Dash trade Maria Sanchez to San Diego Wave

(image via Houston Dash)

The Houston Dash have announced the trade of Maria Sanchez to the San Diego Wave in exchange for $300,000 in intra-league funds and $200,000 in allocation money. The Dash also receive an international roster spot for the 2024 and 2025 seasons. Reports surfaced earlier this week that Sanchez asked the club to trade and her and she posted her own statement on social media yesterday that she “requested an immediate trade”.

Sanchez originally joined the Dash in 2021 on loan from Tigres. She then signed permanently with Houston before the 2022 season. The Mexican international finishes her career with 49 regular season appearances with seven goals and 9 assists for the Dash. She also played in 12 cup games with a goal and five assists, as well as one NWSL playoff game.

Plenty of questions will be asked of the Dash front office about what happened between Sanchez signing a new contract in December of last year to then become the highest paid player in the NWSL, to now gone from Houston. Unless Sanchez comes out and explains why she wanted to leave, we may never know what really went down.

Sanchez reportedly sat down with the Dash front office on March 27 to voice her displeasure and ask to leave. Houston then signed Ramona Bachmann, who plays a similar position to Sanchez, on April 2. Bachmann could replace Sanchez in Fran Alonso’s left wing back role. Rookie Avery Patterson has also played in the wing back position and will be the likely replacement in the lineup for Sanchez.