OL Reign Acquires Forward Ally Watt in Trade with North Carolina
OL Reign has acquired forward Ally Watt in a trade with the North Carolina Courage, the club announced today. In exchange, North Carolina received defender Taylor Smith and the rights to forward Jodie Taylor.
"Ally has all the qualities needed to be an impactful player in our league,” said OL Reign head coach Farid Benstiti. “She is a dynamic player with fantastic potential. We’ll work closely with her to support her recovery and will hope to see her back on the pitch early in our upcoming season.”
Watt was selected by North Carolina with the sixth overall pick in the 2020 NWSL College Draft. Two weeks later, she joined W-League side Melbourne City on loan, linking up with future OL Reign teammate Lauren Barnes for the remainder of the Australian season. Watt made five appearances and scored three goals for Melbourne City, helping the club win both the W-League Premiership and Championship before returning to the United States.
Watt’s 2020 season was cut short, however, when she tore her ACL just 13 minutes into her debut at the NWSL Challenge Cup against Portland on June 27. The forward missed the remainder of the competition, as well as the entire NWSL Fall Series.
“I’m so excited to join the OL Reign family,” Watt said. “It’s going to be a great opportunity for me to grow under a new coach and surrounded by new teammates. The program has a history of success that I look forward to being a part of and contributing to. I can’t wait to get to work.”
Taylor Smith departs after two years at OL Reign, having spent her first year with the club recovering from a torn ACL. In 2020 the defender made seven appearances for OL Reign between the Challenge Cup and the Fall Series, playing a total of 406 minutes.
Jodie Taylor spent three years with OL Reign. After arriving from Arsenal in 2018, the forward became a mainstay for the side, scoring 14 goals and adding four assists in 40 league appearances. Taylor appeared in all five of OL Reign’s matches at the Challenge Cup before completing a transfer to Olympique Lyonnais on August 4.
“We are appreciative of Taylor’s hard work to return from injury and her commitment through a very difficult 2019 and 2020,” said OL Reign CEO Bill Predmore. “I also want to thank Jodie for all she gave to the club over the last three seasons. She is a true professional who dedicated herself to being the best footballer she could become. She earned a place amongst our club’s greatest players, so we wish her well will always be appreciative of her efforts on behalf of the club.”