What the Zadorsky-Bledsoe deal means for the Spirit

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After two seasons with the Washington Spirit, Shelina Zadorsky (left) will have a new home in 2018 in Orlando with the Pride (photo credit : Jeff Wong)

Those who thought that the Washington Spirit were done dealing after last week’s roster overhaul were sorely mistaken on Tuesday as the club announced that it had traded captain and center-back Shelina Zadorsky to the Orlando Pride in exchange for goalkeeper Aubrey Bledsoe and a first round pick in the 2018 NWSL Draft.

Bledsoe, 26, made 11 starts for the Pride last season the most in her three year professional career. She had a 5-4-2 record last season coming in as a fill-in starter for the injured Ashlynn Harris with a save percentage of 70 percent and a Goals Against Average of 1.36 While Stephanie Labbe is currently still penciled in as the Spirit’s starting goalkeeper Bledsoe gives the club some flexibility in case Labbe gets injured or has to take time off for Canadian Women’s National Team duties.

Zadorsky, 25, has been the centerpiece of the Spirit defense for the past two seasons. Last season she made 21 appearances for Washington and clocked over 1, 793 minutes. The club picked up fellow Canadian international Rebecca Quinn with the third overall pick in last week’s college draft. It appears that move precipitated Tuesday’s deal. With Zadorsky gone, look for Quinn to pair up with Whitney Church in the Spirit backfield. The club also picked up right-back Taylor Smith in another trade last week. With a new back four the Spirit are hoping to improve upon their 48 goals conceded last season.

In addition to Bledsoe the Spirit also acquired the Prides 2018 NWSL first round draft pick. Given what the club was able to do last week with securing two of the first three picks it appears that they are still looking to stockpile assets with the aim towards either building towards the future or using their picks as assets.

The Spirit will kick off their 2018 NWSL preseason on March 10th against the University of North Carolina at the Evergreen Sports Complex in Leesburg, Virginia.

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Senior Editor-Prost Amerika. Reporter-Soccer 360 Magazine and SoccerWire. Occasional Podcaster- Radio MLS. Member of the North American Soccer Reporters union. Have a story idea? Email me: managers@prostamerika.com

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