Pride trades No. 1 pick to Thorns for Sonnett, Foord

The Orlando Pride executed a blockbuster trade with the Portland Thorns on Wednesday, exchanging the No. 1 pick in the 2020 NWSL draft for defender Emily Sonnett and the rights to forward Caitlin Foord along with two first-round picks.

However, there could be a snag in the deal for the Pride as Foord reportedly eyes clubs in Europe.

The acquisition of Foord's rights does not guarantee she will join the Pride roster in the 2020 season. Her contract with the Thorns ended at the conclusion of the 2019 season, so there is not a contract for the Pride to absorb with the trade. Instead, the team will look to negotiate a new contract with Foord; in the meantime, the forward would be free to pursue options in a different league.

The Athletic reported the forward already has received interest and offers from European clubs, including Arsenal. Pride general manager Erik Ustruck pursued the deal regardless of the fact Foord might leave the NWSL.

Now his task is to persuade her to stay in America.

“I've tried to convince her that this is the highest level, here in the U.S.," Ustruck told the Athletic's Meg Linehan. "She's attracted to the Champions League play, so it was important for her to potentially explore that opportunity. If something falls through, she knows that we retain her rights, and she's very open to playing here, which is exciting, too. She said, ‘If I do come back to the NWSL, if I chose to stay in the NWSL, I want to play for Orlando.' Being part of that conversation, being an option for her is important to us.”

Foord has become a young star