The Dash trade Morgan Brian to Chicago for Kristie Mewis.
In a move their interim coach said is “a good decision for both,” the Dash on Wednesday traded former No. 1 overall draft pick and United States national team midfielder Morgan Brian.
The Dash shipped Brian to the Chicago Red Stars in exchange for Kristie Mewis, another midfielder who has spent time with the national team.
The trade also includes undisclosed future considerations. One potential reason for the future considerations is that there have been rumors of Brian playing for French club Lyon in 2018.
Mewis, 26, has 15 caps with the U.S. national team. She began her National Women’s Soccer League career with FC Kansas City in 2013 before heading to the Boston Breakers for three years.
This is the second time Mewis has been traded in nine days. On Aug. 21, the Red Stars acquired her from the Washington Spirit in exchange for a conditional pick in the 2018 NWSL draft. In her only game for Chicago, she started and scored the winning goal.
Mewis also was traded last offseason, from Boston to Washington. She will join the Dash in Frisco in time for Sunday’s game against Seattle Reign FC.
“We’re getting a player who is going to come in with a chip on her shoulder, ready to come in and play and excited about another opportunity,” Dash interim coach Omar Morales said. “She’s going to be motivated to play for us. I talked to her this morning. She’s ready to meet us in Dallas and get going.”
Brian, 24, appeared in 33 games for the Dash in three seasons. She had three assists in 10 appearances during her rookie year but none in the last two years. She has not scored a goal.
Brian has become a fixture with the U.S. national team for her ability to solve pressure and to be a link between the defense and the attack. She has 67 caps.
Injuries have halted Brian’s momentum throughout her pro career. Recently she took a twoweek break from the Dash to rehab a groin injury with U.S. national team training staff in California.
The third-place Red Stars will try to get quality play out of Brian down the stretch as they try to solidify a playoff berth. The eighth-place Dash have a lot of work to do if they want to make the playoffs, but with Mewis available to play immediately, they are likely to get more playing time than they would with Brian.
“It was a situation where we felt like it was a good option for both the Houston Dash and for Morgan as a player,” Morales said. “We just decided to make that trade. There are not many ins and outs to it. We just thought it was a good decision for both.”
Teams to train in Frisco
The Dynamo and Dash have relocated their training to Frisco until at least Sunday.
“We are extremely grateful to our friends at FC Dallas for opening their doors to us in a time of need,” Dynamo president Chris Canetti said.