Sydney Leroux is headed to Angel City after a bombshell trade.
The NWSL expansion team and the Orlando Pride agreed to a deal on Wednesday that sends the forward to Los Angeles in exchange for draft picks and allocation money.
Orlando will receive Angel City’s natural first round pick in the 2024 NWSL College Draft, $75,000 in NWSL allocation money, and a potential $10,000 allocation money bonus this year and in 2023 based on Leroux’s performance.
“I am so excited to be a part of Angel City and everything being built with this club,” said Leroux in a press release from Angel City.
“The atmosphere I felt playing at the Banc [of California Stadium] on Mother’s Day was unbelievable. It really feels like I’m coming home, between going to UCLA and living in LA. Angel City is truly putting women’s soccer on the map in Los Angeles and it shows if you invest in women, great things will happen. I am excited to be a part of that.”
The forward initially joined Orlando in 2018, following a trade with the Utah Royals. She managed five seasons with the team, racking up 18 goals in 63 appearances before heading West.
“I’d like to thank the Club, the fans and the community for embracing me and my family over the past five seasons,” Leroux said. “We had many exciting memories and moments throughout my time here, and I always will remember my time in Orlando fondly.”
Her 2019 and 2020 seasons were cut short with injuries and a pregnancy, but the player returned in 2021 to give everything she had on the field. That season, she recorded eight goals and two assists, making her best year with the club.
“Sydney gave all she could for the Club every time she pulled on the jersey. We want to thank her for everything she has done for both our team and our community,” Orlando Pride General Manager Ian Fleming said. “We’ll miss having Sydney and her family here in Orlando, but we believe this trade is best for all parties. We wish Syd the best of luck in this next chapter.”
Leroux will now serve to boost Angel City’s attack, after the team lost Christen Press to a season-ending ACL injury earlier this month. With a limited bench, Angel City has seen a drop in their standings, going from dominating the top four in the first few weeks of the 2022 campaign to sixth place.
