Photo Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
This story was updated on Dec. 27 to reflect the trade being officially announced following The Equalizer’s reporting the day prior.
Two-time NWSL champion Yazmeen Ryan has been traded from NJ/NY Gotham FC to the Houston Dash, the teams confirmed on Friday, Dec. 27. The Equalizer reported the news of Ryan’s trade, and the historic $400,000 in allocation money sent to Gotham FC, on Thursday.
The deal was completed before the NWSL’s transaction moratorium over the Christmas holiday. The trade window re-opened at 9 a.m. on Dec. 27 and the team’s announced the deal shortly after.
Houston acquired Ryan and $80,000 in intra-league transfer funds in exchange for $400,000 in allocation money and a 2025 international roster spot.
The $400,000 in allocation money is a standalone record for that specific type of fund mechanism, and it is one of the largest fees paid for a player in NWSL history for an internal league trade. Earlier this year, the San Diego Wave paid $500,000 total ($300,000 intra-league funds, $200,000 allocation money) to the Houston Dash in exchange for winger Maria Sanchez.
The $400,000 is also double what Angel City FC paid the Portland Thorns ($200,000) two years ago in a three-team trade that sent Ryan to Gotham FC. (Angel City then flipped Ryan and $250,000 in allocation money to Gotham for the No. 1 pick int he 2023 draft.)
Ryan, a versatile player who can play in different positions across the forward line and midfield, recently made her debut for the United States women’s national team. She won an NWSL Championship with the Portland Thorns in 2022 and with Gotham the following year.
Ryan tallied five goals and five assists in 2024. She started in 22 of her 24 appearances for Gotham FC.
The trade marks the second major exit of the week for Gotham. The Equalizer’s Dan Lauletta reported on Wednesday that United States international forward Lynn Williams and goalkeeper Cassie Miller had been traded from Gotham to Seattle Reign FC in exchange for midfielder Jaelin Howell. Both Ryan and Williams arrived at Gotham via trades ahead of the team’s 2023 championship season.
Houston finished in last place in 2024 amid a tumultuous season off the field that saw former general manager Alex Singer fired and former head coach Fran Alonso — who only arrived at the club in February — mysteriously disappear for 12 weeks before being let go by the team in September.
The Dash recently hired Angela Hucles Mangano, who was fired as Angel City FC general manager the week prior, as the new president of women’s soccer, effectively filling Houston’s GM role. The Dash are still without a full-time head coach.
Still, Houston has made several key acquisitions this offseason — including Ryan and midfielder Delanie Sheehan, who both played at Gotham most recently. Sheehan signed with Houston as a free agent for a significant pay raise, a source with knowledge of the deal previously confirmed to The Equalizer.
