Seattle Reign FC has acquired the rights to forward Darian Jenkins from the North Carolina Courage in return for the 9th overall pick in the 2019 NWSL College Draft. Subsequent to the trade, Reign FC signed Jenkins for the 2019 season. As per league and team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.
“I’m beyond excited to be joining Reign FC,” said Jenkins. “I’m looking forward to meeting the team, coaching staff, and community to continue building on the success the team had last year. Thank you, Reign FC and Upper V Management for making this happen. I’m looking forward to getting out to Seattle!”
Jenkins is a graduate of UCLA, where she scored 29 goals in 76 appearances for the Bruins. Her college career was cut short when she fractured her fibula late in her senior season. Despite the injury, Jenkins was drafted by North Carolina in the first round of the 2017 NWSL College Draft with the 7th overall pick.
Jenkins missed the entire 2017 NWSL season due to her injury, but made 14 appearances for North Carolina during the 2018 season. She also made two appearances for the Courage in the Women’s International Championship Cup, scoring her first professional goal with a game-winner over PSG.
“Darian is a player I’ve had my eye on for a long time. She was a dynamic goal scorer in college and has great potential to be an impactful player in the NWSL,” said Seattle Reign FC head coach Vlatko Andonovski. “She will add a new dimension to our attack and will add needed depth to our squad, especially during our games during over the World Cup.”
With the trade for Jenkins, Seattle Reign FC has relinquished its last remaining pick the 2019 NWSL College Draft, which will be held on January 10, 2019 at the United Soccer Coaches Convention in Chicago, Illinois.
During the 2018 season Seattle traded its natural 1st round pick in the 2019 NWSL College Draft to Orlando in return for Orlando’s 8th and 11th selections in the 2018 Dispersal Draft, which Seattle utilized to select Ghanaian international midfielder Elizabeth Addo and midfielder Morgan Andrews. Seattle’s natural 2nd round pick was traded (along with defender Merritt Mathias) to the Courage in return for North Carolina’s 1st round pick (9th overall). Reign FC traded its natural 3rd round pick (and goalkeeper Haley Kopmeyer) to Orlando to acquire forward Jasmyne Spencer, and sent its natural 4th round pick to Sky Blue FC in return for Canadian international forward Adriana Leon.
