With their latest move, the Orlando Pride have made room in their midfield while also acquiring a future draft pick. The team announced Jan. 22 that it sent midfielder Dani Weatherholt to Reign FC in exchange for a natural second-round pick in the 2021 National Women’s Soccer League College Draft.
“On behalf of everyone at the Orlando Pride, I want to thank Dani for her contributions to the club these last four seasons,” General Manager Erik Ustruck said, per the team’s release. “Dani has been an integral part of the Pride — both within the team and within the community — and we’ll miss having her in purple. We wish her the best of luck in this next chapter ahead with the Reign.”
Weatherholt was a mainstay in the Pride’s midfield. She joined the club after being selected 31st overall in the 2016 draft out of Santa Clara University. The 25-year-old scored three goals and tallied an assist in 74 matches, starting 60 of them. In 2019, Weatherholt captained the Pride in five consecutive matches.
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With Weatherholt’s departure, new Pride midfielder Taylor Kornieck figures to be a more significant part of this squad. Kornieck was selected third-overall, the highest-ever of any pick in the Pride’s history, in the 2020 NWSL College Draft.
The competition is still stiff, however. Australians Emily van Egmondand Alanna Kennedy will return. Brazilian Camila Martins Pereira, who has been with the team since 2017, is also still with the team. Other midfielders include Scottish women’s national-team player Claire Emslie, 2019 draftee Marisa Viggiano, University of Central Florida alumna Bridget Callahan and 2020 draftee Chelsee Washington.
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Weatherholt isn’t the first of former Head Coach Tom Sermanni’s draft picks to be traded away. Forward Rachel Hill was sent to the Chicago Red Stars to help the Pride acquire the third-overall pick in the 2020 draft. Hill was drafted in 2017.
For more on the Pride, as their 2020 preparations unfold, follow Victor Tan on Twitter at @NDR_VictorTan.
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