vancouver: Katherine Reynolds (CR); Washington: NONE.
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Alyssa is picking through her closet looking for something to wear for tonight's date with Jen. She wants something dressy but not too dressy, and a wee bit sassier than her normal look. She ends up selecting this number:
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After primping a little, she leaves her apartment and jumps into her SUV. The trip to Jen's is relatively short, which doesn't leave her much time to pump herself up since she knows Jen is expecting her to be the in-charge one.
Alyssa :It's just a date between friends. Yes, we kissed, and yes it felt great, but that could have been the heat of the moment and nerves that created the sensation. Stay calm, girl. The worst that can happen is you have a good meal and a closer friend on the team.
By the time she finishes this internal monologue, she has arrived at Jen's. She parks and walks up to her door, where she is greeted by this vision.