2021 NWSL Draft

Last updated

2021 NWSL Draft
General information
SportSoccer
Date(s)January 13, 2021
Time7:00 PM ET
Network(s) Twitch
Overview
40 total selections in 4 rounds
League National Women's Soccer League
First selection Emily Fox,
Racing Louisville FC
Most selections Kansas City NWSL and Racing Louisville FC (6 picks)
Fewest selections OL Reign (1 pick)
←  2020
2022  →

The 2021 NWSL Draft was the ninth annual meeting of National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) franchises to select eligible college players. It was held on January 13, 2021. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was the first NWSL Draft to be held virtually via videoconferencing and web streaming.

Contents

Format

COVID-19 pandemic

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the NWSL made the following changes to the draft regulations that apply only to the 2021 NWSL Draft:

Results

Key

+Denotes player who has been selected as NWSL Most Valuable Player
*Denotes player who has been selected for an NWSL Best XI or NWSL Second XI team
^Denotes player who has been selected as NWSL Rookie of the Year
#Denotes player who has never appeared in a competitive NWSL game (regular season, playoff, or Challenge Cup)

Picks

RoundPickNat.PlayerPos.NWSL teamNotesCollege
Round 11 Flag of the United States.svg Emily Fox *D Racing Louisville FC North Carolina
2 Flag of the United States.svg Trinity Rodman *^F Washington Spirit [R1 trade 1] Washington State
3 Flag of the United States.svg Brianna Pinto M Sky Blue FC North Carolina
4 Flag of the United States.svg Kiki Pickett D Kansas City NWSL [R1 trade 2] Stanford
5 Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg Emina Ekic M Racing Louisville FC [R1 trade 3] Louisville
6 Flag of the United States.svg Yazmeen Ryan *M Portland Thorns FC [R1 trade 4] TCU
7 Flag of the United States.svg Madison Haley #F Chicago Red Stars [R1 trade 5] Stanford
8 Flag of the United States.svg Tara McKeown *F Washington Spirit [R1 trade 6] USC
9 Flag of the United States.svg Viviana Villacorta M Orlando Pride [R1 trade 7] UCLA
10 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Deanne Rose #F North Carolina Courage Florida
Round 211 Flag of the United States.svg Taylor Otto M Racing Louisville FC North Carolina
12 Flag of the United States.svg Sam Coffey *M Portland Thorns FC Penn State
13 Flag of the United States.svg Kirsten Davis F Racing Louisville FC [R2 trade 1] Texas Tech
14 Flag of the United States.svg Mikayla Colohan M Orlando Pride BYU
15 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Victoria Pickett M Kansas City NWSL [R2 trade 2] Wisconsin
16 Flag of England.svg Lucy Parker #D Kansas City NWSL UCLA
17 Flag of the United States.svg Addie McCain M Kansas City NWSL [R2 trade 3] Texas A&M
18 Flag of the United States.svg Kelsey Turnbow F Chicago Red Stars [R2 trade 4] Santa Clara
19 Flag of the United States.svg Anna Heilferty F Washington Spirit Boston University
20 Flag of the United States.svg Alyssa Malonson D North Carolina Courage Auburn
Round 321 Flag of the United States.svg Parker Goins F Racing Louisville FC Arkansas
22 Flag of the United States.svg Amirah Ali F Portland Thorns FC Rutgers
23 Flag of the United States.svg Taryn Torres M Sky Blue FC Virginia
24 Flag of the United States.svg Kerry Abello *D Orlando Pride Penn State
25 Flag of the United States.svg Brianna Alger #D Chicago Red Stars Washington State
26 Flag of the United States.svg Joelle Anderson M Houston Dash [R3 trade 1] Pepperdine
27 Flag of the United States.svg Makamae Gomera-Stevens F Houston Dash Washington State
28 Flag of Mexico.svg Jimena López D OL Reign Texas A&M
29 Flag of Jamaica.svg Sydney Schneider #G Washington Spirit UNC Wilmington
30 Flag of the United States.svg Myra Konte #D North Carolina Courage Vanderbilt
Round 431 Flag of the United States.svg Emily Smith #D Racing Louisville FC California
32 Flag of the United States.svg Channing Foster F Chicago Red Stars [R4 trade 1] Ole Miss
33 Flag of the United States.svg Delanie Sheehan D Sky Blue FC UCLA
34 Flag of the United States.svg Kaylie Collins G Orlando Pride USC
35 Flag of the United States.svg Alissa Gorzak #F Chicago Red Stars Virginia
36 Flag of the United States.svg Alex Loera M Kansas City NWSL Santa Clara
37 Flag of the United States.svg Hannah Betfort D Portland Thorns FC [R4 trade 2] Wake Forest
38 Flag of the United States.svg Brookelynn Entz #M Kansas City NWSL [R4 trade 3] Kansas State
39 Flag of Venezuela.svg Mariana Speckmaier F Washington Spirit Clemson
40 Flag of the United States.svg Tess Boade F Sky Blue FC [R4 trade 4] Duke

Notable undrafted players

Below is a list of undrafted rookies who appeared in a competitive NWSL game in 2021.

Nat.PlayerPos.Original NWSL teamCollegeNotes
Flag of the United States.svg Amber Marshall M Houston Dash Utah State
Flag of the United States.svg Parker Roberts M Orlando Pride Florida
Flag of Mexico.svg Karina Rodríguez D Washington Spirit UCLA

Trades

Round 1:

  1. ↑ Portland Thorns FC → Sky Blue FC → Washington Spirit. Washington Spirit received a first-round pick in the 2021 NWSL Draft as well as the No. 4, No. 13 and No. 17 picks in the 2020 NWSL College Draft from Sky Blue FC in exchange for Mallory Pugh. [7] Sky Blue FC had acquired Portland Thorns FC's natural first-round pick from in exchange for Raquel Rodríguez. [8]
  2. ↑ Orlando Pride → Chicago Red Stars → Sky Blue FC → Kansas City NWSL. Kansas City NWSL acquired the No. 4 pick in the 2021 NWSL Draft from Sky Blue FC in exchange for $175,000 in allocation money. [9] Sky Blue FC had acquired the No. 4 and No. 8 picks in the 2021 NWSL Draft, a conditional first round pick in the 2022 NWSL Draft, and an international slot for 2021 and 2022 from Chicago Red Stars in exchange for Mallory Pugh and Sarah Woldmoe. [10] Chicago Red Stars had previously acquired the natural first-round pick in the 2021 NWSL Draft, the No. 19 pick in the 2020 NWSL College Draft, Rachel Hill and $50,000 of allocation money from Orlando Pride in exchange for the No. 3 and No. 26 picks in the 2020 NWSL College Draft. [11]
  3. ↑ Chicago Red Stars → Racing Louisville FC. Racing Louisville FC acquired the natural first-round pick in the 2021 NWSL Draft as well as forwards Yuki Nagasato and Savannah McCaskill, and an international roster spot for both the 2021 and 2022 seasons from Chicago Red Stars in exchange for full roster protection in the 2020 NWSL Expansion Draft. [12]
  4. ↑ Utah Royals FC → Chicago Red Stars → Portland Thorns FC. Portland Thorns FC acquired the No. 6 pick in the 2021 NWSL Draft from Chicago Red Stars in exchange for the No. 7 and No. 32 picks in the 2021 NWSL Draft and an international slot in 2021. [13] Chicago Red Stars had acquired the natural first-round pick in the 2021 NWSL Draft as well as the No. 4 and No. 13 pick in the 2020 NWSL College Draft and two first-round picks (No. 1 and No. 7) in the 2019 NWSL College Draft from Utah Royals FC in exchange for the rights to Christen Press and Samantha Johnson. [14]
  5. ↑ Houston Dash → Portland Thorns FC → Chicago Red Stars. Chicago Red Stars acquired the No. 7 and No. 32 picks in the 2021 NWSL Draft and an international slot in 2021 from Portland Thorns FC in exchange for the No. 6 pick in the 2021 NWSL Draft. [13] Portland Thorns FC acquired the 7th and 37th picks in the 2021 NWSL Draft from Houston Dash in exchange for Emily Ogle and Gabby Seiler. [15]
  6. ↑ OL Reign → Chicago Red Stars → Sky Blue FC → Washington Spirit. Washington Spirit acquired the No. 8 pick in the 2021 NWSL Draft from Sky Blue FC in exchange for $100,000 in allocation money and Washington's natural second-round pick in the 2022 NWSL Draft. [16] Sky Blue FC had acquired the No. 4 and No. 8 picks in the 2021 NWSL Draft, a conditional first round pick in the 2022 NWSL Draft, and an international slot for 2021 and 2022 from Chicago Red Stars in exchange for Mallory Pugh and Sarah Woldmoe. [10] Chicago Red Stars had previously acquired the natural first-round pick in the 2021 NWSL Draft and natural third-round pick (No. 24) in the 2020 NWSL College Draft from OL Reign in exchange for a first-round pick (No. 9) in the 2020 NWSL College Draft. [17]
  7. ↑ Washington Spirit → Orlando Pride. Orlando Pride acquired the 9th pick in the 2021 NWSL Draft, a first-round pick in either the 2022 or 2023 NWSL Draft (TBD), $140,000 in allocation money and Meggie Dougherty Howard from Washington Spirit in exchange for Emily Sonnett. [18]

Round 2:

  1. ↑ Sky Blue → Racing Louisville FC. Racing Louisville FC acquired the No. 13 pick in the 2021 NWSL Draft and $35,000 in allocation money from Sky Blue FC in exchange for Jennifer Cudjoe. [19]
  2. ↑ Chicago Red Stars → Utah Royals FC. Utah Royals FC acquired the natural second-round pick in the 2021 NWSL Draft from Chicago Red Stars in exchange for Makenzy Doniak. [20]
  3. ↑ Houston Dash → Utah Royals FC. Utah Royals FC acquired the natural second-round pick in the 2021 NWSL Draft and natural second-round pick in the 2020 NWSL College Draft from Houston Dash in exchange for Utah Royals FC's third-round pick in the 2020 NWSL College Draft and Katie Stengel. [21]
  4. ↑ OL Reign → Orlando Pride → Chicago Red Stars. Chicago Red Stars acquired the lowest second-round pick in the 2021 NWSL Draft held by Orlando Pride under the terms of a June 21, 2020 trade. Orlando Pride had acquired the natural second-round pick in the 2021 NWSL Draft from OL Reign in exchange for Dani Weatherholt. [22]

Round 3:

  1. ↑ Utah Royals FC → Houston Dash. Houston Dash acquired a third-round pick in the 2021 NWSL Draft from Utah Royals FC in exchange for the rights to Aminata Diallo. [23]

Round 4:

  1. ↑ Portland Thorns FC → Chicago Red Stars. Chicago Red Stars acquired the No. 7 and No. 32 picks in the 2021 NWSL Draft and an international slot in 2021 from Portland Thorns FC in exchange for the No. 6 pick in the 2021 NWSL Draft. [13]
  2. ↑ Houston Dash → Portland Thorns FC. Portland Thorns FC acquired the 7th and 37th picks in the 2021 NWSL Draft from Houston Dash in exchange for Emily Ogle and Gabby Seiler. [15]
  3. ↑ OL Reign → Kansas City NWSL. Kansas City NWSL acquired the 38th pick in the 2021 NWSL Draft, Darian Jenkins, and the rights to Meg Brandt from OL Reign in exchange for Tziarra King and a second-round pick in the 2022 NWSL Draft. [24]
  4. ↑ North Carolina Courage → Sky Blue FC. Sky Blue FC acquired a conditional fourth-round pick in the 2021 NWSL Draft and McCall Zerboni from North Carolina Courage in exchange for the rights to Hailie Mace. [25]

Summary

In 2021, a total of 28 colleges had players selected. Of these, five had a player drafted to the NWSL for the first time: Boston University, Kansas State, Louisville, UNC Wilmington, and Vanderbilt.

Schools with multiple draft selections

SelectionsSchools
3 North Carolina, UCLA, Washington State
2 Penn State, Santa Clara, Stanford, Texas A&M, USC, Virginia

Selections by college athletic conference

ConferenceRound 1Round 2Round 3Round 4Total
ACC 31149
Big Ten 02204
Big 12 11013
Colonial 00101
Pac-12 512311
Patriot League 01001
SEC 12317
West Coast 02114

Selections by position

PositionRound 1Round 2Round 3Round 4Total
Goalkeeper 00112
Defender 224311
Midfielder 452213
Forward 433414

See also

Related Research Articles

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References

  1. ↑ "NWSL Opens Player Registration and Announces Current Selection Order for the Renamed 2021 NWSL Draft". NWSL. December 1, 2020. Retrieved December 1, 2020.
  2. ↑ "Kansas City Returns to the NWSL as Expansion Team in 2021". NWSL. December 7, 2020. Retrieved December 7, 2020.
  3. ↑ "NWSL Announces List of Players Registered for the 2021 NWSL Draft". www.nwslsoccer.com.
  4. ↑ "Player Registration Guidelines" (PDF). NWSL. Retrieved December 17, 2020.
  5. ↑ "NWSL eliminates draft registration requirement, expands eligible athlete pool". NWSL. January 6, 2021. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
  6. ↑ Hamlin, Steve (January 11, 2021). "2021 NWSL Draft Preview: All you need to know before the first pick". NWSL. Retrieved January 11, 2021.
  7. ↑ "Sky Blue FC Acquires Mallory Pugh from the Washington Spirit". www.skybluefc.com. January 16, 2020. Archived from the original on October 22, 2020. Retrieved December 1, 2020.
  8. ↑ "Sky Blue FC Acquires Margaret "Midge" Purce from Portland Thorns FC". Sky Blue FC. January 8, 2020. Archived from the original on August 11, 2020. Retrieved December 1, 2020.
  9. ↑ "No. 4 draft pick trade". Sky Blue FC twitter. January 13, 2021.
  10. 1 2 "Chicago Acquires Mallory Pugh and Sarah Killion Woldmoe from Sky Blue FC". Chicago Red Stars. December 29, 2020. Archived from the original on December 29, 2020. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
  11. ↑ "Chicago Acquires Rachel Hill, Drafts Five in 2020 NWSL College Draft". www.chicagoredstars.com. January 16, 2020. Archived from the original on September 24, 2020. Retrieved December 1, 2020.
  12. ↑ "Racing Louisville FC Adds Franchise's First Roster Addition in Trade with Chicago". www.nwslsoccer.com. October 26, 2020.
  13. 1 2 3 "No. 6 draft pick trade". Chicago Red Stars twitter. January 13, 2021.
  14. ↑ "Chicago Acquires Brooke Elby and Six NWSL College Draft Picks". Chicago Red Stars. June 18, 2018. Archived from the original on September 22, 2020. Retrieved December 1, 2020.
  15. 1 2 "Thorns FC acquire seventh, 37th picks in 2021 NWSL Draft from Houston Dash". www.timbers.com. December 16, 2020. Archived from the original on December 16, 2020. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
  16. ↑ "Washington Spirit Acquire Eighth Pick In 2021 NWSL Draft". www.washingtonspirit.com. January 13, 2021.
  17. ↑ "Reign FC Acquires First Round Pick in 2020 College Draft". www.reignfc.com. January 10, 2020.
  18. ↑ "Orlando Pride Acquires Pair of First Round Draft Picks, Allocation Money and Meggie Dougherty Howard". www.orlandocitysc.com. December 24, 2020.
  19. ↑ "Sky Blue FC Acquires Midfielder Jennifer Cudjoe From Racing Louisville FC". www.skybluefc.com. January 13, 2021. Archived from the original on January 14, 2021. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  20. ↑ "Chicago Acquires Makenzy Doniak". Chicago Red Stars. December 19, 2019. Archived from the original on January 15, 2021. Retrieved December 1, 2020.
  21. ↑ "Houston Dash acquire forward Katie Stengel from Utah Royals FC". www.houstondynamo.com. January 8, 2020.
  22. ↑ "Orlando Pride Acquires 2021 Second Round Draft Pick From Reign FC". www.orlandocitysc.com. January 22, 2020.
  23. ↑ "Utah Royals FC Signs French Midfielder Aminata Diallo". Real Salt Lake. March 11, 2020. Retrieved March 11, 2020.
  24. ↑ "OL Reign acquires Tziarra King and draft pick from Kansas City". OL Reign. January 4, 2021. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
  25. ↑ "North Carolina Courage Trade McCall Zerboni to Sky Blue FC for the Rights to Hailie Mace". www.nccourage.com. January 10, 2020. Archived from the original on July 23, 2021. Retrieved December 1, 2020.
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