Orlando Pride forward Alex Morgan won the Concacaf Female Player of the Year award for the third-straight year and Chicago Red Stars goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher was named Female Goalkeeper of the Year. Morgan picked up her fourth Concacaf award (2013, 2016, 2017 and 2018) after leading the U.S. women’s national team to a 5-0-0 record in […]

Orlando Pride forward Alex Morgan won the Concacaf Female Player of the Year award for the third-straight year and Chicago Red Stars goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher was named Female Goalkeeper of the Year.Morgan picked up her fourth Concacaf award (2013, 2016, 2017 and 2018) after leading the U.S. women’s national team to a 5-0-0 record in the 2018 Concacaf Women’s Championship. She finished the year with a team-high 18 goals and added three assists in 19 appearances. Portland Thorns FC midfielder Lindsey Horan finished in third place for the Female Player of the Year award and Naeher, Horan and Morgan were all named to the Female Best XI along with North Carolina Courage forward Crystal Dunn, Utah Royals FC defender Becky Sauerbrunn and Portland Thorns FC forward Christine Sinclair. The Concacaf awards are determined by national team head coaches, national team captains, media and fans. The awards look at players, coaches and referees who have “excelled in Concacaf and FIFA-sanctioned tournaments involving the Confederation’s national teams and clubs.” [Empty Body] * * * North Carolina Courage defender and the 2018 NWSL Defender of the Year Abby Erceg is available for selection for the Football Ferns. Erceg first made her debut for New Zealand in 2006 and was captain of the team from 2014 to 2017. She has competed at three Olympic Games and three FIFA Women’s World Cups. [Empty Body] “Abby is a world-class and highly-experienced international player,” New Zealand head coach Tom Sermanni said. “To have someone of her ability make herself available for the program as we build to the World Cup is a huge boost for everyone.” The Football Ferns begin their preparation for the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup where they have been drawn in Group E, in which they will face Canada, Cameroon and the Netherlands. * * * The Washington Spirit announced the signing of defender Megan Crosson. Crosson joins the Spirit after previously logging time as a national team replacement player. Crosson has also spent time with the Houston Dash (2016-2017) and overseas with Speranza FC of Japan and UGD Tenerife of Spain. [Empty Body] * * * Seattle Reign FC announced on Tuesday that they have re-signed forward Beverly Yanez ahead of the 2019 season. Yanez first joined the Reign from Japan’s INAC Kobe Leonessa for the 2014 NWSL season before signing with Seattle ahead of the 2015 season. Yanez helped the Reign win the Shield back-to-back in 2014 and 2015 and has scored 23 goals over her five seasons in Seattle. “Bev is a truly special player, both on and off the pitch,” Reign FC owner and president Bill Predmore said in a press release. “Her incredible work ethic, understanding of the game, and relentless positivity have made her a huge contributor to our success over the past five seasons.” [Empty Body] On Wednesday, the Reign announced the re-signing of defender Megan Oyster for the 2019 season. Seattle picked up Oyster in the NWSL Dispersal Draft on January 30, 2018. With the Reign, Oyster started in 21 games and helped the Reign earn 12 clean sheets last season. “Megan was an important addition to our defense last season,” said head coach Vlatko Andonovski in the Reign press release. “She’s a strong, steady defender and I’m looking forward to seeing her build on her success in 2019.” * * * In international news, Jamaica named their January training camp roster and Spirit forward Cheyna Matthews and former Spirit forward Havana Solaun were named to the roster. Kayla McCoy, who was recently selected by the Houston Dash at the 2019 NWSL College Draft out of Duke University, was also called into camp. [Empty Body] * * * Wales announced their squad that will face Italy and Reign FC midfielder Jess Fishlock was named to the roster. [Empty Body]