Maria Sánchez: Why she is a perfect tactical fit for San Diego Wave
Whilst there has been plenty of action on the field during the opening weeks of the 2024 NWSL season, it has been matched by some recent off-field stories too, with the transfer window slamming shut last Friday and a number of sides involved in some last-minute purchases as they looked to complete their rosters.
Arguably the most high-profile move of the day came in Texas, when Maria Sánchez departed Houston Dash to join San Diego Wave, having announced her desire earlier in the week to move on from her now-former club despite signing a new contract with them before the season had got underway.
The suddenness of the move has left many people speculating as to potential reasons for her departure, but what everyone can agree on is that San Diego have managed to add a special player to their roster, with Sánchez really thriving at Houston and proving that she is the type of player that any side would love to have in their ranks.
Key qualities
When breaking down why that is, the key thing that stands out is Sánchez’s versatility, with her capable of operating at either full-back or on the wing (and occasionally further forward too) and so offering her side a lot of structural flexibility and a player who can alternate between systems without any significant difficulty.
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