Sources: Dash told that Christen Press will not join the club

The NWSL league office has told the Dash that U.S. national team forward Christen Press will not join the club. The Dash acquired her in a trade in January. The NWSL league office has told the Dash that U.S. national team forward Christen Press will not join the club. The Dash acquired her in a trade in January. Photo: Icon Sportswire/Icon Sportswire Via Getty Images Photo: Icon Sportswire/Icon Sportswire Via Getty Images Image 1 of / 6 Caption Close Sources: Dash told that Christen Press will not join the club 1 / 6 Back to Gallery

The most prized acquisition in Dash history likely will never play a game for the club.

The Dash have been told by the NWSL league office that United States national team forward and elite goal scorer Christen Press will not report to the team, ending a nearly two-month back-and-forth saga of 'Will she, or won't she?'

A person with knowledge of the situation on Friday told the Chronicle that the Dash are preparing to move on without her.

The club already has been trying to trade her but has not received an offer it believes is fair value.

Without a trade, the Dash retain Press' rights within the NWSL. For her to play again she would have to wait until FIFA transfer windows open in the summer and then play in another country.

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The Dash acquired Press in a blockbuster trade on the day of the NWSL College Draft in January. In that transaction, the Dash traded away two-time FIFA Women's Player of the Year Carli Lloyd and Canadian international Janine Beckie.

Multiple sources told the Chronicle in January that before the Dash agreed to the trade, the club received assurance from Press' representative and from a league official that Press would stay in the NWSL in 2018.

First-year Dash coach Vera Pauw was elated in the hours following the trade. She told the Chronicle that Press would be the face of the team and that she would be the first name on the lineup sheet every game.

Pauw emphasized that Dash fans deserve to have a U.S. national team star on the roster because of their support and their passion for the game.

The situation has not been clear since then.

Less than two weeks after the trade, a report emerged from Europe that Press had reached out to French club Paris St. Germain. At the time, Pauw said the Dash were trying to contact Press about the rumor. A few days later the transfer window closed without Press signing.

In February, the Dash flew Press and her agent to Houston to give her a tour of the team facilities, to show her apartments and to discuss with her how highly they value her.

A person with knowledge of the situation told the Chronicle that the only contact the club has had with Press since that two-day visit was an email thanking the staff for the hospitality.

In a radio interview with Soccer Matters on Feb. 27, Pauw said she and other Dash personnel believed the meeting was positive. It now appears Pauw and the Dash were the only side that thought so.

In nearly every other sports league Press would have a contract, and the details of that contract would speak for themselves. The NWSL, however, does not work that way for many of its best players.

The United States and Canada soccer federations allocate players to the league, and pay their salaries. The aim is to make it easier for the league's teams to afford those top players that often produce the most and are the biggest attractions for fans.

Because they don't have contracts, however, they can go and come as they please - essentially leaving zero leverage for the NWSL clubs they play for.

Last year, Lloyd signed a short-term contract with Manchester City and played there before joining the Dash mid-season.

Morgan Brian, who played just three games with the Chicago Red Stars last season after the Dash traded her, spurned Chicago this year for Olympique Lyonnais in France.

In fact, when the Dash traded Brian to Chicago, one of the clauses was the Dash would receive another player if Brian remained with the Red Stars for 2018 because both teams knew it was possible that she would leave the NWSL.

Also last year, Crystal Dunn left the Washington Spirit to sign with English club Chelsea.