After just 155 minutes in royal and blue, holding midfielder Kaylyn Kyle has a new home in Houston.
On Tuesday afternoon, the Breakers traded Kyle for midfielder Nikki Washington, who has started all three matches for the Dash this season. Washington will undergo her second stint with the Breakers, as the Texas native featured for the squad in 2011. In 2013, Washington made 10 starts for the champion Portland Thorns, scoring one goal and adding two assists.
"We are excited to be bringing Nikki to Boston. We know what she brings as a player, and we know she can make an immediate impact for us," Breakers general manager Lee Billiard said. "The Breakers organization would like to thank Kaylyn for her contributions, and we wish her all the best in Houston."
Billiard remained candid on the surprise trade of Kyle, a defensive midfielder who brought significant club and international experience to Boston. Just weeks ago, a shaky pre-season led Head Coach Tom Durkin to publicly criticize Kyle, highlighting her underwhelming start. Unfortunately, the first two matches of 2014 also proved disappointing, as Kyle failed to assert herself as a strong force in the middle of the field. Kyle did not appear in Sunday's victory over Sky Blue F.C.
For Washington, a future role in Boston remains unknown. The midfielder prefers to play on the right side of the field, and often features as an attack-minded player. The UNC alum will likely fill Kristie Mewis' void until the U.S. International returns from a high ankle sprain. When she does, Washington will almost certainly serve as a top option off the bench, where she will compete with attackers Courtney Jones and Mollie Pathman.
Stay tuned for up-to-date information as the Kyle-Washington trade unfolds.