:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/45217404/usa-today-8162512.0.jpg)
The Portland Thorns made a move and had a move made for them today as they added defenders Kendall Johnson and Rhian Wilkinson, and midfielder Kaylyn Kyle to their roster this morning.
Johnson, 23, comes to the Thorns after two years with with Sky Blue FC where she made 37 appearances, including starting every game during her rookie year in 2013. In exchange for her services, the Thorns parted with their second and third and fourth round draft picks in the upcoming NWSL College Draft. A fullback capable of playing on either side of the pitch, Johnson is returning to her hometown, having attended Lincoln High School and the University of Portland.
Kyle and Wilkinson, meanwhile, were added to the Thorns' roster through the National Team player allocation process in the NWSL. The pair of Canadian internationals join their compatriot Christine Sinclair and Americans Alex Morgan, Tobin Heath, and Rachel Van Hellebeke as the players allocated to the Thorns through the process.
Kyle, 26, has already played for three teams in the NWSL, suiting up for the Seattle Reign in 2013 before playing briefly for the Boston Breakers in 2014 and finishing out the year with the Houston Dash. A versatile player, Kyle has played all across the midfield, but has also be used on the defensive line.
Wilkinson, 32, rejoins the NWSL after spending the 2014 season with the Laval Comets of the USL W-League. A converted right-side fullback and former striker, Wilkinson is known as a player who can get up the field and contribute to the attack. During her one-year stint with the Boston Breakers in 2013, Wilkinson scored a pair of goals in just 14 appearances from her fullback spot.
The additions give the Thorns considerable depth and versatility in their back line and midfield, something that the team would have been hard pressed to claim in previous seasons. They also, however, leave the team with 22 players currently on roster, a number that will have to be cut down to 20 by the start of the season.