Seattle Reign FC Acquire U.S. International Midfielder Allie Long
Seattle Reign FC announced today the club has acquired U.S. international Allie Long from Portland Thorns FC in exchange for a conditional second-round draft pick in the 2020 NWSL College Draft and the rights to Caitlin Foord. Seattle received the rights to Foord from Sky Blue FC in a trade for defender Rebekah Stott and forward Katie Johnson.
“Strengthening our midfield with a world-class player like Allie Long is a big step forward for our squad,” said Reign FC head coach Vlatko Andonovski. “Allie has been a massively impactful player for Portland over the past five years and we believe she can have a similar impact in our team.”
Long signed with Portland Thorns FC in 2013, and became a U.S. women’s national team federation player during the 2017 NWSL season. During her time in Portland, Long made 104 appearances and recorded 31 goals and 13 assists. Long’s 31 goals are good for sixth most all-time in NWSL history.
Internationally, Long has 33 caps and six goals for the United States women’s national team, most recently appearing in their 1–1 tie with Canada in November. Long was also named to the 2016 Rio Olympics roster, starting in three of four matches.
After stints in Women’s Professional Soccer with the Washington Freedom and Sky Blue FC and abroad with Paris Saint-Germain in France, Long signed with Thorns FC prior to the inaugural 2013 NWSL season.
It was a season of success for Long, as she was one of just three Thorns FC players to start in all 22 matches, and tied for the team lead in assists with three. The midfielder also tallied three goals. No goal was bigger than Long’s game-winning goal in extra time of Portland’s semifinal win against FC Kansas City. The win propelled Thorns FC to the first NWSL Championship.
2014 saw Long’s numbers rise, scoring nine goals and tallying three assists as Thorns FC once again made the NWSL Playoffs. Long’s goal total was tied for fifth best in the league, and the midfielder earned NWSL Second XI honors for her efforts that season.
Despite the disappointment that came with Thorns FC’s 2015 and 2016 seasons, the club missed the playoffs in 2015 and fell in the semifinals the next year, Long was finally fully recognized for her stellar performances. The midfielder was named to NWSL First XI both seasons. Good for most of any Thorns FC player during that span, Long totaled 16 goals and six assists.
Long was able to bookend her Thorns FC career with NWSL Championships, as the club won their second title in 2017. En route to the championship, Long led the Thorns FC midfield in passing accuracy, completing 88% of her passes. The midfielder made 21 appearances during the course of the season, and became the first Thorns FC player to reach 100 regular season appearances.
“Since the league started, Vlatko has been a coach whose style of play is something I have always admired and respected. The fact he is at Seattle with some of the best players in the world is a dream scenario,” said Long. “I know this is exactly what I need to become the best player I can be. I am excited for the next challenge in my career — the best is yet to come. This team is special and it’s an honor to be a part of it. I can’t wait to make it reign.”
