Can someone help me out? I've been researching what/how happened to the #2 pick, but can't seem to find it on these pages. This time Yesterday, it was SBFC's, right? What did Portland give up to move up to #2? TIA.
According to Portland, they have been watching Weaver for a long time. When I've seen her, she's been a left side player who can go to end line or in to the middle. If they're looking a couple of years ahead, they now have Heath and Klingenberg on the left. They need left side help. And, they're ecstatic with the two players they were able to get. This may be a case where the pros know better than the amateurs. Plus, in regard to Sanchez, Weaver can be very physical. She'll likely be able to give and take at the level required for success in the NWSL. That's not Sanchez' strong suit. And, FWIW, according to Portland they have some other non-draft big stuff in the works. With what they've done so far, it's pretty clear they're not satisfied with where they've been and are committed to doing what it takes to get better.
If I recall correctly, to move up to #2 they gave up draft picks and allocation money. Which is sort of crazy. Yup, here's a quote from a Thorns release: "Then, in the minutes before Thursday’s draft began, general manager Gavin Wilkinson and Parsons consummated a deal with the Chicago Red Stars, who had just traded up from the day’s fourth and fifth picks to claim the second and third from Sky Blue FC. The cost to get the highest of those selections? Two second round picks and allocation money, with the team’s new pick turning into Weaver."
Great question, one I've been wondering about. Does anyone know what "allocation money" is and how it's "traded"?
TRADES 1: Sky Blue FC receives the 4th and 5th overall pick and allocation money, in exchange the Chicago Red Stars receive the 2nd and 3rd overall pick. Chicago then sends the 2nd pick to Portland Thorns FC and receives the 5th and 6th pick along with allocation money. 2: Chicago Red Stars acquire Racheal Hill, the 19th pick in this year’s draft, a first-round selection in the 2021 NWSL Draft and allocation money. Orlando Pride receives the 3rd overall and 26th overall pick in this year’s draft. 3: Sky Blue FC adds a player to be named later as Washington Spirit acquires the 4th, 13th, and 17th pick in this year’s draft as well as a 1st round pick in the 2021 NWSL Draft. 4: Portland Thorns FC sends 34th overall for the 2020 NWSL College Draft pick to Reign FC for a player to be named later.
Allocation Money New to the 2020 season the league has announced the introduction of allocation money. Allocation money enables team operators to invest funds in current or future players in excess of the current season’s team salary cap. It also would permit a player’s salary to be in excess of the league maximum salary. Teams may purchase up to $300,000 in allocation money from the league. Allocation money may only be used in connection with player contracts that exceed the league maximum salary ($50,000) and allocation money may not be used for Canadian or U.S. allocated players. Other usage limits are outlined below. Players must meet one or more of the following criteria: NWSL Best XI or Second XI for either of the two most recent seasons (2019, 2018) International players who have more than three caps for their national team in the prior 24 months NWSL MVP, Golden Boot, Rookie of the Year or Defender of the Year winner for one of the two most recent seasons (2019, 2018) Domestic players who have completed at least five seasons in the NWSL Players who were formerly designated as allocated players by the U.S. or Canada (unless if the player refused the option to be allocated) Players previously on a contract that included allocation money
Video highlights of all the 1st round picks. Sophia Smith (looks like little Messi) Morgan Weaver Taylor Kornieck Ashley Sanchez Evelyne Viens Ally Watt (she reminds me of Lynn Williams) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWQXg2-44co Courtney Peterson Sorry no video highlights for some reason. Tziarra King https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjl5nYslXUc Kelcie Hedge https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRDrfYWJc7I
I may not agree with the moves (but only time will tell on that), but I do agree with the mindset. They're making the big trades/deals/moves because they know that's what it'll take to challenge the Courage. And they're willing to go all in instead of settling for just a chance at the playoffs, like I think some other teams are doing. I have to give a hat tip to that.
Re: Sanchez pissed. I do not know her or any reputation she may have - I watched again and saw a young woman who was anxious about having to speak on stage at the microphone, and later with Jordan Angeli, a person who is not naturally outgoing or vivacious. I did not see anger or disappointment. BTW I didn’t watch her in college but when I did watch her in various YNT games, I was not super impressed. And I recall I felt her body language was often negative.
I think Kelcie Hedge was one of the most underrated players in the draft. She'll be one to keep your eye on in the future.
https://www.allforxi.com/2020/1/16/21069079/2020-nwsl-college-draft-winners-losers Winners and the Losers of the Draft supposedly. Surprised the article doesn't mention the rest of the teams involved. Anyways, it talks about the reported amount of the allocation money so it helps to give us insight how much was exchanged for the picks and players. As well as plans for 2021 Draft.
Looking at Sanchez on the podium again, I think she's just nervous and not very poised, rather than pissed, and perhaps a little shaken because she expected to go no. 2 and instead went no. 4. I wonder if a factor in drafting her was size. She's listed at 5'4" and that may be a generous measurement. U.S. teams like meese (the plural of moose?) rather than mice. (I'm sure somebody will say I am politically incorrect for that.) The number two pick, Weaver is 5' 10", and the number three pick, Kornieck is 6'1" -- the tallest field player ever drafted Jen Cooper tells us. There may be a doubt that Sanchez can endure the physical play of the NWSL. There are of course lots of small, tough players, so we'll see.
I can see NWSL adding a homegrown player rule b/c a few owners come from MLS and it's what they know. However, it probably isn't a good model for NWSL as the dynamics in women's soccer are very different from men's soccer. For one, homegrown players are not the best players in MLS; those are still internationals. Signing them has marginal impact on overall team performance. On the other hand, an NWSL homegrown player would likely tie the best player on the team, to that team, in perpetuity. This isn't necessarily bad per se, but there are only 9 teams in the league. Denver and LA (2 hotbeds of women's soccer) don't have a team within 500 miles. Should the Royals just be given rights to those players since it's the closest team? Hardly seems fair. So teams with access to the best regions would automatically have access to the best players, entrenching inequality into NWSL where it does not MLS. Kind of defeats the whole purpose of having a draft system, which is to maintain a competitive balance.
Mallory Pugh is 5’4 and Sophia Smith is 5’5. Messi himself is short for men’s side and is legendary. Sanchez will have to prove herself that she can take on the pros.
It'll probably be a lot sooner than 2023! Sounds like a homegrown rule could be announced in mere months: https://equalizersoccer.com/2020/01...hia-smith-ashley-sanchez-leave-college-early/ Klingo gave the basic explanation with the NWSL presser info on allocation money. However, that information seems a bit outdated/incomplete, because the original release said nothing about using money in trades or using it on anything other than player salaries above the $50k limit. Both of these are in play now, obviously. It sounds like NWSL's allocation money is a lot more similar too the TAM/GAM seen in MLS than was first announced, especially with the potential for "salary cap buy-downs" and for non-player spending, but there's still a lot of stuff unsaid around what's actually going on: https://equalizersoccer.com/2020/01/17/nwsl-allocation-money-secrets-revealed-salary-cap-buy-downs/
I'm just staring at the details of this trade and how lopsided it is. This is quite bizarre. Rachel Hill my not be a top forward but she is capable of providing 3-5 goals a season. Add that to the 19th pick, allocation money and 2021 first round pick (which we all know is probably going to be top 4) and this is just a head scratcher of a trade.
Chicago lost their star and main weapon Sam Kerr who scored 19 goals last season. With her gone how many goals have the rest of the team made? Are other clubs willing to give up their main top scorers? Probably way too expensive. So perhaps this is their best alternative.
https://www.sbnation.com/platform/a...nwsl-draft-mallory-pugh-trade-sky-blue-spirit More in depth detail on all trades and picks especially why Chicago did what they did. They are planning for 2021 with first round picks they accumulated as well as the money. A poster mentioned 2021 as being loaded or stacked. Hence why they did this.
I think you misinterpreted Blaze's post. By my read, they weren't saying Chicago got a dud; they were saying Chicago made out like bandits. Broken down: -They upgraded their 3rd round pick this year -They "upgraded" a first-round pick this year to a first-round pick next year -They got allocation money and a moderately good scorer for nothing extra