Dani Weatherholt and Kristen McNabb Selected in Expansion Draft

OL Reign had one player selected by expansion side Angel City FC and one player selected by San Diego Wave FC in the 2022 NWSL Expansion Draft presented by Ally, which was conducted on Thursday. Midfielder Dani Weatherholt was selected by Angel City FC with the first pick, while defender Kristen McNabb was taken by San Diego Wave FC with the fourth pick.

Weatherholt, a versatile and hardworking midfielder was first signed by OL Reign in January 2020 from Orlando Pride. She made seven appearances, including four starts, between the 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup and the 2020 Fall Series and played a total of 460 minutes.

In 2021, Weatherholt played in four NWSL Challenge Cup matches and started in two, for a total of 225 minutes. During the season, she played 1,040 minutes across 20 games. The 27-year-old notched one game winning assist against Portland Thorns FC on May 23rd.

McNabb was originally selected by the Reign 37th overall pick in the 2017 NWSL College Draft out of the University of Virginia. In her first season with the club, McNabb played in 18 games, starting 14, for a total of 1,307 minutes. A highlight of the season included scoring her first professional goal on April 22, 2017 against the Houston Dash.

In 2018, McNabb remained a regular in the Reign defense, starting 12 matches and played in 20 for a total of 1,159 minutes. The following season, she played in 16 games and earned 11 starts for a total of 1,121 minutes. The 27-year-old started eight of OL Reign’s nine matches in 2020, playing 705 minutes between the Challenge Cup and Fall Series.

In 2021, McNabb played in three Challenge Cup matches and 22 matches during the season. She netted the opening goal in OL Reign’s 2-3 win over NJ/NY Gotham FC in August and was an integral part of OL Reign’s backline.

The NWSL trade window opened directly following the Expansion Draft and will close at 5:00 p.m. PT on Friday, December 17. The NWSL Draft is set to take place on Saturday, December 18, where OL Reign has six picks, including the 10th, 15th and 20th overall selections.