Sky Blue Looks to the Draft in a Big Way

By Sean McCaffery, December 29, 2020

In the recent past, the local NWSL team, Sky Blue have been adding players to their stable, today they let a veteran and a USWNT player go to Chicago. Young Mallory Pugh and a player they had for half a dozen years, Sarah Woldmoe have blown out of town to the Windy City. Yes, this deal yields SBFC as many as 3 first round draft picks, a pair in the upcoming 2021 Draft and a conditional one in the 2022, yes it is for  players, 7 INTERNATIONAL SLOTS IN 2021 & '22, but you are giving up 2 known entities for the immediate but still future. I am not so sure this sits well with me. Yes, the forward Pugh was hurt most of her time with the team, but for a young World Cup champion and one who has been with you for some time have much added value.

Midfielder Woldmoe informed "I feel so incredibly blessed to have spent the past 6 years at Sky Blue. I want t say thank you to the owners and the entire organization for the opportunity to play. I grew up with Sky Blue. I will cherish all the memories that I have made here. The the fans- thank you for the continuous support over the years. To my teammates-you all mean more to me than the game itself.

 The 2nd overall pick of the 2015 Draft, the now 28 year old had been captain since 2018 and attained her 100th game in 2019, with 106 games overall and 11 goals.

HC Freya Combe told "I want to thank Sarah for being a fantastic player and captain for Sky Blue. Sarah is a top-notch professional and I truly wish her all the best in her move to Chicago and glad she can be back with he family."

Out of Ft. Wayne IN, she has many team records with games with 106, starts @ 101, minutes played, a haughty 9,164, PK's converted 8. As for single season records she hold those in  PK's scored with 4, starts & games having 24, almost 1/4 of all minutes with 2,160 following her ironwoman season of 2019.

GM Alyse LaHue shared "Sarah has been an incredibly important part of Sky Blue for many years. It was important for us to get her to her preferred location to be reunited with her husband and close to family. She has left her mark here."

A pro of a number of years now, the 22 year old Pugh arrived less than a year ago, getting in but one game. From Littleton CO, she first hit NWSL in 2017 and the Spirit. Ironically, her sole game was facing her first team, as she assisted on the GWG.

Coombe said of the young international "Mal's time with Sky Blue was unfortunately restricted by injury and the reduced season, but we want to wish her all the best in her future career."

LaHue contributed "On behalf of Sky Blue, I echo Coach Coombe's sentiments in wishing Mal a swift return to full form and nothing but success in Chicago and wherever her career may take her. We'll look forward to seeing her on the pitch again next season."

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