Houston Dash winger Maria Sanchez has requested a trade just four months after signing one of the richest contracts in National Women's Soccer League history, multiple sources confirmed to ESPN.
Both the NWSL trade and transfer windows close at midnight Friday.
Sanchez signed a new contract with Houston in December, with a third year and an option for a fourth year, totaling $1.5 million, including bonuses and an option year. At the time it was signed, it was the largest contract in NWSL history, but it was eclipsed by several contracts signed in subsequent months.
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“Maria Sanchez is under contract and this is her choice in free agency at the end of 2023,” a Houston Dash spokesperson said in a statement to ESPN on Sunday.
Sanchez, 28, was a restricted free agent this offseason, so Houston had the ability to retain his rights pending offers from other NWSL teams. Her contract is with the league, so even if she moves to a new team, her contract will remain in place, limiting the number of teams that can sign her.
She is a member of the Mexican national team and is known for her left-footed service and high skill with the ball.
She became one of Mexico's top players during her time with Liga MX Femenil, including her time with Tigres in 2021. Sanchez first signed with Houston in 2022 after being briefly loaned to the team in 2021. She is the center of the team. As a left-handed winger, she is used both as a wing-back and further up the field.
Houston has struggled to create stability within the club since its founding as an NWSL expansion team in 2014, but turnover has been especially evident recently. Five different coaches have been at the helm of the Dash since the start of the 2022 season, including two who were interim coaches. One of those interim coaches served in that role on two separate occasions.
Last year, the Dash fired head coach Sam Leighty with four games left in his first year with the team, but the team was still contending for a playoff spot. Last month, the Dash fired former goalie coach Matt Lampson for violating the NWSL anti-fraternity policy and the NWSL Coaches Code of Conduct.
New head coach Fran Alonso took over at the end of December after three years in charge of Scotland's Celtic women's team. At Alonso's inaugural press conference, Dash general manager Alex Singer spoke of the investment of resources to bring stability within the club after years of “ups and downs” and establish long-term success. .
Singer specifically pointed to Sanchez's contract when discussing these plans.
“We talk about Maria Sanchez. She's had a lot of success,” the singer said in December. “How do we make her the absolute, undisputed best winger in this league? She's a great footballer, but what do we give her off the pitch, a gym, a nutritionist, a high performance director? It's all about forcing us to do what we need to do.''It's basically already in place, but it takes it to the next level.
“This identity is going to be something that we really focus on, identity and culture. When any player, any staff member, wears the Houston Dash emblem on their shirt, it's going to take on a whole new meaning next season. . Beyond.
Houston has 1 win, 2 losses, and 1 draw (4 points) through 4 games this season. The Dash have conceded 10 goals, tied for the most in the NWSL. Last year, Houston allowed 18 runs in 22 regular season games.
