Orlando Pride midfielder Lianne Sanderson has been traded to the Western New York Flash for an international roster spot for the remainder of the 2016 through 2018 seasons.
Rumors of a possible trade began circulating after the English midfielder did not travel with the team to play Kansas City Saturday. Sanderson also was not at training Tuesday morning.
An international spot could be valuable to the Pride, who are in dire need of a goalkeeper. Starter Ashlyn Harris will leave soon to join the U.S. women’s national team for the Olympics, and backup Aubrey Bledsoe is out the rest of the season with an injury
In her brief time in Orlando, Sanderson endeared herself to fans with energetic play, a distinct personal style – including a bleached blonde mohawk at times – and sincerity.