2024 NWSL Draft

Last updated

2024 NWSL Draft
General information
SportSoccer
Date(s)January 12, 2024
Time8:00 pm (EST)
Location Anaheim Convention Center,
Anaheim, California
Network(s) ION
Sponsored by Ally
Overview
56 total selections in 4 rounds
League National Women's Soccer League
Teams14
First selection Ally Sentnor,
Utah Royals
Most selections Utah Royals and
Washington Spirit (6)
Fewest selections NJ/NY Gotham FC (1)
←  2023
2025 (via free agency) →
UNC vs VT (Sep 2023) 069.jpg
UNC vs VT (Sep 2023) 089 (cropped).jpg
Ally Sentnor and Savy King, teammates at North Carolina, were selected first and second overall.

The 2024 NWSL Draft presented by Ally was the twelfth annual meeting of National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) franchises to select from a list of amateur players above the age of 18 playing in the United States who exhausted, lost, or renounced any remaining collegiate eligibility. [1] It was held on January 12, 2024, at the 2024 United Soccer Coaches Convention in Anaheim, California, and broadcast by ION.

Contents

Expansion sides Utah Royals and Bay FC held the first and second overall picks respectively. Ally Sentnor was selected by Utah Royals with the first overall pick. It was the first time Utah Royals had selected first and the third time a player out of North Carolina was selected first. [2]

It was the final NWSL college draft to be held prior to the draft's abolition as part of the new Collective Bargaining Agreement signed in August 2024, making the NWSL the first major professional sports league in the United States to eliminate the draft system. [3] Beginning with the 2025 rookie class, first-year players could sign with teams as free agents. [4]

Format

Results

As of September 15, 2025

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 Ally Sentnor M Utah Royals North Carolina
2 Flag of the United States.svg Savy King D Bay FC North Carolina
3 Flag of the United States.svg Croix Bethune *^M Washington Spirit [R1 trade 1] Georgia
4 Flag of the United States.svg Brecken Mozingo F Utah Royals [R1 trade 2] BYU
5 Flag of the United States.svg Hal Hershfelt *M Washington Spirit [R1 trade 3] Clemson
6 Flag of the United States.svg Reilyn Turner F Racing Louisville FC UCLA
7 Flag of the United States.svg Kate Wiesner D Washington Spirit Penn State
8 Flag of the United States.svg Maya Doms M Bay FC [R1 trade 4] Stanford
9 Flag of the United States.svg Ally Lemos M Orlando Pride [R1 trade 5] UCLA
10 Flag of Bermuda.svg Leilanni Nesbeth M Chicago Red Stars [R1 trade 6] Florida State
11 Flag of the United States.svg Payton Linnehan F Portland Thorns FC Penn State
12 Flag of the United States.svg Kennedy Wesley D San Diego Wave FC Stanford
13 Flag of the United States.svg Makenna Morris D Washington Spirit [R1 trade 7] Clemson
14 Flag of the United States.svg Maycee Bell D NJ/NY Gotham FC North Carolina
Round 215 Flag of the United States.svg Jameese Joseph F Chicago Red Stars [R2 trade 1] NC State
16 Flag of the United States.svg Lauren Flynn D Utah Royals Florida State
17 Flag of the United States.svg Sam Meza M Seattle Reign FC [R2 trade 2] North Carolina
18 Flag of the United States.svg Ellie Wheeler D Kansas City Current Penn State
19 Flag of the United States.svg Avery Patterson F Houston Dash North Carolina
20 Flag of the United States.svg Olivia Smith-Griffitts D Utah Royals [R2 trade 3] BYU
21 Flag of Jamaica.svg Kiki Van Zanten F Houston Dash [R2 trade 4] Notre Dame
22 Flag of the United States.svg Cori Dyke M Orlando Pride Penn State
23 Flag of the United States.svg Olivia Wade-Katoa M Portland Thorns FC [R2 trade 5] BYU
24 Flag of the United States.svg Talia Staude D North Carolina Courage Virginia
25 Flag of the United States.svg Kelsey Kaufusi #D Portland Thorns FC Utah State
26 Flag of the United States.svg Emma Jaskaniec #M Utah Royals [R2 trade 6] Wisconsin
27 Flag of the United States.svg Maddie Mercado F Seattle Reign FC Notre Dame
28 Flag of the United States.svg Emma Sears F Racing Louisville FC [R2 trade 7] Ohio State
Round 329 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Zoe Burns D Utah Royals USC
30 Flag of the United States.svg Jamie Shepherd M Bay FC BYU
31 Flag of the United States.svg Hannah Anderson D Chicago Red Stars Texas Tech
32 Flag of the United States.svg Halle Mackiewicz G Kansas City Current Clemson
33 Flag of Puerto Rico.svg Cristina Roque G Utah Royals [R3 trade 1] Florida State
34 Flag of the United States.svg Caroline Conti M Bay FC [R3 trade 2] Clemson
35 Flag of the United States.svg Anna Podojil #F Washington Spirit Arkansas
36 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Amanda West F Houston Dash [R3 trade 3] Pittsburgh
37 Flag of the United States.svg Felicia Knox #M Angel City FC Alabama
38 Flag of the United States.svg Heather Hinz G Houston Dash [R3 trade 4] South Carolina
39 Flag of the United States.svg Kat Asman #G Portland Thorns FC Penn State
40 Flag of the United States.svg Julia Dorsey #D North Carolina Courage [R3 trade 5] North Carolina
41 Flag of the United States.svg Bea Franklin M Chicago Red Stars [R3 trade 6] Arkansas
42 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Mya Jones F San Diego Wave FC [R3 trade 7] Memphis
Round 443 Flag of the United States.svg Makena Carr #M Seattle Reign FC [R4 trade 1] Saint Mary's
44 Flag of the United States.svg Jessica Garziano #M Angel City FC [R4 trade 2] St. John's
45 Flag of the United States.svg Celia Gaynor #M Chicago Red Stars Michigan State
46 Flag of the United States.svg Hope Hisey #G Kansas City Current Arizona
47 Flag of the United States.svg Alyssa Bourgeois #D Houston Dash Santa Clara
48 Flag of the United States.svg Sam Cary D Racing Louisville FC Iowa
49 Flag of the United States.svg Courtney Brown M Washington Spirit Utah
50 Flag of the United States.svg Alex Kerr F Orlando Pride Texas Tech
51 Flag of the United States.svg Madison Curry D Angel City FC Princeton
52 Flag of the United States.svg Landy Mertz F North Carolina Courage Pittsburgh
53 Flag of the United States.svg Katie Duong #M Portland Thorns FC Stanford
54 Flag of the United States.svg Madison White #G Racing Louisville FC [R4 trade 3] Texas Tech
55 Flag of Tonga.svg Laveni Vaka #D Bay FC [R4 trade 4] BYU
56 Flag of the United States.svg Talia Gabarra #M Orlando Pride [R4 trade 5] UCF

Notable undrafted players

Below is a list of undrafted rookies who appeared in a competitive NWSL game in 2024.

Nat.PlayerPos.Original NWSL teamCollege
Flag of the United States.svg Madison Ayson D Houston Dash Xavier
Flag of the United States.svg Ally Cook F Chicago Red Stars UCLA
Flag of the United States.svg Mallie McKenzie M Portland Thorns FC Georgia
Flag of the United States.svg Maddie Moreau D Bay FC West Virginia
Flag of the United States.svg Heather Stainbrook M Washington Spirit Utah Valley

Trades

Round 1:

  1. ↑ Chicago Red Stars → Washington Spirit. Washington Spirit acquired the No. 3 overall pick in the 2024 NWSL Draft in exchange Chicago Red Stars acquired Sam Staab. [7]
  2. ↑ Kansas City Current → Utah Royals. Utah Royals acquired the No. 4 overall pick in the 2024 NWSL Draft and Kate Del Fava in exchange Kansas City Current acquired protection in the 2024 NWSL Expansion Draft. [8]
  3. ↑ Houston Dash → North Carolina Courage → Washington Spirit.Washington Spirit acquired the No.5 pick in the 2024 NWSL Draft and $250,000 in allocation money in exchange for Ashley Sanchez. [9] North Carolina Courage previously acquired the No. 8 pick in the 2023 NWSL Draft, the natural first-round pick in the 2024 NWSL Draft, a 2023 international spot, and $100,000 in allocation money from Houston Dash in exchange for Diana Ordoñez and the No. 30 pick in the 2023 NWSL Draft. [10]
  4. ↑ Orlando Pride → Bay FC. Bay FC acquired Orlando Pride natural first round pick (No. 8) in the 2024 NWSL Draft in exchange for $50,000 in allocation money and protection in the 2024 NWSL Expansion Draft from Bay FC [11]
  5. ↑ Angel City FC → Orlando Pride. Orlando Pride acquired the natural first round pick in the 2024 draft, $75,000 in allocation money, and additional allocation money pending conditions met from Angel City FC in exchange for Sydney Leroux. [12]
  6. ↑ North Carolina Courage → Chicago Red Stars. Chicago Red Stars acquired the No. 10 overall pick in the 2024 NWSL Draft in exchange North Carolina Courage acquired $175,000 in allocation money. [13]
  7. ↑ Seattle Reign FC → Washington Spirit. Washington Spirit acquired the natural first round pick in the 2024 NWSL Draft and the No. 32 pick in the 2023 NWSL Draft from Seattle Reign FC in exchange for Emily Sonnett [14]

Round 2:

  1. ↑ Bay FC → Racing Louisville FC → Chicago Red Stars.Chicago Red Stars acquired the No. 15 pick and $125,000 in allocation money from Racing Louisville FC in exchange for Arin Wright. [15] Racing Louisville FC previously acquired the natural second round pick for the 2024 NWSL Draft and 2024 NWSL Expansion Draft protection from Bay FC in exchange for its 2024 NWSL Draft natural third round pick and $235,000 in Alternate Allocation Money [16]
  2. ↑ Chicago Red Stars → Seattle Reign FC. Seattle Reign FC acquired the No. 17 overall pick in the 2024 NWSL Draft in exchange Chicago Red Stars acquired $125,000 in allocation money. [17]
  3. ↑ Racing Louisville FC → Washington Spirit → Utah Royals. Utah Royals acquired the natural second-round picks from Washington Spirit in exchange for 2024 expansion draft protection. [18] Washington Spirit had previously acquired the natural second-round pick and a conditional third-round pick if she reaches 10 appearances in 2024, from Racing Louisville FC in exchange for Jordan Baggett. [19]
  4. ↑ Washington Spirit → Utah Royals → Houston Dash. Houston Dash acquired the No. 21 overall pick in the 2024 NWSL Draft from Utah Royals in exchange for $120,000 in allocation money. [20] Utah Royals previously acquired the natural second-round picks from Washington Spirit in exchange for 2024 expansion draft protection. [18]
  5. ↑ Portland Thorns FC → Angel City FC. Portland Thorns FC acquired the natural second-round pick in the 2024 NWSL Draft the No. 5 pick in the 2023 NWSL Draft, and $200,000 in allocation money from Angel City FC in exchange for Yazmeen Ryan. [21]
  6. ↑ San Diego Wave FC → Orlando Pride → Utah Royals.Utah Royals acquired the No. 26 overall pick in the 2024 NWSL Draft and Mikayla Cluff in exchange for giving Orlando Pride protection in the 2024 NWSL Expansion Draft and $90,000 in allocation money. [22] Orlando Pride had previously acquired the natural second-round pick in the 2024 NWSL Draft and at least $125,000 in allocation money from San Diego Wave FC in exchange for Taylor Kornieck and the rights of Emily Van Egmond. [23]
  7. ↑ NJ/NY Gotham FC → Racing Louisville FC. Racing Louisville FC acquired the No. 28 and No. 42 overall picks in 2024 NWSL Draft from NJ/NY Gotham FC in exchange Racing Louisville FC sent $130,000 in allocation money to Bay FC and NJ/NY Gotham FC received protection in the 2024 NWSL Expansion Draft. [24]

Round 3:

  1. ↑ Houston Dash → Portland Thorns FC → Utah Royals . Utah Royals acquired the No. 33 pick in the 2024 NWSL Draft and Hannah Betfort from Portland Thorns in exchange for protection in the 2024 NWSL Expansion Draft. Portland Thorns FC had previously acquired the natural third-round pick in the 2024 NWSL Draft and $10,000 in allocation money from Houston Dash in exchange for the No. 48 pick in the 2024 NWSL Draft. [25] [26]
  2. ↑ Racing Louisville FC → Bay FC. Bay FC acquired the natural third round pick of Racing Louisville in the 2024 NWSL Draft and $235,000 in Alternate Allocation Money for its natural second round pick in the 2024 NWSL Draft and protection in the 2024 NWSL Expansion Draft [16]
  3. ↑ Orlando Pride → Houston Dash. Houston Dash acquired the natural third-round pick in the 2024 NWSL Draft from Orlando Pride and the rights to Courtney Petersen in exchange for $65,000 in allocation money. [27]
  4. ↑ North Carolina Courage → Houston Dash. Houston Dash acquired the No.38 pick in the 2024 NWSL Draft, from North Carolina Courage in exchange for the No. 40 pick in the 2024 NWSL Draft and $10,000 in allocation money. [28]
  5. ↑ San Diego Wave FC → Houston Dash → North Carolina Courage. North Carolina Courage acquired the No. 40 pick and $10,000 in allocation money in exchange for the No. 38 pick. Houston Dash previously acquired a natural third round pick in the 2024 NWSL Draft for $60,000 in allocation money and Belle Briede in exchange San Diego Wave FC acquired Sierra Enge. [29]
  6. ↑ Seattle Reign FC → Chicago Red Stars. Chicago Red Stars acquired the natural third-round pick in the 2024 NWSL Draft, a 2023 international roster spot, and the No. 23 pick in the 2023 NWSL Draft from Seattle Reign FC in exchange for the No. 19 pick in the 2023 NWSL Draft. [30]
  7. ↑ NJ/NY Gotham FC → Racing Louisville FC → San Diego Wave FC. San Diego Wave FC acquired the No.42 pick in the 2024 NWSL Draft in exchange for $40,000 in allocation money and the No.54 overall pick. [31] Racing Louisville FC had previously acquired the No. 28 and No. 42 overall picks in 2024 NWSL Draft from NJ/NY Gotham FC in exchange Racing Louisville FC sent $130,000 in allocation money to Bay FC and NJ/NY Gotham FC received protection in the 2024 NWSL Expansion Draft [24]

Round 4:

  1. ↑ Bay FC → Seattle Reign FC. Seattle Reign FC acquired the No.43 overall pick in the 2024 NWSL Draft from Bay FC in exchange for the No. 55 pick in the 2024 NWSL Draft and $75,000 in allocation money. [32]
  2. ↑ Utah Royals → Angel City FC. Angel City FC acquired the No.44 overall pick in the 2024 NWSL Draft from Utah Royals in exchange for $15,000 in allocation money. [33]
  3. ↑ San Diego Wave FC → Racing Louisville FC . Racing Louisville FC acquired $40,000 in allocation money and the No.54 overall pick from San Diego Wave FC in exchange for the No.42 pick in the 2024 NWSL Draft. [31]
  4. ↑ Seattle Reign FC → Bay FC. Bay FC acquired the No.55 overall pick in the 2024 NWSL Draft and $75,000 in allocation money from Seattle Reign FC in exchange for the No. 43 pick in the 2024 NWSL Draft. [32]
  5. ↑ NJ/NY Gotham FC → Orlando Pride. Orlando Pride acquired the natural fourth-round pick in the 2024 NWSL Draft and $350,000 in allocation money from NJ/NY Gotham FC in exchange for the No. 2 pick in the 2023 NWSL Draft. [34]

Summary

In 2024, a total of 30 colleges had players selected. Of these, five had a player drafted to the NWSL for the first time: Iowa, Memphis, Pittsburgh, Saint Mary's and Utah State. The draft also saw North Carolina equal the record for most selections from a school in a draft with six. [35]

Schools with multiple draft selections

SelectionsSchools
6 North Carolina
5 BYU, Penn State
4 Clemson
3 Florida State, Stanford, Texas Tech
2 Arkansas, Notre Dame, Pittsburgh, UCLA

Selections by college athletic conference

ConferenceRound 1Round 2Round 3Round 4Total
ACC 675119
Big East 00011
Big Ten 24129
Big 12 12249
Ivy League 00011
Mountain West 01001
Pac-12 40138
SEC 10405
The American 00101
West Coast 00022

Selections by position

PositionRound 1Round 2Round 3Round 4Total
Goalkeeper 00426
Defender 553417
Midfielder 644620
Forward 353213

Future draft trades

2025 NWSL Draft trades

See also

References

  1. ↑ "National Women's Soccer League Announces 2023 NWSL Draft, Presented by Ally, To Be Held At 2023 United Soccer Coaches Convention Thursday, January 12, 2023 In Philadelphia". www.nwslsoccer.com. November 15, 2022.
  2. ↑ "Royals FC pick UNC's Sentnor first in NWSL draft". ESPN.com. January 13, 2024.
  3. ↑ Sim, Josh (August 23, 2024). "NWSL's new CBA increases player salaries, adds revenue sharing and eliminates draft". SportsPro.
  4. ↑ "10 College Prospects to Watch This Offseason". National Women's Soccer League. December 17, 2024. Retrieved December 24, 2024.
  5. ↑ "NWSL Announces Current List of Players Registered for 2024 NWSL Draft". January 9, 2024.
  6. ↑ "National Women's Soccer League Announces Asset Selection Order for Expansion Sides Bay FC, Utah Royals FC Ahead of 2024 NWSL Expansion Draft Presented by Ally and 2024 NWSL Draft Presented by Ally". www.nwslsoccer.com. June 28, 2023. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
  7. ↑ "Washington Spirit Acquires Third Overall Pick in 2024 NWSL Draft in Trade with Chicago Red Stars". washingtonspirit.com. January 12, 2024.
  8. ↑ "Kansas City Current receives Expansion Draft protection in trade with Utah Royals". kansascitycurrent.
  9. ↑ "Washington Spirit Acquires Fifth Overall Pick in 2024 NWSL Draft in Trade with North Carolina Courage". January 12, 2024. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  10. ↑ "Dash acquire French forward Valérie Gauvin from North Carolina Courage | Houston Dynamo". houstondynamofc.
  11. ↑ "Orlando Pride Acquires $50,000 in Allocation Money and Expansion Protection from Bay FC". www.orlandocitysc.com.
  12. ↑ "Orlando Pride Trades Sydney Leroux to Angel City FC; Acquires 2024 First Round Pick and $75,000 in Allocation Money". June 29, 2022. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
  13. ↑ "Trade: Courage acquires $175K from Chicago". nccourage.com.
  14. ↑ "OL Reign Acquires Defender Emily Sonnett in Trade with Washington". www.OLReign.com. OL Reign. January 12, 2023. Retrieved December 2, 2023.
  15. ↑ "Racing completes trade for Kentucky legend Arin Wright". January 12, 2024. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  16. 1 2 "2023-24 NWSL Offseason Transaction Tracker". www.NWSLSoccer.com. National Women's Soccer League. Retrieved December 1, 2023.
  17. ↑ "2024 NWSL DRAFT". chicagoredstars.com. January 12, 2024.
  18. 1 2 "Washington Spirit Completes Trades with Expansion Sides Bay FC and Utah Royals FC". December 12, 2023. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
  19. 1 2 Morgan, Bekki (April 25, 2023). "Jordan Baggett Traded to Racing Louisville". The Equalizer. Retrieved June 28, 2023.
  20. ↑ "Houston Dash make five selections in 2024 NWSL Draft". January 12, 2024. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  21. ↑ Yang, Steph (January 5, 2023). "Angel City, Gotham among 4-team blockbuster trade ahead of NWSL Draft: Each team's draft needs". www.TheAthletic.com. The Athletic. Retrieved December 2, 2023.
  22. ↑ "Utah Royals FC Acquires Kaysville's Own Mikayla Cluff From Orlando Pride". www.rsl.com.
  23. ↑ "Orlando Pride Acquires $125,000 in Allocation Money, 2024 NWSL Draft Pick". www.orlandocitysc.com.
  24. 1 2 "Racing acquires two NWSL Draft picks in three-team trade". www.racingloufc.com.
  25. ↑ "Meet the Thorns' four 2023 NWSL Draft picks". Portland Timbers . Portland Thorns. January 13, 2023. Archived from the original on January 13, 2023. Retrieved December 2, 2023.
  26. ↑ "Thorns FC receive Expansion Draft protection from the Utah Royals". Portland Timbers . Portland Thorns. December 12, 2023. Archived from the original on December 13, 2023. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
  27. ↑ "Houston Dash acquire rights to defender Courtney Petersen from Orlando". www.HoustonDynamoFC.com. Houston Dash. February 1, 2023. Retrieved December 2, 2023.
  28. ↑ "2024 NWSL Draft recap". nccourage.com.
  29. ↑ "Houston Dash acquire allocation money, draft pick, and NWSL Shield winning midfielder Belle Briede following trades". houstondynamofc.
  30. ↑ "OL Reign Acquires Second Round Draft Pick in Trade with Chicago". OL REIGN: WE ARE THE BOLD.
  31. 1 2 Emerick, Tyler (January 13, 2024). "San Diego Wave Selects Two Players in 2024 NWSL Draft".
  32. 1 2 "Bay FC acquires $75,000 Allocation Money, 55th pick in 2024 NWSL Draft from OL Reign". Bay FC FC. December 20, 2023.
  33. ↑ National Women's Soccer League [@NWSL] (January 12, 2024). "We have traded the 44th overall pick to @weareangelcity in exchange for $15K in Allocation Money" (Tweet). Retrieved January 12, 2024– via Twitter.
  34. ↑ "Gotham FC Acquires Standout Midfielder and NWSL Champion Yazmeen Ryan, Along with Second Overall Draft Pick, in Pair of Major Trades". NJ/NY Gotham FC. January 5, 2023.
  35. ↑ "Numbers From the 2024 NWSL Draft". TopDrawerSoccer.com.
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