Boston Breakers exercise contract options on 12 players

The Boston Breakers have announced that they are exercising contract options on 12 players, as well as offering new contracts to five more players. The way NWSL contracts are structured, all non-national-team players are offered one-year deals with an option to extend for a second year. The 12 players with options are as follows:

GOALKEEPERS: Abby Smith, Sammy Jo Prudhomme

DEFENDERS: Megan Oyster, Julie King, Amanda Frisbie

MIDFIELDERS: Rosie White, Morgan Andrews

FORWARDS: Adriana Leon, Natasha Dowie, Ifeoma Onumonu, Margaret Purce, Hayley Dowd

New contracts were offered to Brooke Elby, Christen Westphal, Angela Salem, Tiffany Weimer, and Katie Stengel.

Allysha Chapman and Rose Lavelle are, for now, federation players whose salaries are paid by the Canadian Soccer Association and US Soccer, respectively.

That’s all 19 players who ended the season with Boston, although this doesn’t preclude any of them getting waived or traded for the 2018 season. But for now Boston retains their rights. We’ll also see if federation players change up; Leon is probably a strong candidate to make it back to Canada’s allocated list, depending on how she performs in the two upcoming Canada-USA friendlies.

Obviously Boston also has an empty roster spot available. The following players are available off the waiver wire for other teams to pick up.

McKenzie Berryhill, Orlando Pride
Jocelyn Blankenship, Orlando Pride
Kelly Conheeney, Houston Dash
Line Sigvardsen Jensen, Washington Spirit
Kendall Johnson, Portland Thorns FC
Natasha Kai, Sky Blue FC
Jordan O'Brien, Orlando Pride
Stephanie Ochs, North Carolina Courage

Boston could benefit from a little more defensive depth, or possibly a great midfield winger. None of the waiver wire players really scream out in those positions; Matt Beard will definitely be looking at trades or possible internationals to give his team some depth and add value to a roster that will hopefully have a healthy Rose Lavelle available.

Stay tuned for the inevitable future moves in the NWSL offseason.