Another Brazilian joins the ranks of the Orlando Pride.
On Feb. 6, the team announced the acquisition of the rights to Brazilian women’s national-team defender Poliana Barbosa Medeiros from the Houston Dash. The Pride will send their natural second-round pick in the 2019 draft to Houston in return.
Poliana was signed to the team “for the 2018 season,” but no other details of the contract were released, per team and league policies.
“Poliana is a player that we have admired since she joined the league,” Pride head coach Tom Sermanni said, per the team’s press release. “We believe she has been one of Houston’s best, most consistent players during that time.”
Poliana spent the past two seasons with the Dash, scoring 5 goals and tallying 2 assists in 37 games. Last season was the more productive of the two, as she scored 4 goals and recorded both assists in 2017. Poliana also won Week 10 National Women’s Soccer League Player of the Week honors.
Though listed as a defender, Poliana can be productive in the attack. Before playing in the NWSL, Poliana played for Icelandic side Stjarnan, scoring 3 goals in just five appearances. She also scored 5 goals in five matches during UEFA Women’s Champions League play, helping Stjarnan to the knockout round.
“What really appeals to us is that though she plays mostly in a full-back role, we think she’s the kind of player who can play anywhere,” Sermanni said. “She’s intelligent, her ability to read the game is phenomenal. As well as outstanding defensive qualities, she also has the skill to get forward and score goals.”
Naturally, Brazil is where Poliana got her start. In 2009, the Brazilian native played for Santos FC. From 2010 to 2014, she played for São José Esporte Clube, earning the Copa Libertadores Femenina in 2011, 2013 and 2014. She was a big part of the 2014 championship, scoring twice in a 5-1 blowout.
Other Brazilians will welcome Poliana when she arrives, as the Pride already have three other national-team players signed: Marta Vieira da Silva, Camila Martins Pereira and Monica Hickmann Alves.
For more on the Pride, as they prepare for their 2018 preseason about two weeks away, follow Victor Tan on Twitter at @NDR_VictorTan.
To contact Victor, you can email him at vtan@newdayreview.com.
