Sydney Leroux’s Resurgence
Sydney Leroux had a rocky NWSL career, but things are looking up with a terrific 2021 season. Until her time with the Orlando Pride, she never spent more than two seasons on one team. However, she’s found a home in Orlando and is on pace to have her best season as a professional to date.
Let’s take a look at her journey through the NWSL and how she found her way to Orlando.
Road to Orlando
Leroux spent her college days at UCLA, where she scored 57 goals during her career. She holds the single-season goal record with 23 goals in 2009. After a successful college career, she was drafted as the first overall pick during the 2012 WPS draft by the Atlanta Beat, but the league folded before she could join the team.
In 2013 Leroux was one of three USWNT players allocated to the Boston Breakers for the NWSL’s inaugural season. In that first season, she scored eleven goals for the Breakers, the league leader. She was then traded to Seattle Reign FC the next season, where she scored five goals for Seattle.
She was on the move the next season, spending the 2015 season with the Western New York Flash. Unfortunately, with the 2015 Women’s World Cup and an ankle injury, Leroux only appeared in three matches.
At the end of the season, she was traded to FC Kansas City. She missed the 2016 season while she was pregnant with her first child. Leroux returned to play in 2017, scoring six goals and two assists in 23 appearances for Kansas City.
Orlando Pride
The forward was traded to the Orlando Pride ahead of the 2018 season. She had six goals and two assists in 20 appearances during her first season in purple. In 2019, Leroux missed time while pregnant with her second child, but she came back just three months after giving birth to her daughter.
Her full comeback season was cut short due to the global pandemic last season, but she did have a goal in three matches during the 2020 Fall Series.
2021 Season
Sydney Leroux has, without a doubt, been the MVP of the Orlando Pride this season; she is terrific. She’s not only the key to the offense, but she’s a huge presence defensively in the midfield. She’s consistently pressing and forcing opposing teams to turn over the ball. Her work rate, both on and off the ball, has been important to Orlando’s success this season.
In terms of statistics, Leroux is tied for the most goals in the league with eight so far. She also has two assists and a 75% passing success rate in 18 starts. She’s having the best season of her career so far. Overall, she’s combining well with the midfield and creating many dangerous chances for the Pride.
SYDNEY LEROUX, TAKE A BOW ? pic.twitter.com/KweHZk5FpV
— CBS Sports Soccer (@CBSSportsSoccer) September 11, 2021
The combination of Marta, Alex Morgan, and Leroux proved to be good for the Pride. Now, with Morgan coming back, we could see them combine for a lot more goals as we head towards the end of the season.
It wouldn’t be surprising if Sydney Leroux found herself back in the USWNT camp. She’s proved that she is still playing at an extremely high level and deserves the chance to be back on the national team. If NWSL form factors into call-ins as much as Vlatko Andonovski says, then Leroux should be called in soon and see a story similar to Kristie Mewis.
If Leroux continues her form, she could end up being the MVP for the league, not just the Orlando Pride.
Featured image via @ORLPride on Twitter
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