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According to reports on Sunday, August, 16 from Meg Lineman from The Athletic and Paul Tenorio, also from The Athletic, Utah Royals FC/USWNT defender was heading to the Washington Spirit via a trade.
Reporting with @PaulTenorio — according to sources, Kelley O'Hara of Utah Royals/#USWNT is heading to the Washington Spirit via trade.
— Meg Linehan (@itsmeglinehan) August 17, 2020
Earlier today, Spirit traded Rose Lavelle's #NWSL rights to OL Reign for 2022 draft pick/$100K in allocation money (+ more conditional).
On Tuesday, August, 18, there was confusion on the initial reports that said O’Hara to Washington was a done deal when the Utah Royals FC front office denied the reports. Meg Linehan of The Athletic clarified the situation after conversations with the club.
More on this trade: @PaulTenorio and I were told on Sunday was done, but it is not over the finish line yet.
— Meg Linehan (@itsmeglinehan) August 18, 2020
Talks are still ongoing between the Royals and the Spirit. https://t.co/0Th210Vsim
Then on Friday, August 21, Steven Goff of The Washington Post reported that the trade had been turned down by the Washington Spirit.
Washington Spirit has turned down Utah Royals' trade request for Ashley Hatch, 25, or Tegan McGrady, 22, in exchange for Kelley O'Hara, 32, I'm told. O'Hara wants to play in DC, where she lives. Outside forces working hard to make trade happen. #nwsl #uswnt
— Steven Goff (@SoccerInsider) August 21, 2020
It’s been quite the saga, and it’s clear, by the reports, that O’Hara wants to play in Washington. The Spirit tried to accommodate the request, but they were not willing to lose young talent.
O’Hara was traded to Utah from Sky Blue FC in December 2017 prior the club’s inaugural season in 2018. Her time in Utah has been limited by injuries and national team duty.