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The Houston Dash announced today that they had traded Morgan Brian to the Chicago Red Stars in exchange for midfielder Kristie Mewis and undisclosed future considerations. Brian, the former number 1 pick of the 2015 NWSL Draft had flourished as a player that was adept at relieving pressure for players ahead of her and for calmly distributing the ball from deep in the midfield, but injuries have held her back at both the club and international level.
Mewis is a midfielder capable of playing out wide up the field as a winger or deployed as a defensive wingback. Mewis was traded earlier this month from the Washington Spirit to the Chicago Red Stars for their number 1 pick in the 2018 NWSL Draft. In her only game for the Red Stars she was able to score against her former club. Mewis has also featured at the USWNT level where she has 15 caps and 1 goal.
The timing of the trade feels a bit odd given that it comes in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, but it is by no means a poor trade getting a solid player that can help contribute immediately. Still, letting go of a top pick in a draft always feels a little off. It was great having Morgan Brian with the Dash, but it will be exciting to see how Kristie Mewis can help a team hoping to get higher up the table.