The Houston Dash made the first big splash in the NWSL offseason by acquiring U.S. women’s national team star Carli Lloyd from the Western New York Flash. We spoke with Dash managing director Brian Ching about the acquisition and what Lloyd’s arrival means to the young franchise.
HDS.com:Acquiring a player of Carli Lloyd’s stature is not easy. Can you describe the process of the trade and your goal to bring her to the Dash?
Ching: In our opinion, Carli Lloyd is one of the best American players out there. When the opportunity came to get her, we couldn’t pass up on it. We understand we are giving up a lot – arguably two of our best players (in Becky Edwards and Whitney Engen) to get Carli, and that is how much we value Carli. We want to thank Whit and Becky, because it wasn’t an easy decision. Those are two players that meant a lot to our organization and helped us get started in our first season, and we are really going to miss them. Still, I think Carli instantly makes us better. She is in my opinion, one of the top two players in the U.S.
HDS.com:For 2014, the inaugural season of the Dash, there was no clear opportunity to have a star on the team because many were allocated before the 2013 NWSL season. How does Lloyd’s arrival to the Dash change the franchise heading into the 2015 season?
Ching: I think Carli is going to help us, both on and off the field. She is one of the best players in the country and a well-known star on the women’s national team. We still feel we have a ways to go to be a competitive team, but to secure her and bring her here is a good start in the process to be one of the best clubs in the country and the world. To be one of the best clubs in the world, which is our goal, you need to have some of the best players, and Carli is definitely one of the best players.
HDS.com:Were you and Randy Waldrum surprised Lloyd was available on the trade market?
Ching: Yes, we were definitely surprised and excited. We had to give up a lot, but that shows how much we believe in Carli as a player, and how much we want her here. It is not easy in this league as the stars are with their teams and are difficult to get. You see that in our trade, we had to give up a lot to get one of the best players in the country.
HDS.com:Where do you see Carli playing on the field for the Dash next season?
Ching: She is an attacking center midfielder. She is somebody that can get up and down the field, she scored goals, and she has a tremendous work rate. She is one of the most physically imposing players [in the league]. She is quick, she is fast, she has good vision. We think she definitely raises our level and makes us a threat going forward, which is one of the areas I feel we lacked a bit last season.
HDS.com:How does this move fit into the overall offseason plan?
Ching: We never thought we’d have an opportunity to get her, but we are excited. It really changes who we are on the field and is one of the big changes that we have made going into next season. This is the first of what we consider many changes, because we were disappointed in our first season, and we know we need to improve.
