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According to Sports Illustrated, the newly-formed Orlando Pride have made a move for USWNT and Portland Thorns striker Alex Morgan. If completed, the Alex Morgan trade, first reported by SI's Grant Wahl, will send Morgan and Canadian international Kaylyn Kyle to Orlando in exchange for two international slots, Orlando's first overall pick in the NWSL draft and USWNT defender Meghan Klingenberg (Klingenberg plays for Houston, but Houston is apparently sending her to Seattle, who will leave her unprotected during the expansion draft) and possibly Lindsay Horan, should she choose to come to the NWSL from PSG.
Alex Morgan Trade Motives
The trade makes sense for Morgan, as her husband, Servando Carrasco, is a midfielder for Orlando City SC. It's not often both members of a professional athlete couple get to play/live in the same city, so that's nice. The trade also makes sense for Orlando, who get a marquee (and marketable) player right off the bat, and Portland, who get defensive help and administrative incentives.
Orlando is newly soccer-crazed with the success of Orlando City SC in bringing in Brazilian superstar midfielder Kaka, so Morgan could do very well there. It also starts the NWSL's newest franchise off on the right foot.
Alex Morgan and Servando Carrasco. Photo: @HannahSaysan | Twitter
Contact The18 Staff Writer Sam Klomhaus at Klomhaus@The18.com or follow him on Twitter @SamKlomhaus
