02/03/2020
Summary
- Reign gets forward Sofia Huerta and defender Amber Brooks
- Houston gets forward Shea Groom, defender Megan Oyster, and a second-round pick in the 2022 NWSL College Draft
Reign FC and the Houston Dash exchanged players in a National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) trade on Monday.
Reign acquired forward Sofia Huerta and defender Amber Brooks from Houston in exchange for forward Shea Groom, defender Megan Oyster, and a second-round pick in the 2022 NWSL College Draft.
Huerta began her NWSL career as the No. 11 overall pick in the 2015 NWSL College Draft by the Chicago Red Stars. She made 77 appearances for Chicago, scoring 22 times, assisting 11 times, and was named to the NWSL Second XI in 2015 and 2017. In 2018, Huerta requested a trade and was acquired by Houston along with defender Taylor Comeau in exchange for the rights to forward Christen Press and a first-round draft pick in the 2020 NWSL College Draft. With Houston, Huerta scored eight goals in 25 appearances.
Defender Brooks began her NWSL career with the Portland Thorns as the No. 24 overall pick in the 2013 NWSL College Draft. With Portland, Brooks scored one goal in 20 appearances. The Thorns traded her to the Western New York Flash in exchange for midfielder McCall Zerboni and defender Kat Williamson following the 2014 season. Western New York then traded Brooks and the rights to Abby Wambach to the Reign in exchange for forward Sydney Leroux and midfielder Amanda Frisbie. With the Reign, Brooks scored one goal through 12 appearances in 2015. In October 2015, Houston acquired Brooks in exchange for defender Meghan Klingenberg and a pick in the 2017 NWSL College Draft. Brooks made 80 appearances through four seasons with the Dash, scoring four goals.
Forward Shea Groom was selected by FC Kansas City as the No. 12 overall pick in the 2015 NWSL College Draft. Through 54 appearances with the Blues, Groom scored 17 times and won the 2015 NWSL Championship. Groom’s contract was transferred to the Utah Royals following the dissolution of FC Kansas City after the 2017 season. Prior to the start of the 2018 NWSL season, Utah sent Groom and teammate Christina Gibbons to Sky Blue FC along with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2018 NWSL College Draft in exchange for defender Kelley O’Hara, midfielder Taylor Lytle, and the No. 25 overall pick in the 2018 NWSL College Draft. With Sky Blue, Groom made 21 appearances in 2018. Ahead of the 2019 NWSL season, Sky Blue traded Groom to Reign FC in exchange for midfielder Nahomi Kawasumi. With the Reign, Groom was reunited with head coach Vlatko Andonovoski, who helmed FC Kansas City prior to its demise. She made 16 appearances with the Reign and scored two goals in the 2019 season.
Defender Megan Oyster was selected by the Washington Spirit with the No. 13 overall pick in the 2015 NWSL College Draft. With the Spirit, Oyster made 38 appearances and scored one goal. Prior to the 2017 NWSL season, Washington traded Oyster, the Nos. 3 and 9 overall picks in the 2017 NWSL College Draft, and the No. 2 allocation spot in the Distribution Ranking Order to the Boston Breakers in exchange for midfielder Kristie Mewis, defender Kassey Kallman, and the No. 1 allocation spot. Oyster played in 23 matches for Boston before the club ceased operations prior to the 2018 season and the Reign selected her in the 2018 NWSL Dispersal Draft. With the Reign, Oyster made 41 appearances and scored once.