Midfielders Morgan Brian and Carli Lloyd will remain allocated players for the 2016 NWSL season, U.S. Soccer announced today.
Allocated players are determined by their respective federation, and their salaries do not count against the salary cap. Lloyd has been allocated by U.S. Soccer since the league’s inception, and Brian was added to the allocation list after being drafted by the Dash in the 2015 NWSL College Draft. The NWSL will have further announcements regarding the official list of allocated players from the Canadian Soccer Association and Federation of Mexican Football in the coming days.
Both Brian and Lloyd were key contributors for the U.S. Women’s National Team in 2015, especially at the FIFA Women’s World Cup. Lloyd earned the Golden Ball as the tournament’s top player and Brian played in six of the United States’ seven matches en route to winning the World Cup.
Brian, 22, appeared in 24 matches for the USWNT in 2015, fourth most on the team. In her rookie season with the Dash, the St. Simons Island, Georgia, native made 10 appearances and tallied three assists.
Lloyd was named the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year yesterday. The 33-year-old led the United States with 26 appearances and 18 goals in 2015. With Houston last season, Lloyd scored four times in 12 matches to earn NWSL Second XI honors.
Lloyd, Brian and the USWNT will aim to be in Houston in February for CONCACAF Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament semifinals and final at BBVA Compass Stadium. Tickets for all matches in Houston are available at ussoccer.com. The Dash open preseason camp in March ahead of the club’s third season in the NWSL. Dash season tickets for the 2016 campaign begin at just $120 and are available here or by calling (713) 276-GOAL.
