HARRISON, N.J. – Sky Blue FC Monday signed Jamaica international defender Chantelle Swaby to a short-term contract prior to the 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup.

As per team and league policies, further details were not disclosed.

“I am extremely grateful for this opportunity and I am excited to be part of the team,” Swaby said in a statement. “It has been great getting to know the other girls and I can’t wait to represent Sky Blue. I want to thank the coaches for believing in me and I’m looking forward to being out on the pitch in Utah for the NWSL Challenge Cup.”

Swaby, 21, played four years at Rutgers University, earning one All-Big Ten second team, and two All-Big Ten third team honors. In her last year at Rutgers, she helped lead the squad to six shutouts in league games in 13 starts while recording two assists.

“We are thrilled to sign Chantelle for the upcoming NWSL Challenge Cup,” head coach Freya Coombe said. “After being drafted in January, she has been competing every day at practice, demonstrating her ability to play at the professional level. She has elite tournament experience from representing Jamaica at the FIFA Women’s World Cup in France and shows a good level of maturity and experience for such a young player.”

In 2018, the 5-11 Swaby made her Jamaican women’s national team debut. playing in three matches to help the squad qualify for its first Women’s World Cup appearance. She started all three games for Jamaica at the 2019 Women’s World Cup.

“We’ve watched Chantelle’s evolution since the first day of preseason back in March,” general manager Alyse LaHue said. “She has absolutely earned this opportunity and we’re thrilled to welcome her as an official member of the roster heading into the NWSL Challenge Cup.”

The tournament begins on June 27, with Sky Blue’s first game set for June 30 against OL Reign. All preliminary-round matches will be streamed on CBS All Access.

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.