It's all in the details. On Friday afternoon, the presumed became the near-official when the NWSL and Houston Dash revealed the 2022 Expansion Draft protection lists. It appears that María Sánchez has signed a deal to become a Dash player once again for the 2022 NWSL season.
On the NWSL's Expansion Draft protection list, Sánchez, who currently plays for Liga MX Femenil side UANL Tigres Femenil, was named as one of the Dash's nine protected players. Meanwhile on Houston's list, eight players and "a contracted international player who has yet been announced [sic] have received protected status," read a statement from the club.
This comes just a few days after the Dash announced its offseason roster news. A segment from that statement by the NWSL club read: "Houston signed a contracted international player not yet announced. More details will be released at a later date."
Putting all of this together, it would appear that Sánchez is heading back to the 713 to become a member of the Dash for the 2022 NWSL season. After going undefeated in the Liga MX Femenil regular season, Sánchez and Tigres are currently chasing their third consecutive championship title. UANL will play against Club America in the Liguilla Apertura semifinals this Friday, December 10; the match will be broadcast on TUDN.
😏 ¡IT’S GAME DAY! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/7VnpKBrbyr
— Tigres Femenil 🐯 (@TigresFemenil) December 10, 2021
In June 2021, the Mexico international was loaned in for a month-long spell. Sánchez appeared in three NWSL matches for Houston, winning two and losing one, with the forward scoring one goal in that time.
Tigres lost 5-0 to the Dash in the first-ever Women's international club friendly at PNC Stadium in September 2021. Due to her obligations with the Mexico national team, Sánchez was unavailable for the match.
The transfer signals a positive blockbuster move for the Dash in an offseason that has already been filled with plenty of turbulence.