Orlando Pride Trade Jordyn Listro to Kansas City

The Orlando Pride announced today that the club has traded Canadian international midfielder Jordyn Listro to Kansas City in exchange for the still-officially-unnamed NWSL side’s natural third-round pick in the 2022 draft. The Pride signed Listro just 74 days ago (back on Jan. 15) as the 25-year-old had earned her way to a full contract after playing on a short-term deal with the Pride in the 2020 NWSL Fall Series.

The draft pick from Kansas City could potentially change to the team’s lowest-held, second-round pick in the same draft, should undisclosed conditions of the trade be met. If the conditions are met and Kansas City no longer holds a second-round pick in 2022, the Pride would then receive the side’s natural second-round pick in 2023. 

“Jordyn has been a consummate professional during her time with the Pride, putting in the work every day since joining us for the Fall Series last season and being a great teammate for the locker room,” Orlando Pride General Manager Ian Fleming said in a club press release. “Jordyn’s short-term goals have evolved positively as a result of her recent international call-ups and we’re happy to come to a deal that not only provides her with an opportunity to meet those goals, but that gives the Pride a valuable asset for the future. We want to wish her the best of luck in Kansas City and thank her for all she has given to the club and community over the last year.”

Listro appeared in three matches for Orlando in the Fall Series (all starts), playing a total of 262 minutes. She missed a game due to a suspension for yellow card accumulation. Since then, Listro made her debut with Canada’s first team at the 2021 SheBelieves Cup at Exploria Stadium, starting against Argentina on Feb. 21.

What It Means for Orlando

The Pride loaded up the midfield this off-season, adding Meggie Dougherty Howard, Gunny Jónsdóttir, and Erika Tymrak to a squad that already returned Jade Moore — who has yet to see the field after being acquired prior to the 2020 season due to last year’s pandemic — Marisa Viggiano, and Chelsee Washington. This appears to be one of those trades a club has to make in order to let someone get more playing time somewhere else. Based on Fleming’s remarks above, that seems like a logical assumption to make.

With such a crowded midfield and Listro wanting to grow her role with Canada, it would be understandable if she looked at the depth chart and wanted to improve her chances of getting more minutes in 2021. Even so, it seems like an underwhelming trade return in exchange for a 25-year-old who is breaking into one of the world’s best women’s national teams. On the other hand, the club lacked any leverage if the player wanted to leave, the Pride didn’t sink a lot of cost into developing Listro, and the team seems to be drafting well. So, it remains to be seen how this trade will ultimately work out for Orlando.