Washington Spirit Announce 2014 Allocated National Team Players

January 3, 2014 - National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)
Washington Spirit News Release

Boyds, MD (Jan. 3, 2014) - The Washington Spirit announce the official list of allocated players for the 2014 NWSL season. The Spirit will retain USWNT players Ali Krieger and Ashlyn Harris along with Canadian WNT players Diana Matheson and Robyn Gayle. The Spirit welcome newcomers midefielder and USWNT player Yael Averbuch and Mexican WNT player Renae Cuellar.

Yael Averbuch is a native of Upper Montclair, NJ and played college soccer at the University of North Carolina. Averbuch was last with the Swedish club, Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC, playing 16 matches, starting in 15. She scored a total of seven goals, one of those in the Champions League.

"I couldn't be happier to become a member of the Washington Spirit. 2014 is going to be an exciting season in the NWSL and I have a lot of faith that Spirit coach, Mark Parsons, is assembling a wonderful group, both on and off the field," Yael Averbuch said. "I feel very fortunate to be a part of this group and for the opportunity to represent the Spirit!"

Of the new addition to the team, coach Mark Parsons said, "We are all very excited to welcome Yael to the Spirit. She brings plenty of experience, quality and passion to the club and will play an important role in our future success."

Americans, Ashlyn Harris and Ali Krieger along with Canadians, Diana Matheson and Robyn Gale will return as allocated players for their second season with the Spirit. In October 2013, the Washington Spirit acquired Mexican national team member, Renae Cuellar, in a trade with Seattle Reign FC.

From Jan. 3-6, the NWSL will have a league-wide "trade period" during which all NWSL teams may make trades throughout the four days. However, teams will not be allowed to waive players currently on their roster until after the NWSL Expansion Draft.

National Women's Soccer League Stories from January 3, 2014

• Four Reign FC Players Selected to USWNT Training Camp - Seattle Reign FC
• Sermanni Names Five FC Kansas City Players to Training Camp - FC Kansas City
• Chicago Red Stars Christen Press Called into January U.S. WNT Training Camp - Chicago Stars FC
• Brooks, Buehler Called up by U.S. Women's National Team - Portland Thorns FC
• Wambach, Lloyd Return to USWNT for January Camp - Western New York Flash
• Loyden, Rampone Named to U.S. WNT Roster for January Training Camp - Sky Blue FC
• Flash Allocated Canadian Selenia Iacchelli - Western New York Flash
• Sky Blue FC Allocated Six National Team Players - Sky Blue FC
• National Women's Soccer League Announces 2014 Allocated Players - FC Kansas City
• Chicago Red Stars Acquire Christen Press in 2014 NWSL Allocation - Chicago Stars FC
• Washington Spirit Announce 2014 Allocated National Team Players - Washington Spirit
• Thorns FC Add Jackie Acevedo Through 2014 NWSL Allocation of National Team Players - Portland Thorns FC
• NWSL Announces 2014 Allocated National Team Players - NWSL
• NWSL Announces Allocated Players for 2014 Season - Seattle Reign FC

The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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