Reign FC has announced four free-agent signings Monday as roster construction for NWSL teams continues: midfielder Jess Fishlock, defender Kate Deines, and forwards Tiffany Cameron and Lindsay Taylor.
Here are some more notes on the new players:
— Fishlock, 26, is captain of the Welsh national team (66 caps, 21 goals) and two-time Wales Player of the Year. Previous teams: Bristol Academy, AZ Alkmaar.
— Cameron, 22, can play out wide and up front, earned her first three caps for Canada last month and was a second-team All-American at Ohio State last season (set school records with 40 career goals, 21 goals in a season in 2012).
— Deines, 23, is an Issaquah native and a former U.S. U-23 national team player. She played for the Sounders Women and Stjarnan FC in Iceland in the past year.
— Taylor, 23, is another U.S. U-23 player and was drafted sixth overall in the 2012 WPS college draft. She scored 20 goals as a senior at Stanford to win 2011 Pac-12 Player of the Year and earned first-team All-America honors en route to a national championship.
Also on the Reign FC roster are seven national-team player allocations Hope Solo (USA), Amy Rodriguez (USA, pregnant and won’t play in the 2013 season), Megan Rapinoe (USA, will be in Europe at the start of NWSL season), Kaylyn Kyle (Canada), Emily Zurrer (Canada), Teresa Noyola (Mexico, will be in Europe at the start of the NWSL season) and Jenny Ruiz (Mexico).
Four college draft picks are also on the team: Christine Nairn (Penn State), Mallory Schaffer (William and Mary), Kristen Meier (Wake Forest) and Haley Kopmeyer (Michigan).
That’s 15 players. NWSL rosters will hold 18-20. There will be a six-round supplemental draft Thursday and Seattle holds the No. 2 overall pick.
After the jump are team-provided player bios and quotes…
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Jess Fishlock
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5-2
Weight: 123
Birthdate: 1/14/1987
Hometown: Cardiff, Wales
Citizenship: Wales (66 appearances/21 goals for full national team)
Previous clubs: Melbourne Victory, Australia (loan; 2012), Bristol Academy, Eng. (2011-12), AZ Alkmaar, Neth. (2008-10), Bristol Academy, Eng. (2007-08),
Honors: Wales FA Player of the Year (2011, 2012), All-Star, English Women’s Premier League (2012), Bristol Academy Player of the Year (2011, 2012)
Laura Harvey on signing Jess Fishlock – “Jess is a great player who I know a lot about from her time in the English league. She is used to playing overseas, having played in Holland and Australia. Her experience and ability I feel will be crucial to the development of this team. She is versatile and can play anywhere in midfield and also in the front line.”
Jess Fishlock on joining Reign FC – “I’ve grown as a player and achieved a lot, and America has one of the world’s best leagues. I see it as a big challenge because I will be playing with and against the best players in the world, and that’s the way to develop and get better and better.”
Tiffany Cameron
Position: Forward
Height: 5-5
Weight: 133
Birthdate: 10/16/1991
Hometown: Mississauga, Ontario
Citizenship: Canada (3 appearances)
Previous clubs: Ohio State (2009-12)
Honors: NSCAA All-America (2nd team, 2012), All-Big Ten (1st team, 2012; 1st team, 2010)
Laura Harvey on signing Tiffany Cameron – “Tiffany is a young ambitious player, and by breaking into the Canadian national team she has demonstrated her ability. We want forwards who have pace and something special, and I feel Tiffany has these qualities.”
Tiffany Cameron on joining Reign FC – “I am honored to have this opportunity. I’ve worked hard to achieve my goals and I respect Seattle for recognizing the work I’ve put in. They called me right after I returned from China, and I’ve been very impressed from the get go.”
Kate Deines
Pronounced: DI-ness
Position: Defender
Height: 5-10
Weight: 150
Birthdate: 9/17/1989
Hometown: Issaquah, Washington
Citizenship: USA (U-23 national team)
Previous clubs: Stjarnan (Iceland, 2012); Seattle Sounders Women (W-League, 2012), University of Washington (2008-11)
Honors: All-Pac 12/10 (1st team, 2010; 2nd team, 2011, 2009)
Laura Harvey on signing Kate Deines – “Kate is a player who is local to Seattle and understands how big soccer is in this city. She has great potential to push on to big things in this league. She has established herself in a defensive role over the last few seasons, but can also play in midfield if needed which is great to have in your squad.”
Kate Deines on joining Reign FC – “I can’t begin to describe how excited I am to play professionally in Seattle, before my family and friends. The support in this city is awesome, and now to have a professional team in Seattle I can’t even imagine the atmosphere for our home matches.”
Lindsay Taylor
Position: Forward
Height: 5-7
Weight: 130
Birthdate: 10/25/1989
Hometown: Redwood City, Calif.
Citizenship: USA (U-23, U-20, U-17 national teams)
Previous clubs: Arna-Bjornar, Norway (2012), Stanford (2008-11)
Honors: NSCAA All-America (1st team, 2008, 2011), Soccer America National
Player of the Year (2011), Pac-12 Player of the Year (2011), All-Pac-10/12 (1st team, 2009, 2010, 2011)
Laura Harvey on signing Lindsay Taylor – “Lindsay Taylor is a forward that fits exactly what we are looking for: she has pace and power. She is hungry to succeed and wants to show that she is good enough at this level. We will be looking to play a way which suits Lindsay’s strengths.”
Lindsay Taylor on joining Reign FC – “First and foremost I’m really excited to play at the professional level in America. To play on the West Coast and for Seattle’s first women’s professional team is very special, and I’m anxious to play for Laura and learn from her.”