FC Kansas City sends Hagen, draft pick to Orlando

In preparation for the expansion draft, several trades are being made today in the NWSL.  FC Kansas City sent Sarah Hagen and their second-round (No. 15 overall) selection in the 2016 NWSL College Draft to Orlando in exchange for the Pride's Pride's second-round pick in the 2017 NWSL College Draft.

"Trading Sarah [Hagen] was not an easy decision to make," Coach Vlatko Andonovski said via press release. "She was a big part of our team for two great seasons and two championships. We want to wish her all the best in the future."

Orlando is the tenth and newest club to join the NWSL and will begin play in 2016. The 2015 NWSL Expansion Draft is scheduled to be held on Monday, Nov. 2 at 11a.m.. CT via conference call. The Protected Lists should be available later today.

The Big WHY?

This trade on the surface appears to be a bit lopsided and out of character for FC Kansas City, a club that has made so many good trades the last couple years. According to sources with the league, the value that the Blues receive is that Orlando has agreed to not take the one exposed national team player.

According to the expansion draft rules, the Blues would have to expose one of the following three national team players: Becky Sauerbrunn, Amy Rodriguez and Heather O'Reilly. Most likely it would be O'Reilly and there is a distinct possibility Orlando would have taken O'Reilly and then moved her in another trade.