Spirit Acquire Renae Cuellar
The Washington Spirit have acquired the rights to forward Renae Cuellar, the discovery rights to Jodie Taylor and the No. 23 overall pick in the 2014 NWSL College Draft in a trade with Seattle Reign FC.
In exchange, the Spirit sent to Seattle the rights to defender Nikki Marshall, the rights to defender Alina Garciamendez and the No. 17 overall selection in the 2014 draft.
Cuellar, 23, scored five goals in 18 games during the 2013 NWSL season while splitting time between FC Kansas City and the Reign. The Bellflower, Calif. native was previously traded from FCKC to Seattle on July 1 in a deal that sent fellow Mexico international Teresa Noyola to the Blues.
Ceullar, an allocated Mexican player, spent the first part of the NWSL offseason with Swedish club Kristianstads DFF.
“Renae has great potential and brings a lot of important attributes to the Spirit,” Washington coach and general manager Mark Parsons said. “I know she is looking forward to this opportunity and hungry to help the club move forward.”
Taylor, an English forward currently under contract with Australian club Sydney FC in the Westfield W-League. The 27-year-old was selected as a discovery player by Seattle earlier this year.
“Jodie is a proven goal scorer across a number of top leagues and it is exciting to bring a player of her caliber to Washington,” Parsons said.
Marshall, 25, started all 22 games and registered one assist in 1,871 minutes for Portland Thorns FC during the 2013 season. The Spirit selected the Mead, Colo. native off waivers Sept. 9.
Garciamendez, a Mexico international, was allocated to Washington before the start of the 2013 NWSL season, but opted instead to play for German club FFC Frankfurt, where she is currently under contract. The defender has earned 17 caps with the Mexico Women’s National Team, including representing Mexico at the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
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