Tag: Tobin Heath

OL Reign move USWNT veteran Tobin Heath to season-ending injury list

OL Reign will face the stretch run without Heath

OL Reign are going to have to navigate the final weeks of the NWSL season without Tobin Heath.

The longime USWNT winger was added to the season-ending injury list by the club following knee surgery on Monday.

“Although this wasn’t an easy decision, we know this was the right decision,” Reign head coach Laura Harvey said in a club statement. “We always want to be mindful of our athletes and their health, so we wanted to be sure that Tobin will have the proper time needed to fully prepare for a successful return on the pitch. Despite missing time this season, Tobin has helped our younger players tremendously with her veteran mindset and experience.”

Impact on the Reign’s playoff hopes

Heath was overcoming an injury sustained while playing for Arsenal when she joined the Reign in June of this year, and after recovering, made five appearances as a substitute.

She scored a potentially critical goal for the club, a late winner in a 1-0 victory over Angel City FC in her second appearance, but has not played for the Reign since August 14’s 4-1 rout of Gotham FC. Heath’s last start anywhere came back on March 31, when Arsenal were eliminated by Wolfsburg in the Champions League quarterfinals.

The fact that Heath hasn’t been available very often means the Reign should be able to proceed without too much disruption. That’s no knock on Heath, but rather a testament to the fact that Harvey’s side has more depth in wide attacking positions than any team in the NWSL. Players like Tziarra King and Veronica Latsko only get sporadic starts, and a similar logjam in central midfield has allowed Harvey to move Rose Lavelle out to the right wing at times.

[lawrence-related id=3474,3363,6499]

USWNT stalwart Tobin Heath has landed with OL Reign

The 34-year-old has returned to the NWSL after spending two seasons in England

OL Reign have announced the acquisition of U.S. women’s national team stalwart Tobin Heath in a trade with Racing Louisville FC.

Heath’s playing rights were acquired by Louisville in the 2021 expansion draft, though the 34-year-old did not actually play for the club as she spent the past two seasons in England with Manchester United and Arsenal.

OL Reign sent a second-round and fourth-round draft pick to Louisville, along with $50,000 in allocation money, to complete the deal, and signed Heath to a contract through the 2022 season with an option for a further season.

“Couldn’t be more thrilled to play alongside the world class players here, for Laura Harvey as my coach, and in front of the amazing community of supporters,” Heath said in a club release. “We’re all eager to win a title, and I’m hopeful I can help OL Reign achieve that goal.”

Heath made her name in the NWSL with OL Reign’s rivals, the Portland Thorns, where she spent seven seasons between 2013 and 2019, winning two NWSL titles and being named to the league’s Best XI on three occasions.

On the national team level, Heath is one of the most successful USWNT players in the recent iteration of the team. She’s appeared in four Olympics and three World Cups, winning two titles in each competition.

Heath has scored 36 goals and added 42 assists in her 181 USWNT caps. She will not, however, add to those numbers this summer after she was omitted from the CONCACAF W Championship roster as she continues to work her way back to fitness after an injury cut her season at Arsenal short.

[lawrence-related id=3241,3216]

Tobin Heath, OL Reign near stunning deal for NWSL return

Heath returns to the Pacific Northwest, but not with Portland

Tobin Heath is about to return to the NWSL, as according to a report from Equalizer Soccer, the USWNT winger will sign with OL Reign after the Seattle club makes a deal with Racing Louisville for her NWSL rights.

Per the report, the Reign and Louisville—who controversially selected Heath’s rights in their expansion draft—have agreed to a deal that will see $50,000 in allocation money and two draft picks go to Racing in the exchange. Heath and OL Reign have not reached an agreement on contract terms, though that is expected to be a formality at this stage.

Heath, 34, is out of contract after reaching a deal with Arsenal to end her deal with the club in late April. She has spent the last two seasons playing in the Women’s Super League, first with Manchester United and then with Arsenal for the 2021-22 campaign.

Injuries plagued Heath during her time in north London, restricting her to nine league appearances, but she did score two goals in just 292 minutes of WSL playing time. If the deal is completed, she would join another Arsenal star, Kim Little, who will play with the Reign on a short-term loan later this summer.

[lawrence-related id=2910,2477,3216]

Tobin Heath scored her first goal for Manchester United and it was a rocket

What a goal from the USWNT winger Tobin Heath.

Tobin Heath joined Manchester United this season, and the creative attacking midfielder kicked off her goalscoring tally for the side on Sunday with a rocket of a right-footed shot.

The goal came against West Ham and gave Manchester United a 2-0 lead in the 24th minute.

Heath has plied her trade in NWSL up to this point, but joined a growing cascade of USWNT players who are finding playing time by linking up with WSL sides. Heath was joined by Christen Press at United, while Rose Lavelle and Sam Mewis have joined Manchester City.

Here is a look at the goal from Heath that doubled United’s lead:

[lawrence-related id=474946]