Athletica acquires Welsh, Fletcher from L.A. in trade
In what I think is the first in-season trade in WPS history, Athletica got defender Kendall Fletcher and forward Christie Welsh from Los Angeles in exchange for a conditional draft pick in 2010 and a first round pick in 2011. Both players are on the roster and will be active for Saturday’s game with Gold Pride. To make room on the roster for the players, Athletica waived defender Sheree Gray. Athletica also gets L.A.’s second round pick in 2011. And for the fully obsessive out there, the conditional 2010 first-round draft pick becomes a 2010 second-round draft pick if the Athletica fail to finish the season as one of the top five teams in the WPS.
Welsh, 28, has made 39 appearances with the national team and scored 20 goals and was in camp with the team at the start of 2008 but hasn’t been back. She won the Hermann Trophy and the MAC award when she was at Penn State. She’s played 131 minutes in 3 matches this season and hasn’t scored.
Fletcher, 24, made her national team debut at the Algarve Cup this spring. She’s played in just one game, for 45 minutes, this season. She went to college at North Carolina and played alongside Lori Chalupny. “I think Kendall Flecther is one of the best defenders in the United States and Christie Welsh is a powerful forward with a knack for burying her chances,” Chalupny said. “I think they will certainly blend in with the team and help us in our goal of winning the WPS championship.”
Gray has come off the bench in all four Athletica games this season.
“We had no choice due to Daniela’s injury so we had to make a change in the roster. We lacked a little bit of offense and we lacked physical play in the middle,” said Barcellos. “Fletcher has a lot of potential and is a very physical player in the middle and Welsh is a player who shoots well from outside of the box. I hope they can contribute to what we are doing here in St. Louis.”
One of the biggest mysteries to me this season is why is Kendall Fletcher getting no playing time. She was on the USWNT and appeared in the Algarve Cup, but has been rotting away on the bench in LA. Any clues on why she hasn’t been playing?
Fantastic news!! Come on you Athletica!
Welsh was a victim of numbers in L.A. They had other good options at forward who were producing. Fletcher played the first 45 minutes of the season, was subbed out, and hasn’t seen the field since. (The only thing worse than being subbed at the half is being subbed IN the first half.) The feeling was she wasn’t quick enough and other players were more dynamic. While Fletcher was considered a wonderful leader, L.A., with Shannon Boxx among other, doesn’t lack for leadership. At least that’s what I’m hearing.
Well, LA’s loss is our gain. I hate to give up the draft picks, but I thought Welsh looked darn good in the 15 minutes plus stoppage that she was in. Fletcher was okay and once she gets some playing time, she should prove to be a welcome addition, too. With the injuries and suspensions, it doesn’t hurt to have depth at defense and midfield, plus it gives Barcellos more options.