OL Reign goes into this offseason with five free agents , both restricted and unrestricted . The headliners of that five are midfielders Rose Lavelle and Emily Sonnett , both of whom are unrestricted free agents . Midfielder Nikki Stanton is the third unrestricted free agent , while forward Tziarra King and midfielder Angelina are restricted free agents . The latter two can entertain offers from other NWSL teams , and the Reign have seven days to match that competing offer and keep them in a Reign jersey for 2024 .
Gallimore said that communications with Lavelle and Sonnett are constant and both know what the Reign are building and how integral each of them are in it .
" They both know that they ’ re a huge part of our project and clearly , we ’ re going to work really hard to re-sign both of them . I think ending the season as late as we did , expansion draft coming , there ’ s all timing issues with them , but there are ongoing discussions just about daily that we feel good about ," said Gallimore .
Obviously , Harvey would love to have all of the free agents re-sign with the club and keep it going with what they ' re building here and hopefully finally claim that elusive NWSL Championship , but she also knows the long and hard road the players have had to pave in order to have free agency , so those who have qualified
for it , can have some agency and power for themselves and choose where they want to play . " I said this last year with our free agents , they should live through it . I think the expansion draft adds an extra wrinkle to that – they know that if they ’ re still free , they can ’ t be picked . So , that gives them some power to their own destiny outside of wherever they choose their next destination to be . As Lesle says , I think everyone knows that we really value Rose and Sonnett , they ’ re a huge part of our team . I think Sonnett ’ s evolution this year has been exceptional and Rose obviously had a tough year , but you saw that at the back end of the season , what she can do and they know that we love them and we want them to stay here . But , I do think that every player , and we advise in this , should live through free agency and see what it looks like for them ," said Harvey .
LAURA HARVEY
LAURA HARVEY 8th season as 2nd Stint as Head Coach for OL Reign at 2023 Playoff vs . Angel City .
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3-time NWSL Coach of Year in 2014 , 2015 , and 2021 .