USWNT star Lynn Williams leaves Gotham for Seattle Reign in first blockbuster trade of NWSL off-season

United States women's national team star Lynn Williams is set to leave Gotham via trade to join the Seattle Reign ahead of the 2025 NWSL season.

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Williams helped Gotham win its first NWSL Championship in 2023, scoring the opener in a 2-1 win over the Reign in the Championship game. That was the 31-year-old's fourth title in seven years and now is set to take that winning experience to Seattle, to help a team that has never lifted the trophy.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The potential move was first reported on Wednesday by the Equalizer, with journalist Jenna Tonelli adding that Williams, who was born in California, "wished to finish her career on the west coast and [Gotham] wanted to support her." Specific details of the trade came on Friday, December 20th.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Despite winning three NWSL Shields, playing in three Championship games and boasting top players like Megan Rapinoe, Hope Solo and Kim Little over the years, the Reign has never won the NWSL Championship.

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  WHAT NEXT

  Williams, who helped the USWNT win Olympic gold this past summer, will hope she can help improve Seattle's fortunes in 2025, as she seeks out an incredible fifth NWSL Championship title, this one back on her home coast.