Utah Royals FC traded away Brooke Elby and five draft picks for the rights of a player who had yet to sign with the team. It sounded risky, but URFC were confident that US Women’s National Team forward Christen Press would join the team soon.
This move, dubbed a “mega-trade,” saw players and picks traded between Utah Royals FC, the Houston Dash, and the Chicago Red Stars. The Royals walked away with the rights to one of the brightest stars in American soccer. Press famously did not show up to training at the start of the season for the Dash, and instead signed overseas with Swedish team Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC.