The Houston Dash acquired the rights to midfielderEmily Ogle and midfielderGabby Seilerthrough a trade with Portland Thorns FC, the Club announced today. The Dash traded their natural first-round and fourth-round picks in the 2021 NWSL College Drafts as part of the deal.
“The addition of Gabby and Emily is another step in the development and growth of the team”, said Head Coach James Clarkson. “They are both ideal fits for our culture and style of play”.
Ogle joins Houston for her third NWSL season after making two starts in six appearances with the Thorns from 2019-20. The Ohio native started in one of three appearances with the Thorns this year, logging 97 minutes during the Fall Series. Oglewas drafted as the 24th overall pick in the 2019 College Draft and earned her professional debutagainst North Carolina on June 15,2019. She went on tolog 92 minutes in three appearances that season.
In four seasons at Penn State, Ogle started in all 100 career matches, recording 20 goals and 21 assists, while helping lead the team to a NCAA National Championship in 2015. As a senior in 2018, Ogle started and played 25 games for the Nittany Lions, scoring six goals and tallying five assists while earning United Soccer Coaches second-team All-America honors, Big Ten Midfielder of the Year and first-team All-Big Ten accolades. During her career, Ogle was a three-time All-Big Ten pick, was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year in 2014, and earned United Soccer Coaches All-Region accolades every season.
Ogle was a nominee for the U.S. Soccer Young Female Player of the Year in 2016, starting in all six matches for the U.S. U-20 Women’s National Team at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup. Ogle also gained national team experience with the U-23s, U-19s and U-18s.
Seiler is set to begin her thirdNWSL season after making 13 starts in 20 appearances over the last two seasons with Portland. The midfielder was selected with the ninth pick in the first round of the 2018 College Draft but missed the entire 2018 season while rehabilitating a knee injury. In 2019, Seiler signed with Portland and earned 13 starts in 15 appearances during her rookie season with the Thorns, tallying 1,123 minutes. This year, the Georgia native played in fivegames for the Thorns, tallying 85 minutes during the club’s Challenge Cup run and 20 minutes in the Fall Series.
The 26-year-old started her college career at the University of Georgia where she made 40 appearances and finished with 10 goals and 11 assists over two seasons. She was named Georgia's Rookie of the Year in 2013 and made the All-SEC First-Year Honor Roll her freshman year. After two years at Georgia, Seiler opted to transfer to the University of Florida, where redshirted during the 2015 season. In 2016, Seiler made her Gator debut scoring a goal and providing two assists. Themidfielder went on to captain 23 matches while leading the team with eight assists and six games, and earning USC All-American third team, USC All-Southeast Region first team, All-SEC first team and MAC Hermann Trophy watch list honors.
Also bringing international experience, Seiler has been called into several United States Women's National Team camps at the U-18, U-19, U-20 and U-23 levels.
With this transaction, the Dash now have 23 players on their active roster ahead of the 2021 NWSL season. Houston also has two picks in the third round of the upcoming NWSL Draftthe26th and 27th overall selections.
