OL Reign defender Alyssa Malonson made history as the first overall pick in the NWSL expansion draft on Friday. The second-year player was selected by Bay FC.
The nationally televised draft was part of the league expanding to 14 teams with the addition of Northern California's Bay Area BFC and Utah Royals FC. Both will begin playing in the 2024 season.
Current NWSL clubs could lose a maximum of two players, and the Reign didn't have to wait long to see if another would be selected. With the second overall selection, Utah chose Reign forward Elyse Bennett.
“You know you’re going to lose players,” Reign CEO Lesle Gallimore said of her first expansion draft as an executive. “There were some signs that defenders were in high demand. I received no indication that Elyse would be taken. People develop strategies. … I'm sad. I will miss both Elyse and Alyssa and now we must continue to pursue our strategy.”
Malonson was originally signed in 2022 and was loaned out to Danish club FC Nordsjaelland. She made her Reign debut in June and made a total of nine appearances across all competitions. The Auburn alum recorded an assist in the Challenge Cup.
Bennett was acquired from Kansas City via trade in January 2023. She started seven of her 21 regular season appearances and scored two goals and two assists.
The former Washington State star came on as a substitute in the 85th minute of the Reign's NWSL championship game last month and gave the team a chance to equalize with a free kick in second-half stoppage time. The following game failed and the Reign lost 2-1 to NJ/NY Gotham FC at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego.
“Anyone who knows anything about this club got to the final on the backs of players like Elyse and Alyssa,” Gallimore said, pointing out that they had a deep squad due to losing eight international matches at last summer’s FIFA Women’s World Cup was required. “(They) have been here all year, getting minutes in both league games and Challenge Cup games. They are both great people and I had a lot of fun getting to know them. They will be missed by the club, but I know they will both take these opportunities and make the most of them.”
Reign originals Jess Fishlock and Lu Barnes were among the players the team failed to protect. Fishlock posted on social media platform X: “My heart hurts. These things are always so hard” with a broken heart emoji after Bennett and Malonson were drafted.
Before Utah's selection, the Reign were allowed to protect an additional player and did so for defenseman Sam Hiatt. Gallimore said that Barnes, who started a league-record 211 games on the defensive line for the Reign since 2013, was one of the reasons to keep Hiatt because she was near the end of her career.
The Seattle Prep graduate did not make a postseason appearance for the Reign, but started all 16 of her appearances during the regular season. Hiatt originally signed with Reign in December 2020.
“Sam is a quality player who we have invested in,” Gallimore said. “In this position, with Lu probably moving on sooner rather than later, it’s important for us to have (depth).”
The NWSL's moratorium on further transactions will be lifted Saturday morning. Teams are free to make trades and sign free agents until December 22nd at 3:00 p.m
Gallimore is optimistic that U.S. internationals Rose Lavelle and Emily Sonnett will re-sign with the Reign. Forward Tziarra King and midfielder Nikki Stanton are restricted free agents who should also return next season.
“It’s time to get tough,” Gallimore said of the negotiations that have been underway since she took office in June. “We have done everything in our power to be able to sign our free agents. Time will tell in the coming days what the decision will be. We are hopeful.”
The NWSL will hold its college draft on January 12th. The Reign has the 27th and 55th overall picks.
Jayda Evans: [email protected]; on twitter: @JaydaEvans. Jayda Evans covers the Sounders and OL Reign. It offers observations, criticisms and the occasional unusual story. Evans has also written a book about the Storm and women's basketball called “Game On!”