Orlando Pride Acquire MF Becky Edwards and Rights to D Kristen Edmonds

This morning the Orlando Pride announced that it has acquired midfielder Becky Edwards and the rights to defender Kristen Edmonds from the New York Flash in exchange for a second-round pick in the 2016 draft and a 2017 first-round pick.

"Both Becky and Kristen are excellent additions to our squad, adding depth, quality and experience," said Pride Head Coach Tom Sermanni in a club press release. "They have significant experience at the professional level and are familiar with playing alongside each other, something we believe will be important as the players begin training and learning to develop their own style of play."

It is also important to note that both players will look to play a significant role this summer when a large portion of the squad travels to Rio for the Olympics.

Edwards, 27, spent her college days playing at Florida State before she was drafted 12th overall in the 2010 Women’s Pro Soccer League draft by FC Gold Pride. As a rookie, she made 25 appearances, which helped lead the team to a WPS championship. Following her rookie season, she was traded to the Western New York Flash, receiving playing time in 19 matches and netting three goals. Once again, she helped lead her team to victory in the WPS Championship, alongside Orlando Pride teammates Ashlyn Harris and Alex Morgan.

When the WPS folded following the 2011 season, Edwards moved to Europe, playing first at Hammarby IF and then at Kristianstads DFF, where she scored two goals in 18 matches to assist the team in making it the Swedish Cup semifinals.

Edwards is no stranger to the NWSL. After returning from her stint in Europe, she was signed as a free agent to the Portland Thorns. While there, she started each of the team's first ten matches before injuring her ACL. The team would go on to win the inaugural NWSL championship. In 2014, Edwards was traded to the Houston Dash, where she was known as the "general" of the midfield for the entire season. She was finally traded last year to the Western New York Flash, where she started every game, scoring two goals in 20 appearances.

In addition to her professional experience, Edwards spent several years playing for the U.S. youth national teams. She was captain of the U-20 United States team that won the World Championship. Edwards played for the U-23 Women's National Team that won four international tournaments, and received her first call up to the women's national team in 2011.

After graduating from Rutgers, Kristen Edmonds played professionally began her professional career with the Hudson Valley Quickstrike Lady Blues in 2009. The 5-foot-5 defender was a co-captain at Hudson Valley, scoring five goals and adding five assists in 25 matches, as she and her teammates won two regular season titles.

Edmonds, 28, also played in Iceland for Stjarnan, scoring once in her seven appearances before moving to Russia, where she played for WFC Rossiyanka. There she appeared in 23 matches, scoring one goal, and won a Pepsidelid League Championship. She then moved to Iceland to play. In 2014, Edmonds returned state side to play for Western New York Flash as a defender, seeing time in every match.

After today's trades, the Orlando Pride have three remaining picks in the 2016 College Draft