Sam Kerr, Nikki Stanton and Raquel Rodriguez Join Perth Glory for 2017-18 W-League Season
Sky Blue FC of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) will see three of its players competing with Perth Glory during the 2017-18 Westfield W-League season in Australia. Forward Sam Kerr and midfielder Nikki Stanton will be returning to Perth, while midfielder Raquel Rodriguez joins Glory for the first time ahead of the 2017-18 campaign.
Both Kerr and Stanton will be playing with Perth on loan, while a new contract offer has been extended to Rodriguez for the upcoming NWSL season.
Kerr, 24, will return to Perth this year for her fourth consecutive W-League season with the team. The 2017 NWSL Most Valuable Player previously played for Glory from 2008-11 before spending two seasons with Sydney FC. Following the 2016-17 campaign, she was awarded the Julie Dolan Medal, which is presented to the W-League Most Valuable Player. Kerr recently completed her third season with Sky Blue FC, her fifth overall year in the NWSL. During this past NWSL campaign, she became the league’s career goal leader (43), and the 2017 Golden Boot winner broke the single-season record by scoring 17 goals. The Perth native, who was named to the NWSL Best XI, also became the first player in league history to score two hat tricks in a season and four goals in a single match.
Stanton, 26, joins Kerr in Perth for a third straight W-League season. The Washington native fully established herself as a key player for Sky Blue FC during the 2017 NWSL season, her fourth campaign in New Jersey. On the year, she registered an assist on a career-high 13 starts over 16 appearances, earning recognition as the 2017 Sky Blue FC Unsung Hero.
Rodriguez, 23, was awarded 2016 NWSL Rookie of the Year accolades and recently completed her second season with Sky Blue FC. The Costa Rica international made 17 starts over 21 matches during the 2017 NWSL campaign, recording four goals. She also etched her name into the NWSL record books when she scored a goal 24 seconds into a game against Portland Thorns FC, the fastest in league history.
Perth will open the W-League season this Friday, October 27, when it faces Melbourne City in a rematch of the 2017 Westfield W-League Grand Final. The W-League season runs until February of 2018, and all three players will return to New Jersey prior to the start of the 2018 NWSL season.
2018 Sky Blue FC season and half-season tickets are on sale now, and fans can purchase them today by calling 888-SBFC-TIX (888-723-2849). For all of the latest news on Sky Blue FC, visit the team online and follow us on social media: @SkyBlueFC
